You Asked - We Answer: Electric Grid Expanded Q&A

The January webinar was packed with content and inquiring minds couldn’t get enough! Come get deep in the details with us as we walk through more of your questions about our local electric grid.

Q) Is there an oversight group doing the Grid Planning project, or do we just rely on utilities coordinating with each other?

A) This process is being overseen by the NYS Public Service Commission.

Q) Can we add more renewable generation without adding other non-renewable generation to back it up?

A) At this time, we do not have to add any back-up generation, but starting in 2040, if power demand increases at levels to meeting the CLCPA goals (linearly) we may have to have adequate supplies of dispatchable emissions-free generation (what the Climate Plan refers to as DEFR). This strongly depends on how EV charging develops and if we have a managed approach to EV charging; if/how transmission is enhanced, and how/where renewable energy is developed.

Q) Will this strategy improve incentives for Upstate NY to utilize electrical energy storage?

A) NYS recently proposed an approach to deploying more eneregy storage call the 6 GW Energy Storage Roadmap. At this point it is a proposal, with public comments due in March, but is scheduled to be finalized by the PSC by the end of 2023.

Q) What are the estimated electric delivery/demand rates for Upstate NY for 2025 and 2030? Where can the reliability studies examining NYS’ transition be accessed?

A) The electric rates, which are made up of supply rates and delivery rates, are not published all in one place for 2025 and for 2030 and they vary significantly between utilities and between customer classes. At a very generic level, delivery rates will likely increase, but that will continue to be decided in individual rate cases which are conducted every three years. The energy supply rates will have upward pressure due to the renewable energy programs, but downward pressure due to lesser use of natural gas (which sets the market clearing price). But the biggest impact up to 2030 (and likely beyond) will be the price of natural gas itself. A good resource for this type of information is the NYISO 20-year System Outlook and the NYISO "Gold Book."

Q) I am increasing concerned about the price upstate is paying to support the growing energy needs of NYC. What incentives and technologies are being developed to help NYC see to more of its own needs?

A) Upstate is not necessarly paying more to support the needs of Downstate. But, as the state continues to develop various programs to meet the CLCPA mandates, state decision-makers seem to increasingly be designing programs to spread all costs across the state. For example, all New Yorkers are paying to incentivize offshore wind power development, even though that will service NYC and Long Island more than Upstate. Similarly, all New Yorkers are paying to support the upstate nuclear power plants, even though they largely supply upstate power needs. The same approach is being taken for transmission investments.

Q) Will the current 2MW limit on solar production per meter be increased, and will we be able to receive full credit for selling any overproduction back to the grid?

A) For residential projects, which are "net metered" you can receive full credit for what you generate but do not use. For commercial projects and community solar, you do not, because those projects are compensated through the program called "Value of Distributed Energy Resources" or VDER.

Q) Is there a precentage of electricity generation and storage that is anticipated to be provided by individual homeowners? Would the installation of PV and perhaps even battery storage at the household level / on-site source put a dent in the grid growth needs?

A) Yes and yes. The Plan assumes that 10 gigawatts of on-site solar will be deployed. This includes rooftop and residential, but also community solar. There is also an assumption of a small amount of residential storage.

Q) Are the State and Federal government going to fund a significant portion of the projects or will the burden be on the rate payers?

A) The total costs of implementing the Climate Scoping Plan will be paid by a combination of ratepayers, State taxpayers, private expenditures by individuals and companies, and federal taxpayers. The State did an analysis of possible level of contribution of the feds and it was about $70B. This is in the Climate Scoping Plan Integration Analysis.

Q) Please comment on NYISO integration of electric vehicle battery storage (using bi-directional charge/discharge capability). 120,000 dedicated electric cars would meet the NY 6 GW goal - realistically only perhaps 10% of this potential energy storage could be dispatchable, but > 1 million EVs (of various energy capacites) is a realistic number. Virtual Power Plants utilizing connected EVs could be a very useful resource. Managed vehicle to grid as well as managed charging.

A) Vehicle-to-grid programs are very interesting and potentially very helpful in helping NYS meet its needs for the grid and goals for the CLCPA. As of now, the assumption in the 6 GW Storage Roadmap is that the 6 GW will come from standalone energy storage and not from EVs. But, managed charging is super important to mitigate peak demand and avoid the need for more generation. So the State should find ways to encourage managed charging, including Vehicle-to-Grid, in order to facilitate meeting the CLCPA goals most cost-effectively.

Q) What are the assumptions around decarbonization/electrification of commercial buildings? (e.g., timing; types of buildings; percentage/penetration; etc.). … particularly in the Rochester area

A) In the Climate Scoping Plan, the analysis modelled a requirement that all NEW buildings be all electric in 2025 (for residential and low-rise buildings) and 2028 (commercial and high-rise). There is also an assumption that large buildings over 25,000 square feet would replace their lighting in 2027 and be subject to a more energy efficient building code in 2030. Then, the modelling included a phase out the sale of fossil fuel appliances (when a gas appliance reaches its end-of-life, the building owner would replace it with an electric appliance). These dates were 2030 for heat and hot water in a residence and 2035 for heating and hot water in high-rise buildings, and 2035 for cooking and clothes drying. The Climate Scoping Plan itself does not set these requirements, but modelled these dates to see what would achieve the goals in the Plan/CLCPA. IF these dates were to become mandates, that would have to go through either the Codes Council or the Legislature.

Q) Regarding utility storage, what do you consider viable technologies for meeting NYS future goals?

A) For now, the 6 GW Storage Roadmap focuses on 2-hour and 4-hour battery storage. But it acknowledges a need for long-duration storage and points out that deployment of long-duration storage would avoid the need for a considerable amount of renewables build and grid build.

Q) It looks like all the planning is based on having 100% of the clean transition delivered by electricification by 2050. Have the state-level planners definitely eliminated all other options, e.g., zero impact of hydrogen-powered engines in the transportation sector by 2050?

A) This is correct in that the Plan relies very heavily on electrification. The Plan does not eliminate these other options, and definitely keeps the door open to them for hard-to-electrify energy uses.