In a big win for the demand response industry and its customers, the New York Public Service Commission (NY-PSC) issued an emergency order calling on the state’s utilities to revise their summer demand response programs in light of the coronavirus pandemic and New York’s stay-at-home orders. Effective May 14, the order compels many of the … [Read more...]
What are Non-Wires Alternatives?
June 21, 2019 By 5 Comments
Non-wires alternatives (NWAs) use distributed energy resources and microgrids to defer or replace the installation of more traditional 'wires and poles' infrastructure. When utilities choose non-wires alternatives, they often save ratepayers money by avoiding investments in costly infrastructure. By utilizing distributed energy resources (DER) at … [Read more...]
Who Pays on a Decentralized Grid? New York Tackles the Equity Problem with New Rates
May 28, 2019 By Leave a Comment
The New York Public Service Commission recently revamped utility standby and buyback rates to tackle the vexing problem of ratepayer equity in an age of distributed energy. The changes represent the next iteration in the state’s efforts to encourage wider adoption of clean energy while bringing rates more in line with market forces, all part … [Read more...]
When the Reason for Microgrids Comes in a Flash
February 12, 2019 By 1 Comment
Sometimes the reason for microgrids is so obvious it comes like a big blue flash in the sky. Such was the case in late December when Consolidated Edison’s system malfunctioned causing a gas flare that had some New Yorkers looking to the skies and wondering if space aliens had come to Queens. It took an announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to … [Read more...]
Orange & Rockland Issues RFP for 17-MW Microgrid as a Non-wires Alternative in New York
January 7, 2019 By 3 Comments
New York utility Orange & Rockland has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking a microgrid of up to 17 MW to serve as a non-wires alternative to a substation upgrade in Orange County. Proposals are due March 7. The Consolidated Edison subsidiary seeks business partners to offer a microgrid that employs solar panels, fuel cells, … [Read more...]
No Microgrid is an Island? A Look at the Growing Value of Connectedness
December 17, 2018 By 1 Comment
Well, okay, some microgrids are electrical islands, particularly those that are on a literal island or in a desert or on a mountaintop or somewhere no central grid exists. They function in a stand-alone fashion, or in industry parlance islanded. Others operate independently just some of the time, separating from the central grid during a … [Read more...]
New York Approves Strategy to Install 3,000 MW of Energy Storage
December 14, 2018 By 3 Comments
New York state regulators yesterday approved energy storage goals of 1,500 MW by 2025 and 3,000 MW by 2030, plus a strategy to reach them, including a $310 million incentive program. The commission has been considering its energy strategy for several months and collecting recommendations from industry players that ranged from accelerating … [Read more...]
Barrier to Energy Storage in New York?
November 14, 2018 By Leave a Comment
New York is crafting one of the most ambitious energy storage targets in the nation, but major barriers could make it difficult to meet the target, according to a recent filing with state regulators by storage developer GI Energy. The affiliate of Shell New Energies US argues that energy storage developers face “massive uncertainty” … [Read more...]
A Big Week For Reshaping the Electric Grid with EVs
September 14, 2018 By 1 Comment
EV programs may soon come to a grid near you as states continue to expand and refine charging efforts. Here's a look at some big moves this week in California, Massachusetts and New York. Massachusetts okays one of largest EV programs In Massachusetts, the state Department of Public Utilities on September 10 okayed a $25 million charging … [Read more...]
New York Floats Plan to More than Double Community Distributed Generation
July 31, 2018 By 1 Comment
New York is outstripping the nation in development of community distributed generation, and now it’s got a plan to more than double installations. Also known as shared renewables, community solar or solar gardens, the approach creates communal local energy meant largely to benefit apartment dwellers, those with shady roofs or other … [Read more...]
