North Carolina Utilities Commission Issues Regulatory Document on Renewable Energy Facility Registration

Strategic Insights -

The North Carolina Utilities Commission has issued a regulatory document requiring facilities to meet certain conditions for registration as a renewable energy facility. The document stipulates that facilities must generate electric power or useful measurable combined heat and power using a renewable energy resource, or be a solar thermal facility. Additionally, facilities must be registered as a new renewable energy facility if they were placed into service on or after January 1, 2007.

The commission requires facilities to certify that they are not simultaneously under contract with NC GreenPower to sell RECs emanating from the same electricity production being tracked in NC-RETS. Facilities must also certify that any renewable energy certificates sold to electric power suppliers will not be remarketed or resold for any other purpose. Further, facilities must consent to the auditing of their books and records by the Public Staff in relation to transactions with North Carolina electric power suppliers.

Key Takeaways:

  • A "renewable energy facility" is defined as a facility that generates electric power or useful measurable combined heat and power using a renewable energy resource, or is a solar thermal facility.
  • A "new renewable energy facility" must have been placed into service on or after January 1, 2007, to qualify.
  • Facilities must certify that they are not under contract with NC GreenPower to sell RECs from the same electricity production being tracked in NC-RETS.
  • Facilities must certify that any RECs sold will not be remarketed or resold for any other purpose.
  • Facilities must consent to auditing by the Public Staff in relation to transactions with NC electric power suppliers.
  • The document requires facilities to provide access to books and records to the Public Staff and the Commission.

Statistics:

  • 1 megawatt is the generation capacity threshold for hydroelectric power facilities to be exempt from the definition of a renewable energy facility.
  • January 1, 2007, is the cutoff date for facilities to be considered new renewable energy facilities.
  • NC-RETS is the system used to track renewable energy certificates in North Carolina.

Sources:

  • North Carolina Utilities Commission (https://starw1.ncuc.gov)
  • G.S. 62-133.B(a)(S) or (7)
  • G.S. 62-133.8