2019 Community Renewable Generation Program Forward Procurement (AIC and ComEd)

Public Act 99-0906 was signed into law on December 7, 2016 and became effective June 1, 2017.  On December 4, 2017, the IPA submitted its Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan (“Long-Term Plan”) to the Illinois Commerce Commission (“ICC”) pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1-56(b) and 1-75(c) of the Illinois Power Agency Act and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act.  As approved by the ICC, the Long-Term Plan provides for a procurement of RECs delivered annually from community renewable generation projects that are not photovoltaic projects under fifteen-year contracts.  (Community renewable generation projects that are photovoltaic projects must participate in the Adjustable Block Program).  The requirements to participate will mirror the requirements of the Adjustable Block Program; however, rather than applying for a set price per REC as in the Adjustable Block Program, projects in the Community Renewable Generation Program will be selected primarily on the basis of price.  Please refer to Section 5.8.4 of the Long-Term Plan for additional information.

Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP Calendar (October 23, 2019)
Announcements – Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP

Click here to view Non-Solar Community Renewables FAQs.

Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP Results

 

Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP

FINAL Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP Bidder Information Webcast

FINAL Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP Documents

FINAL Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables Final REC Contract

DRAFT Fall 2019 Standard Contract Form Comment Process

DRAFT Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables REC Contract

Comment Process on Preliminary Proposal Requirements, Key Contract Terms

Preliminary Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP Bidder Information Webcast

Preliminary Proposal Requirements, Key Contract Terms, Indicative Schedule

Fall 2019 Non-Solar Community Renewables FAQs

FAQ-CPG-27
Q: What is the supplier fee under the Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP?

The exact amount of the supplier fee will be announced no later than two (2) business days before the Bid Date.

12-03-2019

FAQ-CRG-26
Q: If we specify a minimum capacity in the bid for a Project, are we required to build the Project at that minimum capacity? For example, if we specify a 1.5 MW minimum capacity, can we build a 2 MW Project knowing that we will receive revenue from the sale of RECs associated with only 1.5 MW?

A bidder specifies a “minimum capacity” in kW (AC rating) with its Bid on a Project. The Seller commits to accepting for a Project an award either at the Minimum Capacity specified with the Bid for that Project or at the Project Size. In your example, if the Project is selected at a Minimum Capacity of 1.5 MW, the Proposed Nameplate Capacity of the project under the REC Contract will be 1.5 MW. As stated in Section 5. Energization of the Project, subpart (e) of the REC Contract, “If the Actual Nameplate Capacity upon Energization is different from the Proposed Nameplate Capacity and such Actual Nameplate Capacity is greater than 2,000 kW or outside the greater of: +/-5kW or +/-25% of such Proposed Nameplate Capacity, then an Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred.”

12-03-2019

FAQ-CRG-25
Q: I have questions regarding the posting of collateral with the Companies. To whom should I send these questions?

Please send any questions you have regarding the delivery of bid assurance collateral or the delivery of performance assurance to the Procurement Administrator.  The Procurement Administrator will respond to your questions and contact personnel at the utilities for information on your behalf as appropriate.

11-27-2019

FAQ-CRG-24
Q: Will bidders get a notification from the Procurement Administrator about whether the bidder had bids that will be identified as “winning bids” to the Commission?

The Procurement Administrator expects to notify a bidder that has bids that were evaluated whether any of the bidder’s bid will be identified as “winning bids” to the Commission by 6 PM on the bid date.  Such notification is made earlier to the extent practicable or may be made on the next business day as circumstances warrant.  This notification occurs by telephone with a written confirmation by email.

11-27-2019

FAQ-CRG-23
Q: Is it correct that a Project may be physically located in one utility territory but it is nevertheless possible for the REC Contract for the Project with the other utility? Is a bidder required to submit bid assurance collateral and bid assurance collateral documents to both Ameren and ComEd?

It is correct that even though a Project may be physically located in the territory of ComEd, if the Project is selected by the evaluation and approved by the Commission, the counterparty to the REC Contract can be Ameren Illinois (and vice-versa).  A bidder must submit bid assurance collateral for the project in the form of cash or of a letter of credit to each of AIC and ComEd (and NOT only to the utility where the Project is located).  To the extent that you are providing bid assurance collateral in the form of cash, then you are also required to provide the Cash Insert for each Company (#P2-1 and #P2-2) and the draft request for the return of cash to each Company.

11-27-2019

FAQ-CRG-22
Q: Is the bid assurance collateral due on the Part 2 Date or on the Bid Date?

The Part 2 Proposal consists of the completed online Part 2 Form, the submission of bid assurance collateral, the submission of any other document required by the online Part 2 Form, and the bids. Only the bids are submitted on the Bid Date of December 13, 2019.  All other portions of the Part 2 Proposal, including the bid assurance collateral, must be received by 12 PM (noon) on the Part 2 Date, which is Wednesday, December 4, 2019.  Please see Paragraph VI.1.18 of the RFP Rules.

