Green Power Partnership Program Updates Issue 43
Issue 43, September 15, 2016
- What to Expect at Renewable Energy Markets 2016
- Top Partner Rankings Data Deadline Reminder
- Partner Spotlight: City of Hayward, California
- Updates from RE100
- In the News—Recent Press on the Green Power Partnership
- Upcoming GPP Webinars
- Upcoming Center for Resource Solutions Webinar
- Latest Reports on Green Power
- Second Stakeholder Comment Period Open for Updates to the Green-e Energy National Standard
- EPA Climate Leadership Awards Application Deadline; Climate Leadership Conference
- Solar Market Pathways Toolkit: Solar for Colleges and Universities
- Second Round of NREL Solar Photovoltaic Screening Applications for Universities Due October 15, 2016
What to Expect at Renewable Energy Markets 2016
The annual Renewable Energy Markets (REM) Conference is one month away! Organized by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) and co-sponsored by GPP, REM 2016 will be held October 16-18 in San Francisco, California. By attending REM, you will join leaders from federal and state governments, large corporate purchasers, leading utilities and electricity generators, and marketers to discuss clean energy. Attend sessions on project development, policy, market development, and a variety of other topics, and mark your calendars for the 2016 Green Power Leadership Awards Ceremony on Monday, October 17. Don’t miss out! For more information, visit: http://www.renewableenergymarkets.com.
Top Partner Rankings Data Deadline Reminder
On October 24, GPP will publish updates to the program's Top Partner Rankings, On-Site Renewables Challenge, and Green Power Community (GPC) Rankings. Please submit any data updates to your account manager by October 4. Contact us if you have questions. Don't forget to visit the GPP website on October 24 to learn what's new!
On-Site Renewables Challenge
The Green Power Partnership launched the On-Site Renewables Challenge in support of President Obama's Climate Action Plan. The Challenge has a goal of doubling the use of on-site green power by Green Power Partners by the end of the decade. Several Partners have already made commitments to increase the deployment of on-site renewable energy systems by 2020. Take a look at the current Partner On-Site Renewables Commitments.
Is your organization interested in supporting the Challenge and making an on-site renewables commitment? Submit an On-site Renewables Commitment Agreement today!
Top Partner Rankings
The Top Partner Rankings highlight the annual green power use of leading Green Power Partners within the United States and across individual industry sectors, including Colleges & Universities, Retail, Tech & Telecom, and Local Government.
View the current Top Partner Rankings as of July 2016.
Green Power Community (GPC) Rankings
Green Power Communities are towns, villages, cities, counties, or tribal governments in which the local government, businesses, and residents collectively use green power. GPCs are ranked by total annual green power usage, as well as by the percentage of green power used in the community.
View the current Green Power Community (GPC) Rankings as of July 2016.
Partner Spotlight: City of Hayward, California
Ray Busch, the Manager of the Hayward Water Pollution Control Facility for the City of Hayward, California, recently answered some questions about the city's green power use. The City of Hayward won a Green Power Leadership Award in 2015 for On-Site Generation.
Q. What motivated your organization to use green power?
A. The Hayward City Council's top three priorities are: Safe, Clean, and Green, and as a result, staff strive to incorporate green practices throughout all city operations.
The City of Hayward was on the forefront of green power use. In 1981, the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) began using methane produced from anaerobic digesters as a fuel for cogeneration. In 2010, the WPCF installed a one-megawatt solar installation on land formerly used as oxidation ponds. Most recently, the city replaced the original cogeneration engine with a new 1.1 megawatt cogeneration facility. The City Council Sustainability Committee, as well as the full City Council, fully supported these projects.
Q. Tell us about your organization's green power procurement.
A. The City of Hayward uses 11,166,000 kilowatt-hours annually, 51 percent of which is produced on-site. Hayward's green power portfolio includes:
- A solar field, now producing 1 megawatt (MW) of power per day.
