Distributed Solar not in Draft IPA Procurement Plan

09 Sep 2011 4:05 PM | Deleted user

The IPA’s draft plan proposes to buy all SRECs (solar renewable energy credits) needed to comply with the Illinois Solar Carve Out through a competitive auction designed with large, utility-scale projects in mind. If past procurements serve as an example, participation requirements will be too complex and transaction costs will be too high for distributed solar developers and owners to participate. There is no separate procurement program proposed for small and mid-size rooftop and ground mounted systems. Without a separate procurement program, it is likely that our state’s very aggressive Solar Carve Out (which will require output from about 600 MW of installed solar by 2015) will be met entirely with SRECs from utility-scale solar projects, some located outside of Illinois.

ELPC strongly encourages you to submit comments on the 2012 Draft Procurement Plan and tell the IPA that Illinois needs a solar procurement program that will drive real expansion in Illinois’ solar industry. A template is attached to provide some sample language and comments, but unique and personal comments will carry more weight than a standard form letter, so please make sure to modify this so that it reflects your own voice. Please abstain from using these comments to promote any single project or individual agenda, but focus on the broad policy objective.

Comments are due next Wednesday, September 14th, at 5:00 pm and should be emailed to the IPA in care of Julie Musselman Oost. There are public hearings on the Draft Plan on September 9th in Springfield and September 13th in Chicago