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New York Feed-in Tariff Workshop
"FIT for New York:  A Long-Term Renewables Incentive Vision"
Museum of Jewish Heritage
October 20, 2010
10am - 5pm
New York, NY

Please register TODAY for JFS Renewables and New York Solar Digest (NYSD) workshop "FIT for New York:  A Long-Term Renewables Incentive Vision".  The agenda includes some of the leading experts in Feed-in Tariff (FIT) policy development with the goal in mind of designing a FIT incentive structure for New York rooted in the political, market and regulatory realities of the state.  The workshop will be held in New York City on Wednesday, October 20th at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and sponsored by AltPower Inc., ETM Solar Works, Renewable Power Inc., and the World Future Council.  Lunch will be included along with a tour of the Museum's 35 kW solar PV system.

Feed-in Tariff’s (FIT) are the most effective renewable energy incentive design in the world today.  They are simple, transparent, easily understood and fair.  Today, FITs are responsible over three-quarters of the global installed grid-tied photovoltaic capacity.  When properly designed and implemented, FITs have succeeded in giving electricity users and the financial community the exact kind of bankable and secure long-term revenue stream required to install clean distributed generation on a large scale and with maximum economic and environmental benefit.

Today, New York lags behind its neighbors in progressive policy designed to install distributed renewable generation on a large scale.  While there is a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in New York, existing renewable energy programs alone will fail to succeed in reaching its goals.  To reach existing RPS goals, generate significant economic development and employment, and to actually protect ratepayers from further electricity rate hikes, New York needs to implement a forward thinking program designed to install wide-spread renewable generation. The most logical tool that can be implemented to that end is a well-designed and thoughtfully implemented FIT.

While FIT legislation was proposed in New York two years ago, the program design and tariff structures included did not emanate from a process that took into account the regulatory, market and political realities of the state.  While a tremendous grass roots effort was conducted to get the legislation passed, the analytic basis was not well-defined and political and regulatory opponents found it easy to make arguments against their passage.

This workshop is designed to bring together the Nation’s leading FIT experts with the local New York renewable energy industry, strategic allies, policy-makers and others with a clear interest in getting a FIT designed and implemented in New York.  The goal of the meeting will be to design a FIT (and build a supportive coalition for its adoption) for New York that:

• Is firmly rooted in the market, political and regulatory realities of the state;

• Can be easily understood by regulators, legislators and the public alike;
  
• Is inclusive of all renewable technologies that can benefit New York;
  

• Will result in orderly and sustained market growth; and

• Clearly articulates the economic benefits and the costs of program.

The Workshop is organized in conjunction with the New York Solar Energy Society (NYSES), the Alliance for Renewable Energy (ARE) and Wind-Works.org.

Program participants include:

Luncheon Key Note:

Randy Hayes

Randy Hayes has been Director of the US Liaison Office of the World Future Council since July 2008. Randy Hayes is on the Board of Directors of Rainforest Action Network, which he founded in 1985. The organization focuses on high-visibility corporate accountability campaigns, advocating for the rainforests and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Randy also worked in city government, as President to the City of San Francisco Commission on the Environment and Director of Sustainability in the office of Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown.  Additionally, he worked at the International Forum on Globalization, a think-tank on the global economy based in San Francisco.  One of Randy's primary goals in his work with the World Future Council is to help State-based coalitions adopt FIT policies that have proven to work throughout the world.  To this end, the World Future Council is a primary sponsor and supporter of this workshop.

Additional presenters/participants:

Paul Gipe, Wind-Works:  Paul Gipe is a renowned expert on the design and implementation of FITs.  Paul has committed to attending the workshop and bringing his expertise to bear on the deisgn of a proper FIT for New York that includes the best elements of FITs around the world.

Dr. Richard Perez, SUNY Albany:  Dr. Perez is a leading expert in the valuation of grid-tied distributed PV.  His understanding of how to properly value installed renewable energy capacity in the New York electric grid will be a key component of setting tariff rates.

Tom Thompson, NYSES (Invited):  Tom Thompson has been pushing to have a FIT enacted in New York for almost 5 years both as President of NYSEIA and now as a member of the Board of the New York Solar Energy Society.

