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January 26, 2004
POTENTIAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS FOR DISTRIBUTED GENERATION
The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust is sponsoring a half-day symposium that will explore alternative approaches to regulate or support renewable and other distributed generation in Massachusetts. There is no charge, but please RSVP by January 22 to Conway@masstech.org.
Background: In July of 2002, the Trust hosted an informal public meeting to exchange information about the potential role of renewable DG to address grid congestion or provide other benefits to distribution systems. In the last two years the Trust has provided support to the DG Interconnection Collaborative and to the installation of a number of PV and other small renewable systems. Substantial development of renewable DG could lead to a range of potential benefits and costs for DG owners, the distribution system, utility companies, ratepayers and society. While the renewable and other DG technologies differ significantly in their particular impacts, they face many overlapping issues. Both renewable and other DG could be affected by future state and regional policies in areas such as utility regulation, grid system planning, climate change, air permitting and building codes.
Topics: This symposium will provide an opportunity to discuss critical policy options outside of any formal regulatory proceedings. Utilities, customers, DG companies, environmental advocates and other stakeholders will debate alternative frameworks to regulate or support DG in Massachusetts and properly reflect DG’s costs and benefits. The following questions will be addressed:
· What regulatory structure would best allow all market participants to share the potential benefits and costs of DG in a way that gives them incentives to create the values and mitigate the costs?
· How can DG costs and benefits be fairly shared or allocated over time between DG owners or hosts and other electric ratepayers?
Speakers will compare alternative regulatory approaches and identify potential problems and solutions that need to be addressed. This symposium is not intended to address specific issues that may be under consideration in any particular regulatory docket, although the discussion may identify interesting interactions between policies that could be established in different venues. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions and to suggest policy approaches that could fairly balance the DG-related interests of all stakeholders.
Directions to Sheraton Newton: 320 Washington Street, Mass Pike (Interstate 90) at Exit 17, Newton, MA 02458, Phone (617) 969-3010, Fax (617) 630-2976
Directions from Boston: Mass Pike West (I-90) to Exit 17 and follow the exit towards West Newton. The hotel is located on the left, immediately after Applebee's Restaurant.
Directions from west: Take the Mass Pike East (I-90) to Exit 17. Straight off the exit, take the 3rd lane from the left onto Washington Street (be careful not to reenter the Pike). The hotel is the first left past the Applebee's restaurant awning.
time: 1:00 – 4:30 PM
location: Sheraton Newton Hotel
sponsor: Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust
for more info contact:
p: 508-870-0312
e: Conway@masstech.org
w: www.masstech.org
March 9, 2004
 SEBANE ANNUAL MEETING
The event will consist of a state renewable energy fund roundtable discussion, featuring Rob Pratt, MA Renewable Energy Trust, Charlie Moret, CT Clean Energy Fund, and Nancy Selman, representing the RI Renewable Energy Fund.
Following the roundtable will be a SEBANE business meeting and a discussion of current activities and future plans for our organization.
time: 1 - 4 pm
location: Evergreen Solar, Marlboro, MA
for more info contact:
p: 617 227-6980
March 10, 2004
BUILDING ENERGY 2004
Building Energy 2004 is NESEA's premier professional conference and will take place on March 10-13, 2004 at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. Featuring four full days of workshops, tours, over 100 world-class speakers in over 50 conference sessions, a trade show, special networking opportunities, and a chance to meet, mingle, learn, and share, Building Energy 2004 is an event not to miss.
location: Boston University
sponsor: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
for more info contact:
p: 413 774-6051
e: nesea@nease.org
w: www.nesea.org/buildings/be/2004index.html
March 31, 2004
CLEAN ENERGY MESSAGE & MARKETING SUMMIT
The Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund, in association with its marketing partner SmartPower, will unveil the results of two recent studies showing area public attitudes toward clean energy. This is an opportunity to see new, effective messaging strategies that you and your organization can use to promote clean energy. Attendees will also hear from the four clean power marketers who will offer their wind, biomass, small hydro and solar energy products to Rhode Island residents and hear how the Fund and SmartPower will use the market research to execute a clean energy marketing campaign in Rhode Island.
Admission is free. RSVP to info@smartpower.org.
time: 1 pm - 5:30 pm
location: Providence Biltmore Hotel
for more info contact:
e: info@smartpower.org
June 17, 2004
BEHIND-THE-METER AND OFF-GRID GENERATORS VERFICATION MEETING
SEBANE, with funding from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, is convening a stakeholder initiative to address the issues of verification of generation from small behind the meter and off grid renewable generators (BTM/OG). Under current NEPOOL Generation Information System (NE-GIS) rules, small (<1 – 5 MW) BTM/OG is allowed to self-report generation. To date, regulators and green power customers have accepted these claims without rigorous verification.
Self-reporting without verification is likely to become inadequate as more and more BTM resources are deployed and relied upon in the market. To maintain confidence in the claims of BTM renewables, BTM generators should develop a protocol under which generation and other claims can be reliably verified.
