The suitability of renewable energy to the centralized paradigm of energy generation has long been questioned given resource intermittency and lost opportunities for integration. Many are touting DG’s (distributed generation’s) bypassing of these issues in addition to its potential to encourage competition in the solar technology sector and to create local economic benefits. Meanwhile, doubts as to the business sense of widespread distributed generation have begun to subside following Google’s $280 million investment in SolarCity. Nevertheless, a lack of consensus exists over the technical viability of urban DG with figures putting its capacity on the distribution feeder between 15%-50%.

In this meeting our panelists will examine the adaptability of the urban setting to large-scale commercial distributed generation. Our speakers will identify opportunities for technological growth and possible synergies in the creation of policy incentives and utility rate structures. 

9:30am:      Networking, Breakfast 

10:00am:    Panel Discussion Begins

Urban DG Capacity

• How suitable is the urban environment to large-scale commercial solar DG?
• What are the pros and cons of renewable distributed generation in an urban setting?
• What sites are most prime for solar DG? What determines their suitability?
• What differences in methodology can account for the disparity in figures for DG capacity? What would the DG capacity be for an urban setting such as New York City’s?
• Is a grid retrofit needed for widespread DG?
• What are the benefits in terms of T&D of large-scale commercial DG?

Policy

• What policy initiatives are in place to incentivize large-scale commercial urban DG? Some such initiatives include raised net metering caps, urban solar initiatives, deregulation in permitting standards, RPS and tax abatements. Which policies have proven most successful for encouraging DG? Which states or municipalities have seen the most success?
• What aspects of the utility rate structures and municipal policies that encourage distributed solar in New Jersey and California are replicable in New York?
• How have the local economic benefits derived from urban DG projects been calculated? Are transmission extension cost savings included? How have these benefits been taken into consideration in the formation of policy incentives?

Technology & Finance

• Has there been evidence of distributed generation spurring competition among solar technologies?
• Which technologies are projected to have the most traction in the commercial urban DG market?
• What tax equity and debt finance models have been used in New York to finance distributed solar installations?

11:30am:    Audience Q&A  

12:00am:    Panel Discussion Ends, Networking

12:30pm:    End of Meeting

Speakers:

Black + Veatch Management Consulting, Oscar Mak, Manager

ConEdison, Margarett Jolly, DG Ombudsman

Nautilus Solar Laura Stern, President

Sustainable CUNY | NYC Solar America City Initiative, Alison Kling, NYC Solar Coordinator

SolarCity, John Stanton, VP of Government Affairs

Moderator Tioga Energy, Henry Labalme, Director of East Coast Operations

Log into www.agrion.org to create a new profile. Register below.

For any further questions, please contact: