Tag: ppa

FERC Reaffirms Concurrent Jurisdiction Over PPAs in Bankruptcy

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) issued an order on May 1, 2019 denying rehearing of its orders asserting concurrent jurisdiction with a bankruptcy court over wholesale power contracts. In January, prior to Pacific Gas & Electric (“PG&E”) filing for bankruptcy, NextEra Energy, Inc. and Exelon Corporation both filed complaints and petitions … Continue Reading

Utah PSC Compromises, Reduces Maximum PPA Contract Terms under PURPA to 15 Years

The Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) issued its decision today on PacifiCorp’s request to shorten the maximum term of power purchase agreements (PPAs) with qualifying facilities (QFs) from 20 years to three years.  The PSC agreed to reduce the maximum term from 20 to 15 years, concluding:  “We believe a 15-year term strikes the appropriate … Continue Reading

To Need or Not to Need, that is the Question: MN PUC Answers in the Affirmative

On Monday, the MN PUC addressed whether ‘tis nobler in the pocketbook to suffer the slings and arrows of the MISO market or to invest in new generating units against a sea of uncertainty. As we noted in prior blogs, the MN PUC initiated the competitive process seeking bids to meet a claimed capacity need … Continue Reading

Minnesota Commission Punts on Resource Decision: Keeps Solar in the Game

After the years of inconclusive resource planning, months of contested case proceedings, and days of oral argument, discussion and review that led to today’s deliberations, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) unanimously decided not to decide. The ultimate question before the Commission was what capacity needs had been determined in the record and what should … Continue Reading

Post-Conference Report: Solar Power International 2013

Thousands of solar industry participants gathered in Chicago for the Solar Power International expo in Chicago, Illinois on October 21-24 to discuss the state of the solar industry. Participatnts included banks, investors, developers and equipment suppliers, and also several Stoel Rives attorneys. Many themes emerged during the week-long event, and a common thread running through these … Continue Reading

#PTC Extension: Scarcity of Utility-Scale PPAs a Big Challenge for Wind Energy in 2013

In the wake of the extension of the production tax credit, my colleague Ed Einowski has analyzed a key challenge – the relative scarcity of available utility-scale power purchase agreement RFPs. Having a PUC-approved PPA in place is generally a prerequisite for securing financing for utility-scale wind projects. Here’s what he has to say: The … Continue Reading

Georgia Power Files for Advanced Solar Initiative

On September 26, 2012, Georgia Power filed with the Georgia Public Service Commission a proposal for the creation of the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative, a program that would result in the procurement of up to 210 megawatts of solar generation through power purchase agreements. Of the 210 MWs, 180 will come from utility scale projects … Continue Reading

PG&E Announces Plans to Issue 2012 Solar PV RFO

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) announced today that it expects to issue its 2012 Solar Photovoltaic PPA RFO (“PV PPA RFO”) in late March or April .  PG&E’s goal in this second round of the RFO is to procure 50 MW of new PV generation.  Two of the eligibility requirements of the PV PPA RFO are (1) … Continue Reading

Minnesota PUC clarifies that “other credits” include RECs

Last year, we reported on the resolution of a longstanding dispute between Xcel Energy and 46 renewable energy generators about the ownership of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) when the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is silent. In an Order released September 9, 2010, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission decided that 1) generators own the RECs produced under … Continue Reading

Renewable Energy Projects: Keys to Drafting Power Purchase Agreements

Renewable Energy Projects: Keys to Drafting Power Purchase Agreements Thursday, March 31, 2011 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) Join Stoel Rives Partner, Bill Holmes, as he presents this exclusive, 60-minute webinar on Thursday, March 31. The power purchase agreement (PPA) is the most critical component of a renewable energy project, and essential to project finance. … Continue Reading

Idaho PUC Issues Proposal to Revise Prices Paid to QF Wind Generators Under PURPA

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has issued a straw man proposal that lays out plans to revise the surrogate avoided resource (SAR) methodology used to calculate avoided cost rates for wind generators.  The "avoided cost" is the price paid to Qualifying Facilities that are selling power to Idaho utilities under the Public Utility Regulatory … Continue Reading

Minnesota PUC Settles Longstanding Dispute over REC Ownership

Last week, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission resolved a longstanding dispute over who owns Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) when the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is silent.  Following the establishment of an REC tracking system for Minnesota, Xcel Energy asked the Commission to clarify ownership of RECs associated with 46 wind, biomass, hydro, and landfill gas … Continue Reading

Rhode Island PUC Rejects Offshore Wind PPA

Last week, the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission rejected a power purchase agreement (PPA) between Deepwater Wind and National Grid, the state’s largest utility, stating that the deal’s projected cost of electricity did not qualify as “commercially reasonable” under a test required by state law.  Deepwater would have charged National Grid 24.4 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2013, … Continue Reading

Public Service Commission of Utah Investigates Third-Party Power Purchase Agreements For Renewable Energy Generation

On October 12, 2009, the Public Service Commission of Utah ("PSC") joined the ranks of several other states in the west, including  Oregon, when it established a docket to investigate whether, and the extent to which, certain third-party arrangements for renewable energy generation are subject to the PSC’s jurisdiction.   www.psc.utah.gov/utilities/misc/miscindx/0999912indx.html,  Pursuant to the notice, the PSC may … Continue Reading
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