Electric Utilities Issue RFP for Medium and Large Renewable Energy Projects
Those who follow the renewable energy industry in Connecticut have been eagerly awaiting the issuance of the requests for proposal (RFPs) for the zero emission and low emission renewable energy credit programs authorized by Public Act 11-80. That wait, at least for medium and large projects, is now over.
On May 1, The Connecticut Light & Power Company "CL&P" and The United Illuminating Company "UI" jointly issued an RFP for the Low and Zero Emissions Renewable Energy Credit Program. This RFP was issued in accordance with an April 4, 2012 decision issued by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. The RFP requests bids from Low Emission Renewable Energy Credit (LREC) projects and Medium and Large Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit (ZREC) projects, such as wind, solar and run-of-river hydroelectric projects. For purposes of the ZREC program, medium projects have been defined as those projects with a nameplate capacity of 100 to 250 kW, and large projects have been defined as projects with a nameplate capacity of 250 to 1000 kW. Projects with less than 100 kW of capacity will be addressed through a separate procurement process after the medium and large projects have been selected.
According to the utilities, the LREC/ZREC RFP will be handled according to the following schedule:
As mentioned in the schedule above, "CL&P" and "UI" will be holding a conference for prospective bidders on May 21, 2012. It is expected that the prospective bidder's conference will be held at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) offices in the Phoenix Auditorium at 79 Elm Street in Hartford, Connecticut. More details pertaining to the prospective bidder's conference will be issued by the utilities in the coming weeks.
Although the utilities are running the RFP process jointly, each utility will select winning projects separately, based on the service territory in which a project is located. The selection of projects through the RFP process is only the first step in the LREC/ZREC process, however. For the next step, those contracts that are selected by the utilities will then be subject to review and approval by PURA.
Developers of renewable energy, as well as potential municipal and commercial sites for renewable energy should follow this newly-created process closely. To assist in this endeavor, both utilities have placed key information, including downloadable program documents, on their websites. To access this information, visit the CL&P webpage at: www.cl-p.com, then click on “Going Green” and then click on “Renewable Energy Credits" or visit the UI webpage at: www.uinet.com/powerprocurement.
The RFP process will also be discussed at Pullman & Comley's upcoming event, "DEEP One Year Later." The event, being held at 7:45 a.m. on May 22nd, 2012 at the Hartford Club, will highlight recent energy and environmental updates, including the LREC/ZREC program. For more information, or to register for the event, please call 860-424-4343 or write to event@pullcom.com.