- A fats, oil, and grease (FOG) receiving station that diverts grease trap and other high strength organic waste from landfills to anaerobic digesters where the waste is converted to energy;
- A 1 MW state-of-the art biogas-fueled cogeneration system, which the city built, owns, and operates.
City of Hayward, California's 1 megawatt solar array
Q. Describe any innovative green power strategies your organization has, or is planning to implement.
A. In 2013, the WPCF began operating a fats, oils, and grease (FOG) receiving station that accepts organic waste from area restaurants. The FOG is discharged directly into the city's digesters, boosting biogas production. Waste heat from the new cogeneration system is captured and used to heat the city's anaerobic digesters, further reducing reliance on natural gas formerly used to heat the sludge during colder months of the year. There are plans for installing another 1-megawatt photovoltaic array and a second cogeneration engine at the facility that will boost the WPCF's green power production.
Q. What do you see as the benefits of using green power and what role does it currently play in your organization's broader business and environmental strategy?
A. The cogeneration facility at the WPCF utilizes methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. The cogeneration and the solar reduce the facility's carbon footprint and will help the city meet its long term greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Q. Does your organization have a green power or carbon footprint reduction goal? If so, what is it and how do you plan to achieve it?
A. In 2009, Hayward adopted a Climate Action Plan with goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and by 80 percent by 2050. In May 2016, the Hayward City Council adopted a policy requiring all new city buildings and major retrofits of city buildings to be zero net energy. The City is also currently developing a plan to achieve cumulative zero net energy status for all its facilities by 2025.
Q. What advice would you give to other organizations interested in using green power, and is there anything you would do differently?
A. We recommend looking for available grants and optimal electric rate schedules for maximum benefit. The one thing we might do differently would be starting with a larger photovoltaic array.
Q. How do you communicate your green power use to consumers, employees, and other stakeholders?
A. Staff have written articles that have appeared in professional publications. The WPCF has encouraged employees to embrace green power by installing a free use dual electric vehicle charger and special parking spaces for up to four electric vehicles to be charged. The WPCF has developed outreach materials including a tri-fold brochure that focuses on green power use. There are plans to develop signage, as well as a web page dedicated to green power. The WPCF gives facility tours to employees from other city departments and wastewater professionals from neighboring agencies. We recently started efforts to partner with California State University East Bay to educate environmental and engineering-focused students with tours of the plant.
Q. How has being an EPA Green Power Partner benefited your organization? Why do you think GPP is a good program to join?
A. Since becoming an EPA Green Power Partner, the WPCF has gained greater visibility throughout the community, which has helped Hayward publicize its innovative sustainability efforts. The WPCF is a source of pride for the city and its employees. We regularly host tours for other wastewater agencies that are considering cogeneration.
Updates from RE100
RE100 is a collaborative, global initiative of influential businesses committed to 100 percent renewable electricity, working to massively increase corporate demand for renewable energy.
Recently, the We Mean Business' 'Take Action' campaign reached a milestone with 1000 corporate commitments to climate action, which includes 69 business commitments to 100 percent renewable power through RE100, so far.
In case you missed it, RE100's Making Credible Renewable Electricity Usage Claims (PDF) (16 pp, 846K) briefing note (April 2016) provides criteria that renewable electricity (RE) sources and purchasing mechanisms must meet in order to support credible RE usage and delivery claims. These criteria can be applied across a range of local electricity market conditions and RE market development levels. The briefing also provides guidance for verification, reporting, and communication of RE use.
In the News—Recent Press on the Green Power Partnership
Green Power Partners have received quite a bit of press recently, especially in conjunction with July's Top Partner Rankings and On-site Renewables Challenge updates.