Janet Gagnon, Solarworld: (Invited) Janet Gagnon is the Head of Government Relations at Solarworld, the largest US manufacturer of photovoltaic modules.  Janet brings the unique perspective of a PV module manufacturer and works to promote the implementation of FITs throughout the US.  She is a member of the Board of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA).

John Siciliani, President, JFS Renewables and Publisher, New York Solar Digest.  John has over 14 years of experience in the solar energy renewable energy industry and is the immediate past Executive Director of the NYSEIA.

Claus Habermeyer, Director, Germany Trade and Invest. Claus Habermeyer is an expert on Germany’s FIT – the world’s most successful solar FIT program and will bring lessons learned and success stories from that program to benefit the discussion.

Dr. Gay Canough, President, ETM Solarworks).  Gay Canough has been a leading figure in the New York solar energy industry for over 20 years and President of one of the most successful solar integrators in the state.  Gay is a former President and founding member of NYSEIA and Master Trainer for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Her understanding of existing market conditions in New York will be vital during the workshop.

Anthony Pereira, President, AltPower.  AltPower is one of the most successful renewable energy integrators in New York State.  Anthony is a former President and founding member of NYSEIA and currently develops PV projects throughout the NE and Europe.

World Future Council to Sponsor JFS Renewables FIT Workshop

Randy Hayes

The World Future Council and its Washington, DC Office Director, Randy Hayes, have agreed to sponsor "FIT for New York: A Long-Term Renewables Incentive Vision".   Randy Hayes is one of two keynote luncheon speakers who will address workshop participants on October 20th in New York City.   "I am truly honored to have Randy Hayes and the World Future Council on board for our workshop next month.  Randy is someone who has fought tirelessly for the implementation of policies around the globe that don't only serve to improve environmental conditions but that make economic sense as well.  That is the crux of the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) renewable energy incentive model we'll be developing and exactly what New York needs right now."

Randy Hayes has been Director of the US Liaison Office of the World Future Council since July 2008. Randy Hayes is on the Board of Directors of Rainforest Action Network, which he founded in 1985. The organization focuses on high-visibility corporate accountability campaigns, advocating for the rainforests and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Randy also worked in city government, as President to the City of San Francisco Commission on the Environment and Director of Sustainability in the office of Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown.  Additionally, he worked at the International Forum on Globalization, a think-tank on the global economy based in San Francisco. 

JFS Renewables is in the process of negotiating for the space for this even and will be made available shortly.  In the meantime, there are three sponsorships remaining.  Sponsorhip and registration is available here.

Please register soon as there is limited space.  The event will take place from 9-5 on October 20th. 

New York Feed-in Tariff Workshop Announced: Sponsors Needed

JFS Renewables and NYSD are proud to announce the scheduling of a workshop consisting of some of the leading experts in Feed-in Tariff (FIT) policy development with the goal in mind of designing a FIT incentive structure for New York rooted in the political, market and regulatory realities of the state.  The workshop will be held in New York City on Wedensday, October 20th.  The specific site still has yet to be determined. 

Feed-in Tariff’s (FIT) are the most effective renewable energy incentive design in the world today.  They are simple, transparent, easily understood and fair.  Today, FITs are responsible over three-quarters of the global installed grid-tied photovoltaic capacity.  When properly designed and implemented, FITs have succeeded in giving electricity users and the financial community the exact kind of bankable and secure long-term revenue stream required to install clean distributed generation on a large scale and with maximum economic and environmental benefit.

Today, New York lags behind its neighbors in progressive policy designed to install distributed renewable generation on a large scale.  While there is a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in New York, existing renewable energy programs alone will fail to succeed in reaching its goals.  To reach existing RPS goals, generate significant economic development and employment, and to actually protect ratepayers from further electricity rate hikes, New York needs to implement a forward thinking program designed to install wide-spread renewable generation. The most logical tool that can be implemented to that end is a well-designed and thoughtfully implemented FIT.

While FIT legislation was proposed in New York two years ago, the program design and tariff structures included did not emanate from a process that took into account the regulatory, market and political realities of the state.  While a tremendous grass roots effort was conducted to get the legislation passed, the analytic basis was not well-defined and political and regulatory opponents found it easy to make arguments against their passage. 

This workshop is designed to bring together the Nation’s leading FIT experts with the local New York renewable energy industry, strategic allies, policy-makers and others with a clear interest in getting a FIT designed and implemented in New York.  The goal of the meeting will be to design a FIT for New York that:

• Is firmly rooted in the market, political and regulatory realities of the state;

• Can be easily understood by regulators, legislators and the public alike;

• Will result in orderly and sustained market growth; and

• Clearly articulates the economic benefits and the costs of program.

At the end of the day, its anticipated that a well-crafted FIT policy proposal and legislative language will be in hand in time for November elections and well ahead of the 2011 Legislative session in Albany.   A follow-up meeting will be held with supporters to develop a campaign to promote legislation that would enact the FIT for New York.

JFS Renewables will be organizing this workshop in conjunction with the New York Solar Energy Society (NYSES), the Alliance for Renewable Energy (ARE), Wind-Works.org, and private sponsors who provide financial support for the costs of workshop.  We are now soliciting additional sponsors for the workshop.  Sponsors will free registration for the workshop and receive recognition in the finished document at at the workshop itself.  Sponsors will also know that they are supporting the development of a policy that could potential lead to a dramatic increase in business in the short term.  It's an investment well worth it.  There are 5 sponsorships remaining at $500 a piece. Please contact John Siciliani at johnsic@gmail.com or 347-510-4747 to discuss sponsor opportunities or click here.

Program Participants

JFS Renewables has already had preliminary discussions with several in-state and out-of-state FIT experts, industry members, and advocates.  A few of the committed (or invited) participants:

Paul Gipe, Wind-Works:  Paul Gipe is a renowned expert on the design and implementation of FITs.  Paul has committed to attending the workshop and bringing his expertise to bear on the deisgn of a proper FIT for New York that includes the best elements of FITs around the world.

Dr. Richard Perez, SUNY Albany:  Dr. Perez is a leading expert in the valuation of grid-tied distributed PV.  His understanding of how to properly value installed renewable energy capacity in the New York electric grid will be a key component of setting tariff rates.

Tom Thompson, NYSES:  Tom Thompson has been pushing to have a FIT enacted in New York for almost 5 years both as President of NYSEIA and now as a member of the Board of the New York Solar Energy Society.

Janet Gagnon, Solarworld: (Invited) Janet Gagnon is the Head of Government Relations at Solarworld, the largest US manufacturer of photovoltaic modules.  Janet brings the unique perspective of a PV module manufacturer and works to promote the implementation of FITs throughout the US.  She is a member of the Board of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA).

John Siciliani, President, JFS Renewables and Publisher, New York Solar Digest.  John has over 14 years of experience in the solar energy renewable energy industry and is the immediate past Executive Director of the NYSEIA.

Claus Habermeyer, Director, Germany Trade and Invest.  (Invited)  Claus Habermeyer is an expert on Germany’s FIT – the world’s most successful solar FIT program and will bring lessons learned and success stories from that program to benefit the discussion.

Gay Canough, President (ETM Solarworks).  Gay Canough has been a leading figure in the New York solar energy industry for over 20 years and President of one of the most successful solar integrators in the state.  Gay is a former President and founding member of NYSEIA and Master Trainer for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Her understanding of existing market conditions in New York will be vital during the workshop.

Anthony Pereira, President, AltPower.  AltPower is one of the most successful renewable energy integrators in New York State.  Anthony is a former President and founding member of NYSEIA and currently develops PV projects throughout the NE and Europe. 

Several other key players will be invited as well.   More information will follow in the coming days.

It's Official: Ontario Third in North American 2009 Solar PV Capacity

Now in a Race for Second with New Jersey

August 23, 2010

By Paul Gipe

Finally, it's official. Last year Ontario was the third largest market for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in North America.

The Canadian province pushed aside Florida with an installation of 46 MW of solar PV and was only behind New Jersey, 57 MW, and California with 212 MW according to a report by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

As a contractor to the US Government, IREC only reports on developments in the US. However, "If Ontario were a U.S. state, it would have ranked third on IREC's list of states," said the report.

The report, U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009, found that at the end of 2009 California had a total installed solar PV capacity of 768 MW, New Jersey, 128 MW, and Colorado, 59 MW.

Ontario ranked fourth in total installed North American solar PV capacity with 48 MW.

