Testimony on NIPSCO's Petition for Approval of Jordan Creek Wind Farm PPA

Client: Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD

March 2019

On behalf of Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD, provided written testimony in Cause No. 45195 on the consistency of Northern Indiana Public Service Company's (NIPSCO) 2018 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with acquiring a renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) with Jordan Creek Wind Farm. Dr. Stanton testified that the Jordan Creek PPA is consistent with NIPSCO's 2018 IRP, and that it is also consistent with the timing for procuring wind resources in the IRP's preferred portfolio.

This testimony is one of three AEC testimonies on three Indiana utility commission dockets (two filed and one upcoming) on behalf of Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, pertaining to Northern Indiana Public Service Company's (NIPSCO) proposed acquisition of wind energy through power purchase agreement (PPA) and/or joint ownership. 

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Testimony on NISPCO's Petition for Approval of Roaming Bison Wind Farm PPA

From Roaming Bison website

Client: Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD

March 2019

On behalf of Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD, provided written testimony in Cause No. 45196 on the consistency of Northern Indiana Public Service Company's (NIPSCO) 2018 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with acquiring a renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) with Roaming Bison. Dr. Stanton testified that the Roaming Bison PPA is consistent with NIPSCO's 2018 IRP, and that it is also consistent with the timing for procuring wind resources in the IRP's preferred portfolio.

This testimony is one of three AEC testimonies on three Indiana utility commission dockets (two filed and one upcoming) on behalf of Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, pertaining to Northern Indiana Public Service Company's (NIPSCO) proposed acquisition of wind energy through power purchase agreement (PPA) and/or joint ownership. 

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Comment on August 2018 Analysis of the Avoided Costs of Compliance of the MA GWSA

Source: Energy, Light, & Power

Author: Liz Stanton, PhD

September 2018

Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD, reviewed a recent study of the Massachusetts-specific cost of complying with the Global Warming Solutions Act. The study, released in August 2018 as a supplement to the Avoided Energy Supply Component in New England: 2018 Report, finds a Massachusetts carbon cost of $35 per ton of carbon dioxide (plus the cost of energy supply). Dr. Stanton supports this assessment while updates and critiques for implementation in future assessments.

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Testimony on Stranded Costs of Public Service Company of Colorado's Comanche 1&2 Coal Units

Source: Power Technology

Client: Sierra Club

Tyler Comings

March and July 2018

On behalf of Sierra Club, Senior Researcher Tyler Comings provided an Applied Economics Clinic testimony on March 2018 in Docket No. 17A-0797E. Mr. Comings provides an expert opinion on the Public Service Company of Colorado's application to accelerate the depreciation of Comanche Units 1 and 2 and the associated rate plan to offset this expense. He concludes that the accelerated depreciation of Comanche Units 1 and 2 and offsetting mechanism is in the public interest; the success of the Renewable Energy Standard Adjustment has afforded the Company the opportunity to offset the accelerated depreciation; and the Company's proposal is reasonable but should consider other options for future stranded assets. In his July 2018 surrebuttal testimony, Mr. Comings responds to criticisms raised in cross-answer testimony, concluding that the retirement of Comanche coal-fired Units 1 and 2 saves money and reduces risks to ratepayers.

Link to Tyler Comings' July 2018 Surrebuttal Testimony

Link to Tyler Comings' March 2018 Answer Testimony

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Massachusetts' Clean Energy Policy Overview

Client: Barr Foundation

Authors: Bryndis Woods, Nina Schlegel, and Liz Stanton, PhD

June 2018

On behalf of the Barr Foundation, Researchers Bryndis Woods and Nina Schlegel, along with Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD, prepared an Applied Economics Clinic policy brief which detailed Massachusetts’ history of leadership in clean electric-sector policies. Beginning in the 1980s, through the electric “restructuring” laws and regulations of the 1990s, and then the 2008 Green Communities Act and Global Warming Solutions Act, Massachusetts policy-makers have laid the groundwork for today’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while adding diversity to New England’s electric generating resources.  The 2018 ‘Act to Promote a Clean Energy Future’ continues this work, calling for accelerated renewable energy requirements, offshore wind and battery storage targets, and less stringent limits on rooftop solar installations.

Link to History of MA Energy Sector Policy Brief

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The Husker Energy Plan: A New Energy Plan for Nebraska

Client: Nebraska Wildlife Federation (NeWF)

Liz Stanton, PhD, Tyler Comings, and Anna Sommer (Sommer Energy, LLC)

January 2018

On behalf of Nebraska Wildlife Federation, Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD and Senior Researcher Tyler Comings, together with Anna Sommer from Sommer Energy LLC, prepared an Applied Economics Clinic (AEC) report regarding Nebraska's energy future. Sommer Energy and AEC were asked by the Nebraska Wildlife Federation (NeWF) to produce a plan envisioning an electric grid in Nebraska that relies more heavily on cost-effective wind, solar, and energy efficiency. This report looks at how Nebraska can expand reliance on renewables and invest more in energy efficiency, ultimately reducing the overall cost of electricity in the state and lower its carbon dioxide emissions.

Link to Report

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Benefits of Long-Term Renewable Contracts for Pennsylvania

Client: Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC)

Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD, Anna Sommer, Tyler Comings, and Rachel Wilson

December 2017

Pennsylvania’s 2004 Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Act requires the Commonwealth’s electric distribution companies and electric generation suppliers to purchase Tier I alternative energy credits (AEC) equal to 6 percent of their retail sales by 2017, rising to 8 percent in 2021. Clinic Director and Senior Economist Liz Stanton, PhD, Anna Sommer of Sommer Energy, LLC, Tyler Comings and Rachel Wilson examined the potential benefits of longer term contracting (10 years and 20 years) for the renewables needed to meet one-half of AEPS as compared to the current practice of purchasing renewable generation and associated AECs at procurement auctions every six months. The conclude that, over a ten-year period from 2018 to 2028, 20-year renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs) for one-half of Pennsylvania’s incremental AEPS requirement would save ratepayers $134 to $331 million. AEC updated price inputs to this analysis in July 2019 and found that renewable PPA costs would continue to compare favorably to auction prices.

Link to Policy Brief

Link to Report

Link to July 2019 Memo

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