Renewable energy portfolio standard program; credits for investments. (HB1102)

Introduced By

Del. Jackson Miller (R-Manassas) with support from 12 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg), Del. Gordon Helsel (R-Poquoson), Del. Sal Iaquinto (R-Virginia Beach), Del. Manoli Loupassi (R-Richmond), Del. John O'Bannon (R-Richmond), Del. Charles Poindexter (R-Glade Hill), Del. David Ramadan (R-South Riding), Del. Tom Rust (R-Herndon), Del. Chris Stolle (R-Virginia Beach), Del. Ron Villanueva (R-Virginia Beach), Del. Michael Webert (R-Marshall), Del. David Yancey (R-Newport News)

Description

Renewable energy portfolio standard program; credits for investments.  Allows any investor-owned electric utility that participates in the renewable energy portfolio standard program to meet up to 20 percent of an RPS Goal through certificates evidencing the utility's expenses in conducting research and development activities related to renewable or alternative energy sources. To qualify, such expenses shall either (i) be designed to enhance the participating utility's understanding of emerging energy technologies and their potential impact on and value to the utility's system and customers within the Commonwealth; (ii) promote economic development within the Commonwealth; (iii) supplement customer-driven alternative energy or energy efficiency initiatives; (iv) supplement alternative energy and energy efficiency initiatives at state or local governmental facilities in the Commonwealth; or (v) be designed to mitigate the environmental impacts of renewable energy projects. The State Corporation Commission shall issue certificates to utilities making qualified investments based on the prices for renewable energy certificates in the interconnection region of the regional transmission entity of which the utility is a member. Qualified investments are stated to be reasonable and prudent operating expenses of a participating utility. A participating utility is not authorized to recover the costs associated with qualified investments through rate adjustment clauses and is not authorized to earn a return on its qualified investments.

Outcome

History