Outside of California, New Jersey is the second largest market for solar PV in the US. New Jersey's Clean Energy program estimates that, at the current pace, 125 MW will be installed by year end, bringing total installations to nearly 250 MW.

The Canadian Solar Industry Association (CanSIA) estimates 100 to 200 MW will be installed in Ontario this year. Nearly 100 MW has already been installed, and several large projects, multi-megawatt projects are underway, says CanSIA.

Ontario and New Jersey are neck and neck for the number two slot in the North American solar PV market for installations in 2010. New Jersey will likely retain its second place position in total capacity, at least for this year.

250 MW of solar PV in either New Jersey or Ontario by year end are capable of generating 250 million kWh per year in each region.

The Ontario policy driving development is a fixed-price model while New Jersey is using a quota model with tradable solar renewable energy credits determining how much is paid for solar generation.

IREC, the report's authors, concluded that 435 MW of solar PV were installed in the US in 2009, bringing total installed capacity to 1,250 MW. The residential market accounted for about one-third of US solar PV capacity in 2009. The utility market accounted for 16% capacity. There are now 104,000 solar PV installations in the US.

For comparison, Germany may install as much as 6,000 MW of solar PV this year, bringing total solar PV capacity to 15,000 MW. By the end of the year there may be as many as one million solar PV systems in the country or then times the number in North America.

In Germany, a generating fleet of 15,000 MW will produce about 15 TWh (15 billion kWh) per year or nearly 3% of Germany's electricity demand.

U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009 by Larry Sherwood, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, July 2010.

Andrew Cuomo Issues "Power NY" Plan: Including Comprehensive Support for Progressive Solar Policy

(Originally posted August 5, 2010)

New York Attorney General and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Andrew Cuomo today released "Power NY" - a comprehensive energy plan offering a progressive vision for New York's energy future.  While NYSD is still reviewing the details, at first glance, this plan looks as though it offers NY solar advocates and industry participants a great deal of hope that true leadership on renewable energy development may be on its way to Albany.  The plan recognizes that New York is not on pace to achieve its goals set forth in the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and that New York has fallen behind its neighbors in terms of solar energy deployment.  Understanding these two basic realities, we have a candidate for Governor that offers sound and sensible proposals that are intended to rapidly accelerate the deployment of solar to fulfill the State's renewable energy deployment goals.

While NYSD would prefer a specific call for a Feed-in Tariff (FIT), the plan does support a Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) approach with targeted required goals for utility solar purchases. The support for this approach, while perhaps not ideal, should be recognized for its vision and leadership when powerful groups such as New York's electric utility industry and the Business Council of New York opposed a bill offering a similar program in the final hours of the most recent legislative session.  Solar advocates should be encouraged that we have a candidate that may be willing to work with them in 'educating' these opposing interests and taking the political risks that could entail.

The plan also provides detailed ideas for enacting policies that will support the deployment of solar thermal technologies, setting forth real proposals and a vision for solar thermal interests that have never been offered by such a high-profile candidate in New York.  It's probably no coincidence given the work the Solar Thermal Consortium has accomplished over the past year in developing New York's Solar Thermal Roadmap.

Lastly, the plan simply 'gets it' when it comes to understanding how each of the various elements of New York's complex energy industry work with one another and the place renewable and solar resources have within it.  And, it recognizes the urgency with which we much act to create the business and political environment required to make New York a regional leader in solar energy deployment.

Read it in full here.

New NYSERDA Program Information Posted

The new NYSERDA PV incentive program information has been posted on the NYSERDA website.  In an email announcement, NYSERDA gives the following program summary:

"The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides cash incentives for the installation by Eligible Installers of new grid-connected Solar Electric or Photovoltaic (PV) systems that are 7kW or less for residential, 25kW or less for not-for-profit and 50 kW or less for commercial sites. Funding for the Solar Electric Incentive Program ("Program") has been allocated by the New York State Renewable Portfolio Standard. The goal of the program is to install 82 MW or 93,806 MWhs of Solar Electric Power systems. Incentives will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, and PV incentive applications will be accepted through December 31, 2015, or until funds are fully committed, whichever comes first."


They have also posted a 'program manual' on the site that succinctly describes the primary elements of the program and its procedural requirements.

