Renewable Energy and Emissions Markets

Environmental issues linked to energy have become a major focus area for the electricity business. We combine our knowledge of power markets, renewables and emissions allowance markets, and renewable energy project development and operation oversight to support our clients in this developing market.

La Capra has advised several states regarding renewable portfolio standard design, supply curve analysis, and policy implementation. Our experience includes states with systems benefits charges targeted to support renewable development and states contemplating renewable energy policies. Our team has assessed emissions attributes markets and the New England Generation Information System. We have also used PROSYM®, a dispatch market model, to estimate emissions offsets as a result of renewable generation and other capacity changes. Our wholesale market price forecasts provide information about the current dynamics of the electricity and renewable energy certificate markets. We conduct market studies and financial assessments for project developers, equity investors, lenders, utilities and renewable incentive programs. Beyond policy and market analyses, our market and project knowledge, coupled with our expertise in power contracting and pricing, positions us to plan and negotiate effective "green power" transactions.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS & CLIENTS

REC Bidding and Contracting for Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC)
La Capra provided advice and analysis for the MTC in connection with the design and implementation of their two recent Requests for Proposals for long-term REC contracts. Our team simultaneously developed a conceptual and quantitative assessment concerning the cost and benefits of long-term contracts for RECs and the associated energy including market risk considerations.

Project 100 and Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
In 2003, the Connecticut Legislature enacted revised RPS requirements, including a requirement that the state¹s electric distribution companies enter into at least 100 MW of long-term contracts with renewable energy generators by 2007. We were engaged to assist the CCEF in reviewing the contracting process, associated regulatory policies, and various implementation details.

RPS Cost Analysis for New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA)
In collaboration with Sustainable Energy Advantage, we analyzed the cost of meeting New York¹s proposed RPS. The process included creating a database of potential renewable supply, and screening and assessing the cost of renewable technologies that could potentially be implemented in New York and the surrounding areas.

Market Analysis for Cape Wind Associates
La Capra Associates conducted reliability, economic and environmental need assessments for Cape Wind¹s application to the MA Energy Facilities Siting Board for approval of an underwater transmission line connecting a proposed 400 MW off-shore wind farm to the New England grid at a point on Cape Cod. READ MORE

Negotiations of Purchase of Landfill Project for Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC)
La Capra led a study, begun in fall 2000, of renewable and other power resource options, for WEC, which culminated in contracts with a landfill gas project at an extremely competitive fixed rate and WEC developing a new landfill methane project.

Resource and Cost Analysis for Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
RGGI is a cooperative effort by nine states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York and the six New England states) to discuss the design of a regional cap-and-trade program initially covering carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the region. La Capra Associates was engaged by NYSERDA to assist in the development of the renewable energy inputs for a regional emissions model including available resources and costs.