Presented by New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
Editor's Note: This edition of New York Energy is published weekdays at 10 a.m. POLITICO Pro New York subscribers hold exclusive early access to the newsletter each morning at 6 a.m. To learn more about POLITICO Pro New York's comprehensive policy intelligence coverage, policy tools and services, click here.
Quick Fix
— The Department of Public Service staff has filed a long-awaited white paper on the future of mass market solar payments in the state. Meanwhile, the Public Service Commission is expected to act on the issue of consolidated billing for community solar on Thursday.
— Environmental organizations will gather to support several green pieces of legislation that have yet to be signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo at 11 a.m., LCA Pressroom, LOB, Albany.
— Cuomo signed a bill limiting the amount of 1,4-dioxane allowed in household and personal care products.
GOOD TUESDAY MORNING: Let us know if you have tips, story ideas or life advice. We're always here at smaldonado@politico.com and mfrench@politico.com. And if you like this letter, please tell a friend and/or loved one to sign up.
Driving the Day
NATIONAL GRID MAKES COMMUNITY SOLAR PLAY — POLITICO’s Marie J. French: National Grid wants to get into the customer acquisition business for community solar projects, which some developers see as an existential threat to the competitive marketplace. The utility has a petition pending before the Public Service Commission as part of an effort to send customers who signed up for community solar projects a single bill displaying the fee for the solar “subscription,” utility costs and savings. Known as consolidated billing, it’s seen as a way to simplify matters for customers and to reduce administrative costs for community solar.
— RESIDENTIAL SOLAR REPORT: The Department of Public Service staff has issued a long-awaited white paper with suggestions on how to pay for energy generated by residential, mass market solar. Policymakers have been considering a move away from net energy metering, which provides payments based on the amount of electricity generated and reduces a customer’s bill. Those payments don’t take into account the location of a project or other factors that impact its actual value to the grid. Customers unable to afford solar installations also face potential higher costs as others install more and more distributed resources. The report outlines various options for the mass market segment, including a new customer benefit charge that those with solar or other distributed resources receiving compensation would have to pay to reduce the cost shift to customers not participating in solar. Read the full report here and send us your thoughts. Comments are being sought and a commission decision is anticipated next year. — Marie J. French
CUOMO SIGNS 1,4-DIOXANE PRODUCT BAN — Marie: Cuomo signed limits on household cleaners and personal care products including makeup and shampoos with 1,4-dioxane into law on Monday. The measure, backed by environmental advocates and Long Island lawmakers, is part of a response to the crisis of 1,4-dioxane contaminating water systems across the state, but particularly in that region. The chemical, which is a likely carcinogen, was used in many industrial processes and is present in trace amounts in some detergents, shampoos and cosmetics. "In the absence of federal standards to limit the spread of this harmful contaminant, this new law builds on our efforts to protect and preserve our drinking water resources from these unregulated chemicals that threaten the health of New Yorkers and the environment," Cuomo said in a statement.
… The state is also planning to set drinking water limits on 1,4-dioxane, and the Department of Health has indicated those could be finalized this month.
— Household and Commercial Products Association President and CEO Steve Caldeira said the industry group was disappointed Cuomo signed the bill. “The 1,4-dioxane residue from your laundry detergent isn’t the cause of the situation on Long Island. Cleaning products are used everywhere and it’s not an everywhere problem,” he said. “Efforts should instead focus on addressing Long Island’s specific water quality issues — the contamination caused by former industrial and military facilities.”
PLASTICS BAN BILL HALTED — POLITICO’s Samantha Maldonado: Last-minute amendments that would have phased out paper bags and required grocery stores to temporarily provide free reusable bags appear to have stalled a controversial bill to limit single-use plastic waste. The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on Monday was poised to take up a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin, but instead pulled the measure without explanation.
The bill — which would ban plastic and paper bags, phase out polystyrene food containers and make plastic straws available only by request — was widely expected to gain traction in the Assembly after the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee advanced the legislation last week with the amendments. But it was those changes — phasing out paper bags after a year and requiring grocery stores to provide free reusable bags for the first two months of the ban — that forced the Assembly committee to pull the bill.
Around New York
— Climate Jobs New York hired Jeff Vockrodt to be the organization’s next executive director. Vockrodt previously worked for the YMCA of Greater New York.
— New York is in the middle of the pack for monthly utility bills.
— Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday endorsed legislation creating a regulatory framework for the production and sale of hemp in New York — a measure which he said will empower farmers and consumers as the industry continues to grow in the state.
— The state Economic Development Power Allocation Board has recommended that a Beaver Falls company be awarded an allocation of ReCharge NY power.
— A Glens Falls area branch of the Sunrise Movement and fellow marchers laid out demands for Rep. Elise Stefanik at a protest.
— The Town of Hempstead on Tuesday was scheduled to vote on whether to allow a third-party company to secure contracts for the town’s more than 174,000 residents who heat and cook with natural gas in a move that would make it the first in the state to approve the community-choice savings program for gas.
Across the River
— State lawmakers and environmentalists unveiled a plan to ensure that tens of thousands of low-income families in New Jersey have access to solar power as New Jersey expands its solar footprint.
— The Senate Environment and Energy Committee advanced a bill that would modify the Clean Energy Act to provide flexibility under the cost caps for solar incentives.
— The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee moved a bill that would ban products containing hydrofluorocarbons, known as HFCs, or other greenhouse gases, and bills to create a council to study recycling markets.
— Both committees advanced a bill that would establish a state Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University.
— The Assembly Transportation Committee advanced legislation that would create a commission to create a new system for taxing vehicle usage, setting up floor votes in both houses that could lead to new fees on electric cars.
— Funding and staffing for pollution control by New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection dropped by double digits in the 10 years to 2018, part of a national trend of deep cuts in budgets for environmental agencies, according to a new study.
— Environmentalists on Monday decried the federal government’s approval of permits to move liquefied natural gas by rail from northern Pennsylvania to a new port terminal in Gloucester County.
— This 1,400-acre farm just became a jewel of New Jersey preservation, but not all are happy.
— Crystal Springs Resort is now the Northeast's largest solar-powered resort, company officials said.
— ICYMI: The state has adopted a much-debated plan to help the solar sector transition to a new way of financing solar projects, an overhaul the Murphy administration hopes will rein in costs to utility customers who pay for the program.
2019-12-10 15:00:00Z
https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/newsletters/politico-new-york-energy/2019/12/10/psc-solar-payments-331164
CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnBvbGl0aWNvLmNvbS9zdGF0ZXMvbmV3LXlvcmsvbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvcG9saXRpY28tbmV3LXlvcmstZW5lcmd5LzIwMTkvMTIvMTAvcHNjLXNvbGFyLXBheW1lbnRzLTMzMTE2NNIBAA
No comments:
Post a Comment