NREL Issues Massive FIT Design Guide for US

(The NYSD is pleased to present this re-post from wind-works.org and Paul Gipe.  Paul Gipe is a renowned expert on the development and implementation of Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) worldwide and is founder of wind-works.org - one of the most important sources of FIT information in the world today.)

by Paul Gipe (wind-works.org)

"Feed-in tariffs (FITs) are the most widely used renewable energy policy in the world" says a massive report by a team of researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

At 144 pages, the report--A Policymaker's Guide to Feed-in Tariff Policy Design--is certainly the longest report any US government agency has ever published on feed-in tariffs, the policy known for the dramatic growth of renewable energy in Europe during the past decade. The report's internal governmental and external peer review alone took more than a year.

While an extensive analysis of feed-in tariff policies around the globe, the report focuses on how these polices can be used in the US. Importantly, the report offers American policy makers a guide to the best practices worldwide and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each design element.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of policy options and highlights for Americans some key elements that make policies successful, specifically

• Long-term policy stability,
• Payments based on the cost of generation,
• Differentiating tariffs by technology, size, location, and resource intensity
• Guaranteed access to the grid,
• Eligibility to all end users and project developers, including some utilities, and a
• "Must take" provisions for the electricity generated.

The authors, Toby Couture, Karlynn Cory, Claire Kreycik, and Emily Williams, take the time to delve into the origin of several key provisions in landmark feed-in tariff programs, such as Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act.

One design feature often overlooked in North America is differentiating tariffs by resource intensity. This feature has been used successfully in both Germany and France and is now used in Switzerland as well. Few understand why it was included.

The NREL report contains probably one of the most extensive discourses on resource differentiation currently found in English. The report goes to the German source documents to explain why resource differentiated tariffs are necessary: ". . . to avoid payment of compensation rates that are higher than what is required for a cost-effective operation". As NREL concludes, "this resource-adjusted payment scheme is intended to bound project returns to approximate those targeted by FIT policy administrators, a feature that could help reduce the potential for overpayment in high-quality resource areas."

The report also emphasizes the positive investment environment that aggressive feed-in tariffs provide. "Well-designed feed-in tariffs can help reduce [investment] risk, which can also help reduced the overall cost of RE development," says the report. It goes on to note that the stability of feed-in tariffs makes it more likely that "traditionally risk-averse investors" will provide debt financing, making more capital available for renewable energy development. The latter is increasingly important in the US as the market for tax-advantaged investments has shrunken dramatically since the collapse of the housing bubble.

The NREL report also destroys many of the myths surrounding feed-in tariffs. One myth, for example, is that FIT policies discourage competition. On the contrary, says NREL, the scramble for market share under feed-in tariff polices in Germany, France, and Spain has driven increased private sector research and development, spurring innovation and technological cost reductions.

NREL's observations on Spanish solar photovoltaic (PV) tariffs and the government's reaction will be particularly useful to policy makers in the US where feed-in tariff critics are quick to raise the Spanish PV boogeyman.

"One of the lessons of the Spanish experience is that sudden and unpredictable changes due to frequent bureaucratic interventions are likely to undermine investor confidence and lead to a flight of capital - experience suggests that it is better to design FIT policies with a long-term perspective in mind and to ensure that policy adjustments occur incrementally rather than reactively (Deutsche Bank 2009). Additionally, policymakers should give consideration to the scale of deployment desired - the Spanish case demonstrates that aggressive tariffs combined with a good resource and inadequate oversight can create an explosive policy combination. Care should be given to the design of FIT policy caps (or other cost containment mechanisms), particularly for costlier resources. On the positive side, Spain's experience demonstrates that FIT policies can yield significant RE deployment quickly and effectively and can, therefore, be useful to meet aggressive RE targets."

NREL defines a successful feed-in tariff program as a group of policies that "encourage, rapid, sustained, and widespread renewable energy development" and there's no better example than in continental Europe. Feed-in tariffs, says NREL, have resulted in the deployment of 15,000 MW of solar PV, and 55,000 MW of wind power from 2000 to 2009 in the European Union.

For comparison, there were some 25,000 MW of wind in the US at the end of 2009 and only 1,250 MW of solar PV.

According to NREL, feed-in tariffs are responsible for 75% of all solar PV and 45% of all wind development worldwide.

A Policymaker's Guide to Feed-in Tariff Policy Design