Two key tasks are identifying a credible verifying authority and covering the costs of verification without creating an unreasonable barrier to entry for small BTM generation. SEBANE’s goal is not only to produce a consensus verification protocol but also to secure funding for a verification authority and to process an appropriate rule change at NE-GIS Working Group to codify the verification protocol.
SEBANE Initiative Tasks:
· Define protocols for verifying BTM generation for claiming NE-GIS Certificates
· Identifying scope of services and eligibility criteria for a verification authority
· Develop an annual operating budget for a verification authority
· Develop scope for a grant application to fund a verification authority
· Draft and process NE-GIS rule changes for October 2004 meeting.
We will send you a draft of the strawman proposal prior to the meeting for your review and comment. We expect that protocol to include recommendations that are appropriate to systems of different ratings. For instance, systems <2 kW might remain as self-reporting while systems 50 kW might require automatic meter reading, data acquisition, and telecommunications capability.
GOALS FOR THIS MEETING
1. Introduce the initiative
2. Present a “strawman” proposal
3. Entertain feedback on the initiative and strawman proposal
4. Set up next steps and schedule.
RSVP to: Sebane@sebane.org
time: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
location: Karl Weiss Center, Mass. Technology Collaborative, Westborough, MA
for more info contact:
Michael Tennis
p: 603 924-2168
e: tennis@hrtwd.com
July 23, 2004
CLEAN ENERGY TOURS
Clean Energy Tours are scheduled for July 23 and 24 at the Lowell Folk Festival, and July 30 and 31 at the Barnstable County Fair.
The Clean Energy Tour is organized by the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust to raise awareness and educate the public on renewable energy technologies. The tour includes workshops, educational exhibits and demonstrations, booths for renewable energy businesses and nonprofit organizations, and hands-on activities for children.
location: Lowell and Barnstable, MA
for more info contact:
Cindy Cormier
p: 508-485-1787
August 12, 2004
SOLAR AND RADIANT WORKSHOP
An intensive training program where you will spend sixteen hours immersed in the critical skills and techniques that will make all the difference to your success designing and installing solar and radiant heating systems. This workshop is designed for professionals.
location: Greenfield, MA
sponsor: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
for more info contact:
Peter Biondo
p: 866 877-6527
e: info@usasolar.net
w: www.usasolar.net
September 29, 2004
2004 MID-ATLANTIC SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE
This conference will combine the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's annual Mid-Atlantic Sustainability Conference and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Green Building Conference. This one-of-a-kind event will bring together professionals in the areas of clean energy, high-performance building, sustainable business, and more
location: Trenton, New Jersey
sponsor: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association - NJ Clean Energy Program
for more info contact:
p: 413 774-6051
e: nesea@nesea.org
w: www.nesea.org/buildings/be/nj/
October 25, 2004
NEEC - AESP ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Northeast Energy Efficiency Council and the Association of Energy Service Professionals are hosting their fourth annual joint conference on current developments in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and policy.
time: 9:00 a.m.
location: Marlboro, MA
for more info contact:
Andy Grossman
p: 617-367-6144
e: info@neec.org
w: www.neec.org
November 16, 2004
CT PROJECT 100 FORUM
The “Project 100” is a new CCEF initiative supporting CT legislation that mandates local electric distribution companies to enter into power purchase agreements for no less than a 10-year period from Class I renewable energy resources. The legislation calls for the contracting of a minimum of 100 MW of clean energy resources by July 1, 2007.
The forum will be the first opportunity for interested parties to comment on a draft Request For Proposal (RFP) to be released prior to the forum. The forum is targeted to developers, financiers, manufacturers, and municipalities and the public is welcome. CCEF previously announced that those interested in obtaining the RFP should visit the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund’s website at www.ctcleanenergy.com for an Expression of Interest form or may contact CCEF at 860-563-0015.
time: 1:00 p.m.
location: Hartford, CT
sponsor: CT Clean Energy Fund
for more info contact:
Karen Mendes
CT Clean Energy Fund
p: (860) 563-0015
w: www.ctcleanenergy.com
December 2, 2004
BREAKFAST MEETING RE ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES SECTOR FOR RTO NEW ENGLAND
The purpose of this meeting is to to explore opportunities to participate in the newly convening Alternative Resource Sector developed under RTO New England. This new governance sector will provide wholesale market representation for renewable energy, demand response/energy efficiency, and distributed generation resources in New England.
time: 8:00 a.m.
location: Marlborough, MA
sponsor: Conservation Service Group
for more info contact:
Ashley Mason
e: ashley.mason@csgrp.com
w: www.csgrp.com
December 6, 2004
RENEWABLE ENERGY IN AMERICA, PHASE II
The annual policy conference of the American Council on Renewable Energy.
location: Washington, DC
sponsor: American Council on Renewable Energy
for more info contact:
www.acore.org
p: 202-429-2030
w: http://www.acore.org
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