Finding Pennsylvania's Solar Future - Status Report May 17, 2018
"Exploring the latest status report on Pennsylvania's solar future, including key updates and developments in the state's solar energy sector. Stay informed on the progress, challenges, and opportunities in advancing solar power in Pennsylvania through this comprehensive report released on May 17, 2018. Discover insights and projections that shape the future of solar energy in Pennsylvania and its impact on the environment, economy, and energy landscape."
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Finding Pennsylvanias Solar Future Finding Pennsylvania s Solar Future Q6 Status Report May 17, 2018 www.dep.pa.gov/pasolarfuture
Todays Agenda Introductions Discussion of Changes to the Plan Discussion of Expert Comments Next Steps Q&A (if needed)
Timeline December 30, 2017: Finalize Strategy Brief Revised Goal Setting Rough Draft of the PA Solar Future Plan March, 2018: Stakeholder Review Draft Solar Future Plan Revised Scenario Results May, 2018: Expert Review Complete June, 2018: Public Release of Draft Pennsylvania s Solar Future Plan Public Comment
Changes to the Solar Future Plan Review Version: On Box, PA Solar Future External Review Draft The next version will include: Executive Summary Main Document Appendices
Themes Changing recommendations to strategies Making the case for solar early in the document Focus on the strategy not the implementation Including more examples of where similar strategies have been implemented
Strategies More have been combined under cross-cutting issues Removed the broad considerations for strategies section Wording has been revised in a number of cases Again, more focus has been put on describing strategies than the pathway to implementation Not ranked or prioritized
Cross-Cutting Strategies Implement an increase in the AEPS solar PV carve-out to between 4 and 8 percent by 2030 and ensure creditable SRECs are limited to those generated in Pennsylvania wherever possible. Increase access to capital by expanding availability of solar lending products to residential and commercial projects to enable solar ownership. Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Access to Capital Provide loan guarantees to lower interest rates and incentivize deployment of solar generation. Implement a carbon pricing program and invest the proceeds in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. Support the creation and adoption of uniform policies to streamline siting and land-use issues while encouraging conservation. Carbon Pricing Siting and Land Use Provide support for brownfields development over land that can be used for other purposes. Evaluate the state tax policy and consider exemptions that encourage the development of solar PV systems. Assist solar project sponsors in identifying investors and/or companies that have sufficient tax equity appetite to take full advantage of the federal ITC and Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) depreciation if sponsors cannot do so themselves. Tax Incentives
Grid Scale Strategies Develop guidelines for limited use of long term contracts (LTCs) for a period of 10 or more years to ensure Pennsylvania benefits from grid scale solar energy. Long-Term Contracts Evaluate and consider utility ownership of solar generation especially in cases where market-driven deployment may be insufficient to achieve public goals and/or reliability concerns. This may include solar for low income and Customer Assistance Programs in particular. Investigate opportunities for grid modernization to enable increased solar generation. Grid Modernization
Distributed Generation Strategies Expand the ability of customers to use net metering. Remove the barriers to the deployment of community solar systems in Pennsylvania Virtual Net Metering Community Solar Ensure alternative ratemaking is addressed in a manner that does not create a disincentive for solar deployment Alternative Ratemaking Enable and encourage municipalities to offer PACE programs that include solar projects. Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Accelerate use of smart inverters to manage over- voltage concerns on low voltage distribution lines and avoid unnecessarily adding costs on small solar distributed generation projects. Addressing Interconnection Issues
External Review Selection of reviewers Dr. Robert Margolis, NREL Dr. Seth Blumsack, Penn State Univ. Dr. Willard Delavan, Lebanon Valley College Review priorities Reasonableness Clarity Issues we missed We did not ask for Duplication or validation of modeling Legal analysis Reconsidering the scope of the project
Overall, I believe that the report offers some good supporting analysis to the notion that solar photovoltaics at the utility scale and behind the meter level can make a non-trivial contribution to Pennsylvania s energy needs. In addition to the report, which provides some useful information for decision makers at the state level, I hope that your team will continue to draw on the experience of other states in the Northeastern U.S. that have grown successful solar energy sectors. -- Dr. Seth Blumsack
Comments Clarifications Citations Late breaking changes (e.g. Beaver Valley, Act 40) Broader impact of solar beyond energy prices Capacity Market Ancillary Services Shifting of the workforce
Next Steps Release of Public Review Draft June 14th Stakeholder Meeting in Philadelphia Introduction Pennsylvania s Solar Future Plan Project Next Steps Lunch and Keynote Panel Discussions Question & Answer Public Comment Period Development of the Strategy Support and Market Transformation Plan.
Q & A RA-EPPAsolarfuture@pa.gov