The quotes below highlight what a few of our Partners are saying about being recognized for their green power efforts:
City of Gaithersburg, MD, Gaithersburg Joins EPA's 2016 Green Power Leadership Club, on joining the Green Power Leadership Club for the first time:
"'We've been a member of the Green Power Partnership since 2013,' said Dyan Backe, Environmental Planner for the City of Gaithersburg. 'At that time we committed to [procure] 30%...green power. We've worked hard over the past few years to up that commitment, and our membership in the Green Power Leadership Club recognizes that effort.'" (August 26 Press Release)
L'Oreal USA Inc., EPA Recognizes L'Oreal USA Among Nation's Leading Green Power Users, on becoming a Green Power Partner:
"'We are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for our renewable energy achievements,' said Fréderic Rozé, President and CEO of L'Oréal USA. 'As the world's beauty leader, it is our responsibility to integrate sustainability into all areas of our business and this partnership signifies the company's ongoing effort to identify cleaner sources of power.'" (August 18 Press Release and News Story)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, EPA Recognizes U.S. Department of Agriculture Among Nation's Leading Green Power Users, on making the Top 10 Federal Government and National Top 100 lists:
"USDA is proud to be part of the Green Power Partnership, [and]…is even more proud to be recognized as number five on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Top 10 Federal Government list of the largest green power users from the Green Power Partnership. Additionally, USDA is number 43 on the National Top 100 list." (August 11 Press Release)
IKEA, IKEA U.S. Ranks Six on EPA's Top 30 Retail List of Green Power Users, on appearing on the Top 30 Retail List for the first time:
"'Green power use is both an important tool in helping to reduce the impact of climate change as well as a sound business decision,' said Lars Petersson, IKEA U.S. President. 'As we move towards being completely energy independent, we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for helping to lead the way towards a sustainable future.'" (July 27 Press Release and News Story)
General Motors / GMVM Orion, Chevy Bolt EV Plant Ranks 8th among Green Power Users, on making the Top 30 On-site Generation list,
"'Building the Bolt EV in a facility that is 54 percent powered by clean energy further adds to the car's environmental credentials,' said Alicia Boler-Davis, GM vice president of global manufacturing. 'It's an example of how we live our global sustainable manufacturing commitment while improving our bottom line.'" (July 25 Press Release and News Story)
Upcoming GPP Webinars
An Introduction to Virtual Power Purchase Agreements
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
1:00-2:00 PM EDT
Register today!
Corporations and large institutions are increasingly turning to power purchase agreements for renewable electricity to manage utility expenses and meet their carbon footprint reduction and sustainability goals. Recently, a new twist on the power purchase agreement (PPA) model has emerged—the "virtual" power purchase agreement (VPPA). Unlike traditional PPAs that involve the physical delivery of electricity to the customer's location, VPPAs are more like a financial transaction and consequently are not limited to customers located in deregulated states. During this webinar, we will discuss the factors driving the growth of corporate interest in PPAs, how VPPAs work, the cost management (hedge) value of VPPAs, the suitability of VPPAs for different customer types, and key considerations when evaluating a VPPA. The webinar will also provide an overview of Iron Mountain's recent experience with VPPAs, including the planning and vision that made them a reality.
Speakers include:
- Christopher Kent, Program Manager, U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership
- Kevin Hagen, Director Corporate Responsibility, Iron Mountain
Solar Power Claims & Reporting: An Introduction for Colleges and Universities
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
1:00–2:00 PM EDT
Register today!
Colleges and universities are increasingly turning to solar photovoltaic systems—both on- and off-site—to manage their energy costs, reduce their carbon footprints, meet stated renewable energy goals, and develop real-world teaching tools. However, the public statements and claims schools can legitimately make about their "use" of solar power and reductions in emissions, and how they account for emissions-free electricity in their internal greenhouse gas inventories and external reports, such as Second Nature's Climate Leadership Commitments, are dependent on the specific solar power procurement arrangement of the school. This webinar will provide guidance to schools on the types of claims they can and can't make regarding their use of solar power under various procurement scenarios, the role of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in renewable energy claims, examples of appropriate solar power claims, and how to account for solar produced electricity in carbon commitments reports to Second Nature.
