SEPA’s new report addresses utilities’ acquisition of large-scale solar, which currently occurs primarily through requests for proposals (RFPs) and subsequent power purchase agreement (PPA) contracts. This report draws best practices from both the utility and solar industries, and provides education and insights for both parties that can lower costs, improve expectations, and streamline efficiency. Additionally, …

This paper is intended to provide guidance for tracking systems that would like to create uniformity in the treatment of environmental attributes associated with RECs in a manner that meets the needs of all state RPS programs and other compliance markets as well as the needs of the voluntary REC market. There are several opportunities …

Order Instituting Rulemaking to Implement the Commission’s Procurement Incentive Framework and to Examine the Integration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards into Procurement Policies

Commenting on issues relating to voluntary early emissions reductions in a California cap-and-trade program and CARB’s efforts in designing an effective cap-and-trade program as part of AB32. Recommending auction allowances to incentivize early action, carving out early action allowances from within the cap, maintaining distinction between capped sources and uncapped sources, ensuring reductions occur before …

Letter to CA Assembly Member Ting on Assembly Bill #1110.

Details Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) design principles that ensure an effective and low-cost RPS, recounts lessons learned from specific case studies, and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of taking certain paths, with recommendations for a proposed RPS approach in the Chinese context.

Detailed study of the motivation, design, implementation and progress of the 1999 Texas electricity restructuring legislation, a bill containing some of the most aggressive Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) policies yet implemented in the US.

Discusses the linkages and relationships between Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) and Systems Benefit Charge (SBC) policies in place in particular US states, to explore possible combinations of these two policies in China.

Reviews the relative merits and disadvantages of various ways to apply an RPS to affected electricity suppliers, with particular emphasis on the complexities of applying a capacity-based renewable energy purchase obligation. Includes a review of the Texas experience with this approach.

There are many barriers to the widespread diffusion of renewable energy technologies in the rural environment. One of the main barriers is financial, as many rural families have little expendable capital and lack access to credit. This memorandum outlines schemes that have been utilized to finance solar photovoltaic projects.