Siting Decisions Involving Renewable Energy Sources

1
Siting Decisions Involving Renewable Energy
Sources
Paul Roberti, Commissioner Rhode Island Public
Utilities Commission
May 16, 2013
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Overview of Presentation

• State Siting Procedures
• Jurisdictional thresholds
• Criteria for review
• Process for review
• Local Jurisdiction
• Interconnection Into Regional Grid

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Jurisdiction it depends

• State level most facilities are reviewed at
  state or local level
• State-wide body (siting council or public utility
  commission)
• Local jurisdictions (county or municipal)
• All facilities or only facilities under a certain
  capacity
• Federal level
• Most hydroelectric facilities exclusive
  jurisdiction
• Facilities on federally owned land (concurrent
  with state process)

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Criteria for Review

• Varies by jurisdiction
• General requirements
• No adverse impact on stability and reliability of
  the grid
• No undue adverse impact on environmental
  resources
• Socio-economic impacts
• Demonstration of the need for the facility
• For conventional generation a regional
  perspective
• For renewables, focus is primarily on
  environmental impacts and consistency with state
  public policy (i.e., renewable energy mandates
  and carbon reduction technologies)

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Process for Review

• Applicant submits sufficient evidence to
  demonstrate compliance with criteria
• Ratepayer advocate and environmental agencies
  typically automatic parties to any case
• Intervention by individuals or groups
• Public Hearings
• Evidentiary hearing
• Process may vary depending on size/type of
  facility

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Rhode Islands Energy Facility Siting Process

• The Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB) has
  jurisdiction over alterations to major energy
  facilit(ies) that will result in a significant
  impact on the environment, or the public health,
  safety, and welfare.
• Serves as the licensing and permitting authority
  for all licenses, permits, assents, or variances
  which, under any statute of the state or
  ordinance of any political subdivision of the
  state, would be required for siting, construction
  or alteration of a major energy facility in the
  state.

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Statutory Framework for Siting of Generation
Facilities

• Major energy facility(ies) are defined as
• facilities for the extraction, production,
  conversion, and processing of coal
• facilities for the generation of electricity
  designed or capable of operating at a gross
  capacity of forty (40) megawatts or more
• transmission lines of sixty-nine (69) Kv or over
  
• facilities for the conversion, gasification,
  treatment, transfer, or storage of liquefied
  natural and liquefied petroleum gases

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Statutory Framework for Siting of Generation
Facilities continued . . .

• Major energy facility(ies)
• facilities for the processing, enrichment,
  storage, or disposal of nuclear fuels or nuclear
  byproducts
• facilities for the refining of oil, gas, or other
  petroleum products
• facilities of ten (10) megawatts or greater
  capacity for the generation of electricity by
  water power
• facilities associated with the transfer of oil,
  gas, and coal via pipeline and
• any energy facility project of the Rhode Island
  economic development corporation.

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EFSB Members and Staffing

• Rhode Islands Siting Act creates a three-member
  Board
• Chair of the Public Utilities Commission (EFSB
  Chair)
• Director of Dept. of Environmental Management
• Associate Director of Statewide Planning
• Quorum consists of a majority, however, one Board
  member may conduct any authorized hearings
• Board members and staff are not paid separately
  for their work

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Application Guidelines

• Project Applicants must address
• Site Plans
• Project Cost
• Number of facility employees
• Financing
• Required support facilities
• Research on EMF impacts (transmission)
• Life-cycle management
• A study of alternatives, including estimated costs

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Process and Deadlines

• Coordinator has 30 days to accept/reject filing
  and assign it a docket numbers
• Board convenes a Preliminary Hearing within 60
  days to designate agencies that must file an
  advisory opinion
• Advisory agencies generally have 6 months to
  submit findings
• Board required to schedule at least one public
  hearing in every community impacted by proposal

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Designated Agencies

• Includes political subdivisions which, absent the
  Act, would have the statutory authority to grant
  permits, licenses, variances, etc.
• Town Councils, Building Inspectors, Planning
  Boards
• Public Utilities Commission
• Holds its own separate proceedings to render an
  advisory opinion on the need for the proposed
  facility

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Designated Agencies

• Statewide Planning
• Addresses socio-economic impact and consistency
  with state guide plans
• Other designated agencies often include
• State Historical Preservation
• Dept. of Environmental Management
• Dept. of Health
• Dept. of Transportation

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Process and Deadlines

• Final hearings commence within 45 days after
  advisory deadline
• Final Decision and Order due within 120 days
• Final decisions may be appealed to the State
  Supreme Court within 10 days of ratification

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Public Participation

• All hearings Preliminary and Final are open
  to the public. Board Rules specify notice
  requirements
• One Public Hearing must be held in every
  community impacted by the proposal (i.e.
  transmission line through 3 towns)
• Board generally gives the public an opportunity
  to comment before or after all hearings, which
  are transcribed
• All filings and application materials are posted
  on the EFSB website, www.ripuc.org/efsb/index.html

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Post Licensure Proceedings

• Board may issue license conditionally upon
  applicants receipt of federal licenses
• Although the Board retains final permitting
  authority, applicant still has burden to apply
  for, receive, and maintain all applicable permits
• Board can hire consultants (up to 20k paid by
  applicant) to visit plant during construction
• May hold suspension hearings and issue Show
  Cause and Cease and Desist orders

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Licensing Procedures for Facilities Not Subject
to State Energy Facility Siting Board Jurisdiction

• Facilities Fall Under Local Jurisdiction
• County or Municipal Zoning Procedures
• Local Planning Commission Review
• Consistency with Comprehensive Plan
• Noise, height, aesthetics, construction impacts,
  etc.
• Potential Residual State Jurisdiction
• Highway Crossings
• Coastal and wetlands Impacts
• Federal Jurisdiction May Still Be Tiggered
• Aviation and structure heights
• Endangered Species
• Interconnection with regional electric grid

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• Interconnecting Generation Sources to the Grid

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Interconnection of Generation Facilities Into
Regional Electric Grid

• Governed By Rules and Procedures of Independent
  System Operator of New England (ISO-NE)
• ISO New England responsible for
• Ensuring regional reliability
• Administering wholesale electricity markets
• Regulated by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  Pursuant to Federal Power Act

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Interconnection Queue

• All significant generation projects must complete
  necessary studies
• ISO-NE establishes guidelines for studies
• Studies conducted by independent contractors
• Entrance into the queue is first-come, first
  served
• ISO-NE determines who pays for necessary system
  upgrades

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Interconnection Studies

• New Generation Proponents are responsible for
  conducting
• Feasibility Study
• System Impact Study
• Facilities Study

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Feasibility Study

• High level review of
• Existing Peak load and generation sources,
  including those with higher position in the queue
• Steady state analysis (voltage and thermal
  issues)
• Short circuit analysis
• Performance under normal operating conditions and
  contingencies
• Expected protective equipment and system upgrades
  required
• Approximate cost to interconnect

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System Impact Study

• More in-depth study than feasibility study
• Examines conditions under a range of loads
• If appropriate, may include additional
  contingencies
• May include transient stability analysis in
  addition to steady state analysis
• Wind facilities must conduct one additional study
  (low voltage ride through capability)
• Provides further detail regarding protective
  equipment and costs

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Facilities Study

• Provides the final determination of the
  protective equipment needed
• Provides a refined cost estimate of upgrades
• Sets forth any operating protocols that may be
  necessary

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THANK YOU

• Paul Roberti, Commissioner
• Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission
• 89 Jefferson Blvd.
• Warwick, Rhode Island 02888
• Tel [phone]
• Email proberti_at_puc.state.ri.us