New York Announces Third Solicitation of Large-Scale Renewables Program

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, announced on Aug. 16 the third solicitation in the process of the large-scale renewable energy purchasing program identified as Competitive Tier 2, which is intended to maintain the state’s existing renewable energy resources.

The announcement underlines the significance of the state’s baseline energy production as an important share of the extended Clean Energy Standard and reinforces the state’s aim to acquire 70 percent of its electricity from renewable generation by 2030 on their pathway to a zero-emissions electricity grid.

The third Competitive Tier 2 solicitation helps the authority in pursuing proposals to obtain Tier 2-eligible Renewable Energy Certificates, or RECs from current privately-operated hydropower and land-based wind producers in the state that began industrial operations earlier than Jan. 1,2015. The authority’s procurement method offers the prospect to increase the volume of state produced renewable energy under agreement, while still permitting community choice aggregations to willingly arrange the optimal price and terms on energy supply.

As part of its solicitations, the authority will sign up with awarded generators for the purchase of RECs. The declaration builds on the authority’s first two rounds of awards which led to three projects to be retained and produce enough renewable energy in the state to provide electricity to nearly 8,300 homes and provide assistance to ongoing operations for existing renewable energy plants. The solicitation also synchronises the state’s actions to swiftly expand expansion of large renewable energy projects, significantly reducing fossil-fuel production and damaging emissions in the state.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Competitive Tier 2 in January 2021 to maximize the contributions and potential of the state’s existing resources to ensure their continued operations. The program will ensure that certain existing baseline renewable resources are retained through three annual solicitations.

The authority will assess and select the proposals centred on the lowest possible price received. Plans are due on Sept. 15 and the awards are expected to be announced in October 2022.