The Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) sixth-annual report on the implementation of the state’s 10% by 2015 renewable portfolio standard (RPS) shows that 9.1% of Michigan’s electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2014. Furthermore, the MPSC estimates the total renewable energy percentage for 2015 exceeded the 10% requirement.
“Michigan’s steady progress toward reaching – and exceeding – the 10-percent-by-2015 renewable portfolio standard shows the state’s commitment to a diversified resource base,” says MPSC Chairman Sally Talberg. “Even more encouraging is the continued downward price trend of renewable energy contracts, the last few of which are less than any new electric generation.”
Highlights of the report include the following:
– For 2014, the estimated renewable energy percentage reached 9.1%, up from 7.8% in 2013.
– All electric providers are expected to be able to meet – or exceed – the 10% RPS in 2015.
– Consumers Energy has filed renewable energy contracts with the MPSC totaling 604 MW and DTE Electric totaling 990 MW. At the end of 2015, both utilities had obtained MPSC approval of power purchase agreements and company-owned renewable energy projects that provided the necessary capacity to exceed the 2015 legislative capacity requirements.
– Approximately 2,500 MW of renewable energy generators are operating in Michigan and registered with the Michigan Renewable Energy Certification System.
– In July 2014, Consumers Energy reduced its renewable energy surcharge to zero for all customers. Alpena Power Co. and DTE Electric reduced renewable energy surcharges to zero for all customers effective July 2015 and December 2015, respectively.
– At the end of 2015, there were over 1,500 MW of utility-scale wind projects in operation in Michigan. A total of 484 MW of new wind generation is expected to begin operating by the end of 2016 (including 333 MW developed by non-MPSC rate-regulated providers). Several large solar projects are under development and planned to begin commercial operation during 2016.
– Through the second quarter of 2015, a cluster workforce analysis by the Michigan Workforce Development Agency in partnership with the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives showed 8,750 jobs among Michigan industries related to the renewable and alternative energy cluster, compared to 6,775 such jobs in 2005.
– The actual cost of renewable energy contracts submitted to the MPSC to date continues to show a downward pricing trend. A recent contract approved by the MPSC for new wind capacity has levelized costs lower than $45/MWh, about 10% less than the least expensive levelized contract prices from 2011 and half of the levelized cost of the first few renewable energy contracts approved in 2009 and 2010.
– The combined cost for renewable energy and energy optimization is $37.43/MWh, less than any new generation, including new natural gas combined cycle plants, when compared to the Energy Information Administration levelized plant costs for 2014.
For 2016 and each year thereafter, state law requires electric providers to maintain the same amount of renewable energy credits needed to meet the standard in 2015.
