The Public Service Commission’s October 15, 2020 Order [PDF] establishes a new Tier 4 within the Clean Energy Standard (CES) in response to NYSERDA’s CES White Paper. The new Tier 4 will increase the penetration of renewable energy into New York City (NYISO Zone J), which is particularly dependent on polluting fossil fuel-fired generation. NYSERDA’s CES White Paper found that without displacing a substantial portion of the fossil fuel-fired generation that New York City currently relies upon, the statewide 70 by 30 Target would be difficult to achieve.
Through Tier 4, the State will procure the unbundled environmental attributes (in the form of Tier 4 RECs) associated with renewable generation delivered into Zone J. These environmental attributes include the avoidance of GHG emissions, as well as the avoidance of local pollutants such as NOx, SOx, and fine particulate matter.
Eligibility
Tier 4 is open to the following renewable energy systems: solar thermal, photovoltaics, on-land wind, hydroelectric, geothermal electric, geothermal ground source heat, tidal energy, wave energy, ocean thermal, and fuel cells which do not utilize a fossil fuel resource in the process of generating electricity. To be compensated under Tier 4, the resource must either be located in Zone J or delivered to Zone J over a new transmission interconnection (that electrically connects after October 15, 2020). Non-hydropower renewables must achieve commercial operation after October 15, 2020 to be eligible for Tier 4. Hydropower resources must be existing or already under construction as of June 18, 2020.
Offshore wind RECs will be procured separately from Tier 4 resources. Behind-the-meter resources are not eligible under Tier 4.
Solicitation
NYSERDA seeks to negotiate contracts for up to an aggregate 1,500 MW but may exceed this quantity if it receives proposals that are sufficiently compelling. Resulting agreements for the procurement of Tier 4 RECs will be filed with the Department of Public Service Secretary for public comment and Commission approval.
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Schedule
The schedule for T4RFP21-1 is as follows (all times ET):
| T4RFP21-1 Release Date |
January 13, 2021 |
| Deadline for Notice of Intent to Propose |
January 21, 2021 |
| Proposers’ Webinar [PDF] |
January 28, 2021 |
| Deadline for submitting written questions on Step One |
February 4, 2021 |
| NYSERDA posts responses to Step One questions [PDF] |
February 11, 2021 |
| Deadline for Step One Eligibility Application and Hydropower Baseline Data |
February 16, 2021, 3:00 pm |
| NYSERDA provides Final Baseline Determination |
No later than April 12, 2021 |
| NYSERDA Portal Opens to register for account |
April 14, 2021 |
| Deadline to Register for NYSERDA Portal and Portal opens for Step Two Proposal submission |
April 30, 2021 |
| Deadline for submitting written questions on Step Two |
May 3, 2021 |
| NYSERDA posts responses to Step Two questions |
May 7, 2021 |
| Deadline for Step Two Proposal Submission |
May 12, 2021, 3:00 pm |
| NYSERDA Award Notification Date |
3rd Quarter 2021 |
T4RFP21-1 and Appendices
Communications and Updates regarding the RFP
All relevant documents pertaining to this RFP will be available on this site. Proposers are advised to check this website regularly for updates.
Implementation Plan
NYSERDA will file a Tier 4 implementation plan for stakeholder comment and Commission approval by December 15, 2021. The plan will include a description of the Tier 4 compliance obligation calculations, process and structure, as well as a Tier 4 standard purchase agreement.