presentation to the western electricity coordinating council board of directors seattle, wa by jeff...
TRANSCRIPT
Presentation to the
Western Electricity Coordinating CouncilBoard of Directors
Seattle, WA
by Jeff Burks and Bill WesterfieldApril 21, 2004
Western Renewable Energy Generation Information
System(WREGIS)
April 21, 2004 2WREGIS for WECC
What is WREGIS?
• Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System• An computerized registry and tracking system
for renewable energy certificates or “tags.”• Critical piece of infrastructure for development of
west-wide market for renewable energy.
• WREGIS is not a trading platform or market, but it will support them.
WREGIS GeographyWestern Interconnection
System In Operation
System Under Development
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Sponsors
Western Governors Association
California Energy Commission
Western Regional Air Partnership
April 21, 2004 5WREGIS for WECC
WREGIS Project Goals
• Create an independent tracking system for renewable energy generation in the West
• Establish a single institution in the West that will issue, register and track RECs
• Maximizes value of renewable energy resources
• Support state regulatory compliance and voluntary green market programs
• WREGIS operational in 2005
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Renewable Energy & RECs
Production of Renewable Electricity
RECs = Green Attributes
Commodity Electricity
• RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) represent the contractual right to claim the environmental and other attributes associated with electricity generated from a renewable energy facility
• May be traded independently of energy markets
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How Will WREGIS Operate?
• WREGIS will operate like a banking system
• When generators register, they open an account with WREGIS
• All RECs are initially issued to generators accounts
• RECs act as the ‛currency’ that is moved between accounts
• Other parties who wish to have RECs accounts within WREGIS may also open accounts.
April 21, 2004 8WREGIS for WECC
WREGIS may be Used byMultiple Programs
• Renewable (or environmental) portfolio standards• NM, CA, AZ, BC, NV
• Info disclosure• WA, CO, CA, OR, NM, MT, AZ
• Green pricing• OR, CO, PacifiCorp states
• Public benefits programs• CA, MT, OR
• Consumer protection• Production tax credits
• NM• Tracking REC ownership• Air Quality, Regional Haze, and SIPs
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Institutional Home Options
• Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
• Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB)
• Non-profit corporation
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WREGIS Supports WECC’s Mission
• WREGIS Supports WECC’s Reliability Mission by:
• Facilitating a more diversified portfolio of energy resources; and
• Contributing to a more efficient competitive market in renewable energy.
April 21, 2004 11WREGIS for WECC
WREGIS is Consistent with WECC’s Values and Priority Goals
• Will assist WECC in developing and maintaining technical proficiency in data gathering and management.
• Will improve WECC’s power supply assessments and power system models
• Will assist WECC in demonstrating WECC’s adaptability in meeting the evolving needs of the electricity industry.
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A WREGIS Governance Model at WECC
• Governance through WREGIS Board Committee composed of WECC and/or non-WECC member representatives
• WREGIS Board Committee to have policy making authority subject to WECC Board
• WREGIS account holders contract with WECC similar to WECC’s
Reliability Management System (RMS) program
• Day-to-day operations performed by outside IT contractor
• WECC Bylaw 7.7.2 changed to allow non-WECC members to
participate on WREGIS Board Committee
April 21, 2004 13WREGIS for WECC
WREGIS Costs
• No cost burden to WECC
• Software development system funded by California Energy Commission
• On-going operational costs to be covered by user fees
• ERCOT: ~$160K/year (2.2¢ per MWh)
• NEPOOL: ~$2.4M/year (1.8¢ per MWh)
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Summary: WECC and WREGIS are a Good Fit
• WECC provides needed geographic scope
• WECC provides WREGIS stature as a regional organization
• Strengthens WECC’s data handling capabilities
• WECC gains high visibility, low controversy program
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Next Steps at WECC
• Begin more detailed discussions with WECC staff
• Report to WECC Board in July 2004 with a specific proposal, including possible bylaws change.
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Thanks!
www.westgov.org/wieb/wregis/
Contact
Bill Westerfield, CEC Jeff Burks, WGA
916-654-4475 (801) 538-5414