Solicitations for Large-Scale Renewables
2022 RES Solicitation for Tier 1 RECs
NYSERDA has launched the sixth annual Renewable Energy Standard (RES) request for proposals, RESRFP22-1, to continue accelerating progress toward Governor Hochul’s target of generating 70 percent of New York State’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Through the 2022 solicitation, NYSERDA seeks to procure approximately 4.5 million Tier 1 eligible Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from eligible facilities that enter commercial operation on or after January 1, 2015 and on or before May 31, 2025, unless extended to May 31, 2028.
RESRFP22-1 will be implemented through a two-step process, consisting of:
- Step One Eligibility Application: A qualifying step through which the proposer must provide evidence that the Bid Facility is Tier 1 eligible and other general information about the Proposer and the Bid Facility. All Step One Eligibility Applications must be submitted via the RESRFP22-1 solicitation website
- Step Two Bid Proposal: A competitive Bid Proposal step, through which NYSERDA will:
a. examine Bid Proposals to determine whether they demonstrate that the Bid Facility and Proposer meet the Minimum Threshold Requirements; and
b. for Bid Proposals that meet those Minimum Threshold Requirements, perform a competitive evaluation based on price and non-price factors.
To start and submit a Step One Eligibility Application, proposers are required to register on the solicitation website .
RESRFP22-1 Step One Eligibility Application
NYSERDA’s sixth annual Tier 1 solicitation under the Clean Energy Standard has garnered a significant level of competitive interest from the private market. NYSERDA received over 250 Step One Eligibility Applications to the 2022 Tier 1 solicitation, representing 63 unique renewable energy facilities and 47 (co-located and standalone) energy storage facilities submitted by 27 different Proposers.
The applications submitted to Step One of the solicitation comprise:
- Over 6,800 megawatts of new renewable capacity, enough renewable energy to power over 2 million New York homes; and
- Over 14.6 million annual megawatt hours of new renewable generation - more than three times the target quantity of RECs sought through the solicitation.
RESRFP22-1 Step Two Bid Proposal
To start and submit a Step Two Bid Proposal, proposers are required to have received a Notice of Qualification in response to their submitted Step One Eligibility Application. Eligible proposers can submit a Step Two Bid Proposal on the solicitation website . All Step Two Bid Proposals must be submitted by Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. EST.
RESRFP22-1 Proposers’ Webinar
NYSERDA hosted a webinar on this RFP and the submittal process for potential proposers on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. The slides presented on the Proposers’ Webinar are available here [PDF].
Associated Documents
- RESRFP22-1 - Renewable Energy Standard Purchase of New York Tier 1 Eligible Renewable Energy Certificates Summary [PDF]
- Appendix 1 - Resource Assessment and Energy Production Estimate Requirements [PDF]
- Appendix 2 - Permitting Plan Requirements and Guidelines [PDF]
- Appendix 3 – Field Screening for Wetlands and Water Resources Delineation Report Guidelines and Requirements [PDF]
- Appendix 4 – RESRFP22-1 Smart Solar Siting Scorecard [PDF]
- Appendix 5 – Energy Deliverability Study Requirements [PDF]
- Attachment A – RESRFP22-1 Standard Form Agreement Exhibits A, B, C, G, H, I, and L [PDF]
- Attachment L – Incremental Economic Benefits Reporting Standards and Agreed Upon Procedures [PDF]
2023 Large-Scale Renewables Capacity Accreditation Request for Information (LSRRFI23-1)
Under this Request for Information (RFI), NYSERDA is seeking external stakeholder review and comment on NYSERDA’s proposed modifications to existing and future Index REC and Index OREC contracts to account for revisions to the Market Administration and Control Area Services Tariff proposed by the New York Independent System Operator, Inc. and approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to adopt a marginal capacity accreditation market design. This feedback will assist NYSERDA in finalizing its proposed approach in consultation with the Department of Public Service.
The RFI document is linked below.
This RFI comment period ends on February 17, 2023, at 3:00 P.M. EST. Respondents are encouraged to submit comments via:
Recent Solicitations
Information on the most recent RES solicitations is available here:
Aggregate RES and Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) information is available on the CES Resources webpage and the Large-Scale Renewables Open NY database.
NYSERDA continues to work actively with communities hosting awarded renewable projects to ensure they have the tools they need to make informed decisions regarding project development. For more information on renewable energy development and education, please contact [email protected] and consult the Renewable Energy Standard solicitation FAQs [PDF] and Clean Energy Siting for Local Governments resources.
Project Siting and Permitting Resources
These resources can help inform proposers’ decisions regarding project siting for future solicitations.
- New York Solar Guidebook for Local Governments [PDF]
- New York Wind Energy Guide for Local Decision Makers
- Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES)
- New York State’s Real Property Tax Law § 487 [PDF]
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Appraisal methodology for solar and wind energy projects
Disadvantaged Communities
This interactive map identifies areas throughout the State that meet the interim criteria identified for a disadvantaged community as defined by New York State at the time of the 2022 Tier 1 solicitation, RESRFP22-1. It contains the 4,145 Census block groups that make up the interim Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) approach applicable to RESRFP22-1. The State’s Climate Justice Working Group is working to finalize the criteria for defining DAC in New York. These interim criteria will apply to all Large-Scale Renewable projects awarded before the final DAC criteria are finalized. Once the final DAC criteria are finalized, they will be incorporated into future solicitations and an updated map of New York DAC will be provided for reference in future solicitations.
