QUICK NEWS, December 21: NEW ENERGY RQRMTS TIED TO UTILITY MERGER OKS; OBAMA ADMIN PUTS $4BIL UPGRADE BLDGS; SUN PLANS IN THE 2ND BIGGEST SUN STATE

NEW ENERGY RQRMTS TIED TO UTILITY MERGER OKS
Utilities in Power Squeeze as States Tie Mergers to Clean Energy
Julie Johnsson and Bradley Olson, December 16, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"The surging pace of power-industry consolidation, with more than $31 billion in transactions pending in the U.S., is giving state officials… leverage to wrest more clean-energy investments from merging companies.

"Exelon Corp. (EXC)…will invest $1 billion in Maryland, almost doubling its previous offer [ and has agreed to develop some 180 megawatts of New Energy, more than seven times its initial 25 megawatt pledge], to gain [Governor] O’Malley’s support for the company’s $8.05 billion takeover of Baltimore- based Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG)…Similar discussions are under way in Massachusetts, where Governor Deval Patrick’s administration is in talks with Boston- based Nstar (NST) and Northeast Utilities over how their combined companies would help meet the state’s renewable energy goals…"

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"Tying state approval for mergers to investments in wind and solar may raise costs for utilities and drive more spending on renewable energy at a time when projects are faltering because of falling fuel prices…State officials and regulators have traditionally used their approval authority for utility mergers to protect the interests of consumers, often demanding concessions such as lower electrical rates or customer rebates.

"As natural gas prices have fallen amid a U.S. production glut, renewable energy has become a more expensive option. Many projects aren’t commercially feasible without government incentives, so companies may need to be forced to invest…When considering whether a utility merger is in consumers’ best interests, [advocates believe] it’s appropriate for states to add renewable energy to the mix of considerations that include electric rates and reliability…"


OBAMA ADMIN PUTS $4BIL UPGRADE BLDGS
President Obama Announces $4 Billion Investment in Energy Upgrades to Buildings
December 2, 2011 (Clean Edge News)

"President Obama announced nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector energy upgrades to buildings over the next 2 years…investments [that] will save billions in energy costs, promote energy independence, and, according to independent estimates, create tens of thousands of jobs in the construction sector. The $4 billion investment includes a $2 billion commitment, made through the issuance of a Presidential Memorandum, to energy upgrades of federal buildings using long term energy savings to pay for up-front costs, at reportedly no cost to taxpayers…

"… 60 CEOs, mayors, university presidents, and labor leaders committed to invest nearly $2 billion [more] of private capital into energy efficiency projects; and to upgrade energy performance by a minimum of 20% by 2020 in 1.6 billion square feet of office, industrial, municipal, hospital, university, community college and school buildings. This announcement builds on a commitment made by 14 partners at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting in June to make energy upgrades across 300 million square feet, and to invest $500 million in private sector financing in energy efficiency projects."

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"The commitments were announced by President Obama…former President Clinton…[and] representatives from… the Better Buildings Challenge…[an] Initiative…to support job creation by catalyzing private sector investment in commercial and industrial building energy upgrades to make America’s buildings 20 percent more efficient over the next decade, reducing energy costs for American businesses by nearly $40 billion. Last year, commercial buildings consumed roughly 20 percent of all the energy used by the U.S. economy.

"…[T]he U.S. Chamber of Commerce has recognized [the Presidential Memorandum] as critical to job creation…[It implements] existing federal authority to utilize Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs)… to promote energy efficiency and create new jobs…[N]ew energy efficient equipment [will be] installed at Federal facilities at no up-front cost…[The] improvements [will be] paid for over time with…[utility bill [savings], and the private sector contractors guarantee the energy savings."


SUN PLANS IN THE 2ND BIGGEST SUN STATE
N.J. Solar Market Preview: With A New Energy Plan, What Lies Ahead In 2012?
Jessica Lillian, 13 December 2011 (Solar Industry)

"With the release of [New Jersey’s 2011 Energy Master Plan (EMP)], the PV industry is keeping a watchful eye on New Jersey - currently the second-largest solar market in the U.S.

"…New Jersey's solar sector continued to undergo significant upheaval as 2011 progressed, and [the EMP] could provide market relief…Projects have flooded the market, the prices for solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) have tumbled, and ratepayer impact is a growing concern. The presence of solar arrays on prized spots on undisturbed land has also drawn criticism in this densely populated, land-constrained state."

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"…[W]ithout some sort of intervention, New Jersey risks becoming a victim of its own solar development success…[T]he most important component of the EMP is its directive to temporarily accelerate RPS requirements in order to inject to more SREC demand and allow for the building of additional solar projects…The state will increase RPS requirements over the next three years and reduce the outlier years…[I] f the RPS were to remain on its old schedule, New Jersey could expect to experience "significant" job loss in the solar sector over the next two to three years.

"…[The EMP also reduces] the solar alternative compliance payment (SACP), which is available to utilities as a substitute for holding SRECs…SRECs in New Jersey have experienced dizzying price movement this year, including a second-quarter drop from approximately $600/MWh to $160/MWh…As a result, they have finally decoupled from the SACP…With the SACP reduction, the EMP aims to reduce cost burdens for ratepayers who do not participate in the solar market, while still supporting continued project development…"