Full Title: State Energy and Environment Guide to Action: Electricity Resource Planning and Procurement
Author(s): Environmental Protection Agency
Publisher(s): Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date: August 20, 2022
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Most states require utilities to engage in electricity resource planning to substantiate that the utility’s plans for meeting demand for electricity services are in the public interest. Planning varies greatly by state but is typically accomplished through processes set by the state utility regulator, often called a public utility commission (PUC), through a docketed proceeding with public involvement. Plans consider future customer needs, available resources to meet those needs, costs, benefits, and risks over the long term. The planning processes provide stakeholders a forum to submit feedback on resource options and offer states an opportunity to accelerate progress towards environmental, social, and economic goals.
This chapter identifies electricity resource planning pathways that states are using to achieve environmental and equity goals, primarily through the incorporation of supply- and demand-side clean generation resources like renewables and energy efficiency. The chapter describes state requirements to consider or procure certain types of resources, such as non-wire alternatives, all cost-effective energy efficiency, all-source request for proposal (RFP), and storage procurement requirements. In addition, the chapter discusses how resource planning and procurement are influenced by, and require analysis of, other clean energy policies such as a state energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) and renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which are covered elsewhere in this Guide to Action.