Speakers:
- Christopher Kent, Program Manager, U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership
- Brett Pasinella, Senior Manager of Innovative Services, Second Nature
NREL's Mid-Scale Solar Market Policy Webinar
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
1:00 PM-2:00 PM EDT
Register today!
The distributed photovoltaic (PV) market in the United States has grown rapidly in the past years. However, several barriers have hindered the growth rate of the segment that is between small rooftop systems and utility-scale projects. One such barrier is the lack of uniformity in policy support for this segment of the market among different states. Customers from the commercial, industrial, agricultural, school, government, nonprofit, and large residential sectors should consider the policy landscape relative to the location of the project to make informed decisions on installing a solar project or participating in a solar program.
This webinar provides an overview of NREL's "Midmarket Solar Policies in the United States—A guide for midsized solar customers". The guidebook is aimed to help potential customers from the mid-market PV segment (between 50kW to 2-5MW) to navigate through different kinds of policy mechanisms in order to do preliminary assessment of project feasibility. This resource offers overviews and checklists for potential customers on each policy mechanism as well as a profile and relevant resources for each state. The Green Power Partnership will provide an overview of how our Partners are engaging in this mid-scale solar market and will highlight some examples of innovative practices they are doing to finance and develop their solar projects.
Speakers include:
- Tian Tian, Senior Energy Analyst, NREL
- Christopher Kent, Program Manager, U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership
Upcoming Center for Resource Solutions Webinar
Center for Resource Solutions' Solar Energy on Campus: Key Considerations for Solar Developers Working with Higher Education Institutions
Thursday, September 29, 2016
2:00-3:00 PM EDT
Register today!
Solar developers and renewable energy marketers are increasingly interacting directly with end-use customers interested in purchasing solar energy or supporting the development of solar PV projects. Developers engaged in these deals have to be prepared to address a range of concerns and goals that differ from those of their traditional customers, mainly utilities and electricity providers. Importantly, there can be reputational and legal risk for both developer and customer if the deal isn't properly understood in terms of renewable energy benefits by all involved entities. Join representatives from Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in a free webinar to discuss:
- The role of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in renewable energy claims
- Regulations and restrictions on marketing solar energy products
- Examples of deceptive marketing statements and marketing
- Key disclosure considerations under various solar purchasing options including onsite generation, PPAs, and REC purchases
- Best practices in partnering with universities for solar deployment
- Additional deal considerations, including REC arbitrage, state incentives, operating within cap-and-trade programs, and state laws
This webinar is aimed at developers and renewable energy marketers engaging directly with end-use customers, including higher education institutions.
Speakers include:
- Maya Kelty, Green-e Associate, CRS
- Jenny Heeter, Senior Energy Analyst, NREL
Latest Reports on Green Power
Median Installed Price of U.S. Solar Dropped by 5-12 Percent in 2015, DOE's Berkeley Lab Reports
The U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) came to this conclusion in their latest "state of the market" reports. "This marks the sixth consecutive year of significant price reductions for distributed PV systems in the U.S.," said Galen Barbose of Berkeley Lab. The report also concludes that prices for power purchase agreements (PPAs) have gone down as well. View a CleanTechnica article about and with links to the reports here.
Seventy-Two Percent of Surveyed U.S. Companies are Actively Pursuing Renewable Energy Procurement, PwC Reports
GPP Partner PwC recently released the results of a survey it conducted among a select group of companies headquartered in the United States to better understand what is driving corporate renewable procurement decisions. Key findings include:
- A strong majority of respondents (72 percent) are actively pursuing renewable energy procurement.
- The majority of respondents (63 percent) have become more inclined to purchase in the last six months; among those who have made a purchase in the past, an even larger majority (85 percent) intend to make additional purchases in the next 18 months.
- Intent to purchase is driven by a desire to meet sustainability goals and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, generate an attractive ROI, and limit exposure to energy price variability.
- The most commonly cited reasons for not actively pursuing renewable procurement include the lack of a corporate mandate, an unattractive payback, and the length of contracts.
Read PwC's full report here.
Cumulative Wind Power Grew by 12 Percent in the United States in 2015 According to a Recent Berkeley Lab Report
Wind power represented the largest source of U.S. electric-generating capacity additions in 2015, and Berkeley Lab projects wind power to continue to grow rapidly over the next five years. The U.S. ranked second globally in wind additions last year, with Texas leading the way and 12 states exceeding 10 percent wind penetration. View the report's abstract here and the full report here.
Second Stakeholder Comment Period Open for Updates to the Green-e Energy National Standard
Green-e Energy seeks feedback on potential future provisions of the Green-e Energy National Standard (the "Standard") and is accepting feedback from all interested stakeholders through midnight PT on Sunday, October 2, 2016.
To comment, take the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M86VKKV. Prior to taking the survey, you may download and review a PDF of all survey questions (PDF) (13 pp, 117K).
Feedback is requested on the following topics:
- New Date (Age of Eligible Renewable Energy Facilities)
- Long Term Supply
- Minimum Purchase Quantity
- Tracking System Requirements and Exceptions
- Eligible Sources of Supply: Food-derived biofuels
Stakeholder comments are due by midnight PT Sunday, October 2, 2016. The current Standard and a PDF summary of potential changes are available at Green-e Energy National Standard and Governing Documents.
If you need to pause while taking the survey (for example, to look up information), you may resume it at any time prior to midnight PT on Sunday, October 2, by using the link that directed you there initially, provided you do so from the same computer and browser. You may also go back and change your answers at any time prior to clicking "Submit Survey Responses" at the end of the survey.
EPA Climate Leadership Awards Application Deadline; Climate Leadership Conference
EPA Climate Leadership Awards Application Period Closes September 26, 2016
Now in its sixth year, the EPA Climate Leadership Awards provides national recognition for exemplary corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in response to climate change. EPA co-sponsors the awards with the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and The Climate Registry. Apply for a chance to be honored for your accomplishments! /climateleadership/climate-leadership-awards.
Celebrate Award Winners, Share Your Climate Success Stories and Build New Business Connections at the 6th Annual Climate Leadership Conference
Climate Leadership Award recipients will be honored at an awards dinner March 2, 2017, during the Climate Leadership Conference, hosted at the Downtown Chicago Marriott, March 1 – 3, 2017. The conference is an exchange for thought leaders from business, government, academia, and the non-profit community to share best practices for integrating GHG reduction and climate risk and resilience strategies into their organization's operations.
Solar Market Pathways Toolkit: Solar for Colleges and Universities
This DOE toolkit provides guidance and resources from Solar Market Pathways projects to inform the development and implementation of targeted solar programs and policies for higher education institutions. Specifically, these resources are intended to assist college and university program managers, sustainability directors, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders as they seek to take advantage of the benefits of solar energy and further solar deployment on off campus.
Second Round of NREL Solar Photovoltaic Screening Applications for Universities Due October 15, 2016
In support of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot initiative, NREL is offering no-cost technical assistance to universities seeking to go solar. The program is designed to increase the deployment of mid-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at universities, engage stakeholders to develop deployment solutions, and empower decision makers.
Using the REopt model, NREL will conduct an initial techno-economic assessment of solar PV feasibility at selected universities. NREL will provide each university with customized results, including the cost-effectiveness of solar PV, recommended system size, estimated capital cost to implement the technology, and estimated life cycle cost savings.
Any U.S. higher education institution is eligible to apply.
Applications are due October 15, 2016. Please note, this application period is for Solar Photovoltaic Screenings using NREL's REopt model, not for Solar Photovoltaic Implementation Assistance.
Application:
http://www.nrel.gov/tech_deployment/pdfs/solar_screening_application_for_universities.pdf
Additional information:
http://www.nrel.gov/tech_deployment/tools_universities.html
Please contact Kate Anderson with any questions: kate.anderson@nrel.gov or 303-384-7453.
