TITLE 39
Public Utilities and Carriers
CHAPTER 39-26.2
Distributed Generation Standard Contracts
SECTION 39-26.2-3
§ 39-26.2-3 Definitions.
When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(1) "Annual target" means the target for total renewable
energy nameplate capacity of new distributed generation standard contracts set
out in § 39-26.2-3.
(2) "Commission" means the Rhode Island public utilities
commission.
(3) "Board" shall mean the distributed generation standard
contract board established pursuant to the provisions of chapter 39-26.2-9, or
the office of energy resources. Until such time as the board is duly
constituted, the office of energy resources shall serve as the board with the
same powers and duties pursuant to this chapter.
(4) "Distributed generation contract capacity" means ten
percent (10%) of an electric distribution company's minimum long-term contract
capacity under the long-term contracting standard for renewable energy in
§ 39-26.1-2, inclusive of solar capacity. The distributed generation
contract capacity shall be reserved for acquisition by the electric
distribution company through standard contracts pursuant to the provisions of
this chapter.
(5) "Distributed generation facility" means an electrical
generation facility that is a newly developed renewable energy resource as
defined in § 39-26.1-2, located in the electric distribution company's
load zone with a nameplate capacity no greater than five megawatts (5 MW),
using eligible renewable energy resources as defined by § 39-26-5,
including biogas created as a result of anaerobic digestion, but, specifically
excluding all other listed eligible biomass fuels, and connected to an
electrical power system owned, controlled, or operated by the electric
distribution company.
(6) "Distributed generation project" means a distinct
installation of a distributed generation facility. An installation will be
considered distinct if it is installed in a different geographical location and
at a different time, or if it involves a different type of renewable energy
class.
(7) "Electric distribution company" means a company defined
in subdivision 39-1-2(12), supplying standard offer service, last resort
service, or any successor service to end-use customers, but not including the
Block Island Power Company or the Pascoag Utility District.
(8) "Large distributed generation project" means a
distributed generation project that has a nameplate capacity that exceeds the
size of a small distributed generation project in a given year, but is no
greater than three megawatts (3 MW) nameplate capacity.
(9) "Office" means the Rhode Island office of energy
resources.
(10) "Program year" means a calendar year beginning January 1
and ending December 31.
(11) "Renewable energy classes" means categories for
different renewable energy technologies using eligible renewable energy
resources as defined by § 39-26-5. For each program year, the board shall
determine the renewable energy classes as are reasonably feasible for use in
meeting distributed generation objectives from renewable energy resources and
are consistent with the goal of meeting the annual target for the program year.
For the program year ending December 31, 2012, there shall be at least four (4)
technology classes and at least two (2) shall be for solar generation
technology, and at least one shall be for wind. The board may add, eliminate,
or adjust renewable energy classes for each program year with public notice
given at least sixty (60) days previous to any renewable energy class change
becoming effective. For each program year, the board shall set renewable energy
class targets for each class established. Class targets are the total
program-year target amounts of nameplate capacity reserved for standard
contracts for each renewable energy class. The sum of all the class targets
shall equal the annual target.
(12) "Renewable energy credit" means a New England Generation
Information System renewable energy certificate as defined in subdivision
39-26-2(15);
(13) "Small distributed generation project" means a
distributed generation renewable energy project that has a nameplate capacity
within the following: Solar: fifty kilowatts (50 KW) to five hundred kilowatts
(500 KW); Wind: fifty kilowatts (50 KW) to one and one-half megawatts (1.5 MW).
For technologies other than solar and wind, the board shall set the nameplate
capacity size limits, but such limits may not exceed one megawatt. The board
may lower the nameplate capacity from year to year for any of these categories,
but may not increase the capacity beyond what is specified in this definition.
In no case may a project developer be allowed to segment a distributed
generation project into smaller sized projects in order to fall under this
definition.
(14) "Standard contract" means a contract with a term of
fifteen (15) years at a fixed rate for the purchase of all capacity, energy,
and attributes generated by a distributed generation facility. A contract may
have a different term if it is mutually agreed to by the seller and the
electric distribution company and it is approved by the commission. The terms
of the standard contract for each program year and for each renewable energy
class shall be set pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(15) "Standard contract ceiling price" means the standard
contract price for the output of a distributed generation facility which price
is approved annually for each renewable energy class pursuant to the procedure
established in this chapter, for the purchase of energy, capacity, renewable
energy certificates, and all other environmental attributes and market products
that are available or may become available from the distributed generation
facility.
History of Section.
(P.L. 2011, ch. 129, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 143, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch.
167, § 2; P.L. 2013, ch. 202, § 2.)
