Vermont Standard Offer RFP Process to Begin April 1; PSB Revises RFP Schedule

As we previously reported, on March 1st the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) significantly overhauled the Standard Offer program for renewable energy projects, switching to a new Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Under the revised program, the SPEED Facilitator will issue an annual RFP in increments of 5 MW (increasing at certain fixed points), until [...]

Sequestration Hits Renewables Sector: 1603 Treasury Grants Cut by 8.7%

The U.S. Treasury made the following announcement last week to implement the sequestration cuts required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.  [P]ayments issued under Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 for specified energy property in lieu of tax credits, are subject to sequestration.  [...]

Vermont Public Service Board Revamps Renewable Energy Standard-Offer Program; Establishes Market-Based Mechanism for New Projects

Back in May 2012, the Vermont Legislature enacted into law (Act 170) significant changes to the “SPEED” Standard Offer program for in-state renewable electric energy projects with a capacity of 2.2 megawatts or less.  In an Order issued on March 1, 2013 (Dockets 7873/7874), the Vermont Public Service Board implemented the new statutory mandates, including [...]

Vermont Public Service Board Has Active Summer in Renewables Arena

The Vermont Public Service Board has seen a spate of activity over the past several months in the renewable energy arena.  This has included both broad policy setting as well as project-specific decisions.  Much of the activity has centered around the Standard Offer Program. The SPEED Standard Offer Program, created by the Legislature in 2009, established [...]