§24-2F-4 Awarding of alternative and renewable energy resource credits.
§24-2F-4. Awarding of alternative and renewable energy resource credits.
(a) Credits established. -- The Public Service Commission shall establish a system of tradable credits to establish, verify and monitor the generation and sale of electricity generated from alternative and renewable energy resource facilities. The credits may be traded, sold or used to meet the portfolio standards established in section five of this article.
(b) Awarding of credits. -- Credits shall be awarded as follows:
(1) An electric utility shall be awarded one credit for each megawatt hour of electricity generated or purchased from an alternative energy resource facility located within the geographical boundaries of this state or located outside of the geographical boundaries of this state but within the service territory of a regional transmission organization, as that term is defined in 18 C.F.R. §35.34, that manages the transmission system in any part of this state;
(2) An electric utility shall be awarded two credits for each megawatt hour of electricity generated or purchased from a renewable energy resource facility located within the geographical boundaries of this state or located outside of the geographical boundaries of this state but within the service territory of a regional transmission organization, as that term is defined in 18 C.F.R. §35.34, that manages the transmission system in any part of this state;
(3) An electric utility shall be awarded three credits for each megawatt hour of electricity generated or purchased from a renewable energy resource facility located within the geographical boundaries of this state if the renewable energy resource facility is sited upon a reclaimed surface mine; and
(4) A customer-generator shall be awarded one credit for each megawatt hour of electricity generated from an alternative energy resource facility and shall be awarded two credits for each megawatt hour of electricity generated from a renewable energy resource facility.
(c) Acquiring of credits permitted. --
(1) An electric utility may meet the alternative and renewable energy portfolio standards set forth in this article by purchasing additional credits. Credits may be bought or sold by an electric utility or customer-generator or banked and used to meet an alternative and renewable energy portfolio standard requirement in a subsequent year.
(2) Each credit transaction shall be reported by the selling entity to the Public Service Commission on a form provided by the commission.
(3) As soon as reasonably possible after the effective date of this section, the commission shall establish a registry of data, or use an independent and industry-recognized system, that shall track credit transactions and shall list the following information for each transaction: (i) The parties to the transaction; (ii) the number of credits sold or transferred; and (iii) the price paid. Information contained in the registry shall be available to the public, except that pricing information concerning individual transactions shall be confidential and exempt from disclosure under subdivision (5), subsection (a), section four, article one, chapter twenty-nine-b of this code.
(4) The commission may impose an administrative transaction fee on a credit transaction in an amount not to exceed the actual direct cost of processing the transaction by the commission.
(d) Credits for certain emission reduction or offset projects. --
(1) The commission may award credits to an electric utility for greenhouse gas emission reduction or offset projects. For each ton of carbon dioxide equivalent reduced or offset as a result of an approved greenhouse gas emission reduction project, the commission shall award an electric utility one credit: Provided, That the emissions reductions and offsets are verifiable and certified in accordance with rules promulgated by the commission: Provided, however, That the commission has previously approved the greenhouse gas emission reduction and offset project for credit in accordance with section six of this article.
(2) The commission shall consult and coordinate with the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection or an independent and industry-recognized entity to verify and certify greenhouse gas emission reduction or offset projects. The Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection shall provide assistance and information to the Public Service Commission and may enter into interagency agreements with the commission to effectuate the purposes of this subsection.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, an electric utility may not be awarded credits for a greenhouse gas emission reduction or offset project undertaken pursuant to any obligation under any other state law, policy or regulation.
(e) Credits for certain energy efficiency and demand-side energy initiative projects. --
(1) The commission may award credits to an electric utility for investments in energy efficiency and demand-side energy initiative projects. For each megawatt hour of electricity conserved as a result of an approved energy efficiency or demand-side energy initiative project, the commission shall award one credit: Provided, That the amount of electricity claimed to be conserved is verifiable and certified in accordance with rules promulgated by the commission: Provided, however, That the commission has approved the energy efficiency or demand-side energy initiative project for credit in accordance with section six of this article.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, an electric utility may not be awarded credit for an energy efficiency or demand-side energy initiative project undertaken pursuant to any obligation under any other state law, policy or regulation.