DC: Bill would require 50% renewables, double solar carve-out

Posted by Miriam on

Under the District’s existing RPS, electric utilities are required to obtain 20% of their retail sales from renewable resources, with a 2.5% solar carve-out, by 2023. B. 21-0650 would raise the RPS to 50% — and double the solar carve-out — by 2032, via annual increases of 3% to 4% beginning in 2024. Under the bill, the new Tier I resource targets would be:

  • 23% by 2024 (2.60% solar carve-out)
  • 26% by 2025 (2.85% solar carve-out)
  • 29% by 2026 (3.15% solar carve-out)
  • 32% by 2027 (3.45% solar carve-out)
  • 35% by 2028 (3.75% solar carve-out)
  • 38% by 2029 (4.10% solar carve-out)
  • 42% by 2030 (4.50% solar carve-out)
  • 46% by 2031 (4.75% solar carve-out)
  • 50% by 2032 (5.00% solar carve-out)

The bill would maintain the current (2016) solar alternative compliance payment level of $500/MWh through 2023, and replace the existing declining schedule that sets the 2023 SACP level at $50/MWh.

B. 21-0650 also would establish a “Solar for All” program to install solar — both solar PV and solar-thermal systems — on low-income homeowners’ homes.