On January 19, 2010, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) approved approximately $20.9 million in interim funding for the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program for the period January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010. The money will fund incentives for solar photovoltaic (solar PV), anaerobic digester, fuel cell and small wind installations under the Customer-Sited Tier (CST) of the RPS program. Funding authorization for eligible new projects under the CST expired on December 31, 2009.
In addition to approving the interim funding, the PSC re-authorized the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to solicit new applications for RPS funding, to be allocated as follows: $12 million for solar PV; $6 million for anaerobic digester biogas systems; $1.8 million for fuel cells; $0.3 million for small wind installations; and $0.83 million for program administration, evaluation, measurement and verification.
As part of the mid-course review of the RPS program, the PSC in December 2009 expanded the RPS goal to increase the proportion of renewable generation to 30% of projected electricity consumption by 2015, authorized a renewable resource solicitation of approximately $200 million, provided new funding up to $30 million annually for larger-scale downstate solar PV, anaerobic digester and fuel cell projects to assure a level of geographic balance in the RPS program, and among other things, requested staff of the Department of Public Service to report back on Customer-Sited Tier initiatives to be considered in early 2010.