Interim Disadvantaged Communities Interactive Map Tool
Agricultural Mitigation Resources
In order to facilitate the protection of agricultural lands in the state’s Agricultural Districts, Proposers awarded under RESRFP22-1 may be responsible for making an agricultural mitigation payment to a designated fund based on the extent to which the solar project footprint overlaps with New York’s highest quality agricultural soils, identified as Mineral Soil Groups classifications 1 through 4 (MSG 1-4). This mitigation approach intends to set a benchmark for potential agricultural mitigation payments, which solar project developers may be able to reduce by minimizing the facility’s impact on MSG 1-4 and/or introducing or retaining agricultural productivity on the project site. Instances where Proposers cannot avoid or minimize impacts on MSG 1-4 will result in a payment to a fund administered by NYSERDA in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Markets to support ongoing regional agricultural practices.
An interactive map of statewide MSG 1-4 and downloadable files containing the same MSG 1-4 data are available at the link below for the use of Proposers and other interested parties.
NYSERDA 2022 Soils Data for use in the Large-Scale Renewables and NY-Sun Programs
Operational Flexibility and Grid Resources
The following NYSERDA, DPS, and NYISO studies and stakeholder proceedings are encouraged for use to inform Proposers’ due diligence. Proposers should note that these resources are subject to additional updates, and may be amended by other applicable studies and/or updated assessments and public data.
In 2020, New York State passed the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act [PDF] to accelerate progress towards the State’s nation-leading clean energy goals. The Act instructed the State to conduct a Power Grid Study to inform transmission system investments that will be necessary to achieve the clean energy goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act). The Power Grid Study is comprised of three component studies: 1) a joint utilities study on local transmission and distribution needs; 2) an offshore wind study of bulk-power transmission needs; and 3) a statewide transmission analysis to achieve the Climate Act goals. To read the studies, review public comments, and engage in the public process, visit the Department of Public Service Matter Master 20-00905/20-E-0197 or access the studies below.
- Initial Report on the New York Power Grid Study
and Appendices A-E (January 2021)
- Utility Transmission and Distribution Investment Working Group Report (November 2020)
- NYISO 2021-2040 System & Resource Outlook (September 2022) [PDF]
- Coordinated Grid Planning Process Working Group
- NYISO Interconnection Queue
, Utility Interconnection Queue
- Utility Distribution Hosting Capacity Database
- DPS Staff Straw Proposal for Conducting Headroom Assessments
Energy Storage Resources
NYSERDA encourages proposers to use these resources to inform decisions regarding projects with energy storage for future solicitations.
- NYSERDA Bulk Storage Incentive Program Manual [PDF] – Section VII. Measurement and Verification and Section IX. Technical and Other Requirements
- Battery Energy Storage System Guidebook
- The State of Storage: Energy Storage Resources in New York’s Wholesale Electricity Markets
- Intermittent Power Resources: Frequently Asked Questions
[PDF]
- Energy Storage Interconnection Guide [PDF]
2022 RES Solicitation Request for Information (RESRFI22-1)
Under this Request for Information (RFI), NYSERDA is seeking external stakeholder review and feedback on key topics and proposed modifications to the upcoming annual Tier 1 solicitation for large-scale renewables, RESRFP22-1.
Interested stakeholders are invited to review and comment on proposed updates and modifications to the 2022 Tier 1 solicitation under this RFI. This feedback will assist NYSERDA in finalizing the solicitation prior to its release. The RFI document and related appendices are linked below.
- RESRFI22-1 Summary of Changes and Focus Areas
- RESRFI22-1 Appendix 1. NYSERDA Guidance for Wetlands and Stream Screenings
- RESRFI22-1 Appendix 2. RESRFP22-1 Smart Solar Siting Scorecard
- RESRFI22-1 Exhibit 1 to Appendix 2. RESRFP22-1 Smart Solar Siting Scorecard Workbook
- RESRFI22-1 Appendix 3. Preliminary Determination Memorandum
- RESRFI22-1 Appendix 3. Preliminary Determination Memorandum - Revised [PDF]
This RFI comment period ended on July 28, 2022, at 3:00 P.M. EST.
2022 Large-Scale Renewables Capacity Accreditation Request for Information (LSRRFI22-1)
Under this Request for Information (RFI), NYSERDA sought external stakeholder review and comment on NYSERDA’s proposed Index REC and Index OREC formula modifications to account for revisions to the Market Administration and Control Area Services Tariff proposed by the New York Independent System Operator, Inc. approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to adopt a marginal capacity accreditation market design. This feedback will assist NYSERDA in finalizing its proposed approach in consultation with the Department of Public Service.
The RFI document is linked below.
This RFI comment period ended on August 4, 2022, at 3:00 P.M. EST.
In response to requests for clarification of certain elements of LSRRFI22-1, NYSERDA has compiled a Q&A document for respondents, available here: