 |
| Marion Gold, director of the Office of Energy Resources, is reworking the state energy plan. (Tim Faulkner/ecoRI News) |
By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI.org
News staff
PROVIDENCE — Energy
projects have moved quickly in Rhode Island ever since Marion Gold took over at
the Office of Energy Resources (OER) this summer.
So far, she has
aggressively sought improvements to the state’s new renewable energy program,
expanded options for energy efficiency and is pushing for additional green
initiatives, such as electric vehicles.
Renewable energy
On Wednesday, the OER held its last of five public meetings — only one was
required by law — to propose new rates for the landmark distributed generation
contracts program in 2013.
The distributed
generation program, which offers long-term electricity purchase agreements for
new solar and wind projects, added pricing for hydroelectric power and
anaerobic digestion. Hydroelectric projects aren't expected in the next two
years, but setting aside electricity contracts for water power is intended to
encourage development of this energy source. Anearobic projects are expected
next year, according to state officials.
Since the program
began in December 2011, solar energy has dominated the renewable energy
contracts awarded by National Grid. Fifteen have gone to solar projects; one
for a wind turbine. To encourage more wind development, the OER suggested
raising ceiling prices for new contracts by 26 percent to 16.8 cents per
kilowatt-hour. Solar, by contrast, dropped its ceiling price between 10 and 14
percent to between 24.9 and 29.9 cents per kilowatt-hour.
This proposed pricing
must be approved by the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC). A decision is
expected by the end of January.
“We’re really excited
and hope the PUC approves the prices,” said Karina Lutz of People’s Power &
Light, a buyer of renewable energy credits. The distributed generation program,
she said, “shows it’s really working for these projects.”
At the inaugural
meeting between the OER’s renewable energy coordinating board and the energy
efficiency council, Gold announced that her office is reviewing the state’s
existing renewable energy law to entice development of hydro-power generation
and anaerobic digestion.
A separate review will
examine expanding tax credits for renewable energy projects. A study of Rhode
Island's net-metering laws and renewable energy standards will be included,
along with potential revisions to include offshore wind power and large-scale
hydroelectric projects.
Gold also noted that
she has been encouraging Gov. Lincoln Chafee to expand the program that
finances energy efficiency projects to include renewable energy projects.
Energy plan
“I’m hugely pleased to
see this. It’s a huge step forward for the state,” said advisory board member
Seth Handy, an attorney specializing in renewable energy.
Gold acknowledged that
goals for climate change reduction were missing from the project. She noted,
however, that anticipated budgets cuts to state agencies won’t be an
impediment. “I think it’s a pretty darn good plan. We have the people in place,
but we can always do better," she said.
Green projects
At the Nov. 27 meeting, Gold announced that the state Department of
Administration aims to include electric vehicles in the state’s vehicle
purchase program. Details haven’t yet been announced.
Proposals are in the
works to include funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to support
small-scale renewable energy projects.
Abigail Anthony of
Environment Northeast explained that Rhode Island has several ventures with
National Grid. A “non-wired” pilot program is slated for the Tiverton/Little
Compton area. It aims to address electricity demand in the fastest-growing
region of the state. Rather than spend money to expand traditional “poles and
wires,” the project looks for voluntary participation from large energy users
to cut their usage through retiring outdated air conditioner and refrigerators
and installing energy efficient windows. Central AC units would also be
remotely operated to tweak usage during peak hours of demand. Combined heat and
power units and solar arrays also are being considered.
“Rhode Island is really a leader in the region
and the country on this,” Gold said of the project.