11-18-2019

FAQ-CRG-21
Q: Is it possible for the Target of 50,000 to be exceeded and for a Project to receive payment for more than 50,000 RECs annually?

The evaluation procedure will not select Projects which combine to deliver in excess of 50,000 RECs. If a Project has an expected output of 50,000 RECs (using the standard capacity factor or the capacity factor provided in the proposal) and if the Project is selected by the evaluation and approved by the Commission, then under the terms of the REC Contract, there cannot be payment for more than 50,000 RECs annually.  Payment could be for less than 50,000 RECs annually for a variety of reasons, including the fact that only RECs that are delivered and attributable to subscribed shares of the Project are eligible for payment.

11-18-2019

FAQ-CRG-20
Q: If our Project is selected and we execute the REC Contracts, what are financial penalties if we abandon the project at that point (failing to pay the Supplier Fees and/or posting the performance assurance)?

A seller that fails to pay the supplier fee and/or post performance assurance faces forfeiture of the bid assurance collateral.  Furthermore, under the REC Contract, not constructing the project on a timely basis or not delivering RECs are Events of Default subject to termination provisions, which entitle the Buyer as the Non-Defaulting Party to the remedies set forth under the REC Contract.

11-05-2019

FAQ-CRG-19
Q: When can the Company draw upon bid assurance collateral submitted by a bidder?

A Company may draw upon the letter of credit or a Company may draw upon a cash deposit if: (i) the Bidder or a Seller has disclosed information relating to the Proposal for a Project publicly or to any other party before the Illinois Commerce Commission has rendered its decision on the results of the procurement event; or (ii) the Bidder or a Seller has made a material omission or misrepresentation in the Part 1 Proposal or the Part 2 Proposal for a Project submitted in connection with the procurement event; or (iii) a Seller has failed to execute the applicable supplier contract for a Project within three (3) business days of being notified that the Illinois Commerce Commission has approved the Bid on that Project or has failed to meet the creditworthiness requirements of the applicable supplier contract within thirty (30) business days of such Illinois Commerce Commission decision; or (iv) the Bidder or a Seller has failed to pay to the Illinois Power Agency the Supplier Fee for a Project within seven (7) business days of being notified that the Illinois Commerce Commission has approved the Bid on that Project.

11-05-2019

FAQ-CRG-18
Q: Do co-located projects count as a single project for purposes of bid assurance collateral?

The amount of bid assurance collateral required for the Projects presented by a Bidder is determined separately for each Project and each Company as detailed below:

  • The amount of bid assurance collateral required for AIC is $10,000 per Project.
  • The amount of bid assurance collateral required for ComEd is $20,000 per Project.

Each co-located Project counts as a separate “Project” for purposes of calculating the amount of bid assurance  collateral.

11-05-2019

FAQ-CRG-17
Q: Should I submit separate proposals for co-located projects or should such projects be submitted as part of the same proposal?

Co-located projects should be submitted as separate proposals.

11-05-2019

FAQ-CRG-16
Q: If a bidder submits a Part 1 Proposal for a project but does not submit a bid for that project, will the bid participation fee be refunded? If bid assurance collateral was submitted for the project, will the bid assurance collateral be returned?

If a bidder submits a Part 1 Proposal, including payment of the bid participation fee, and then the bidder does not submit a bid for the Project, the bid participation fee will not be refunded.  If the bidder had submitted bid assurance collateral for the project with the Part 2 Proposal, then the bid assurance collateral would be returned to the bidder after the Commission decision on the results of the procurement event.

11-05-2019

FAQ-CRG-15
Q: It is stated that bid assurance collateral is returned “at the conclusion of the procurement event.” Does this mean right after the REC award process (in December 2019), or at the end of the 15 year REC Contract?

If a Bidder does not have projects that are selected by the evaluation and for which bids are approved by the Commission, the bid assurance collateral will be returned after the Commission decision on the procurement event (December 2019). If the Bidder has projects that are selected by the evaluation for which bids are approved by the Commission, the bid assurance collateral will be returned once the Bidder executes the REC Contracts, pays the supplier fees, and posts any required Collateral Requirement under the terms of the REC Contracts (by February 2020).

10-30-2019

FAQ-CRG-14
Q: What is the amount of the bid assurance collateral and how is it provided to the Companies?

The bid assurance collateral is required with the Part 2 Proposal in the form of cash of a letter of credit.  Bid assurance collateral is posted separately for ComEd and AIC.  The amount required for AIC is $10,000 per project and the amount required by ComEd is $20,000 per project.

10-30-2019

FAQ-CRG-13
Q: If a bidder presents a proposal for a project where not all non-ministerial permits have been obtained and the project is approved by the Commission, what happens if a permit falls through and the project is not built? Does the bidder forfeit the performance assurance posted to satisfy the collateral requirement?

The Collateral Requirement is posted upon contract execution in an amount of 1/15th of Maximum Contract Value under the applicable supplier contract(s) and remains in place throughout the term of the contract. Under the REC Contract, a Seller can request an extension as described in 5. Energization of the Project.  However, if the Project is not built, the Collateral Requirement will be forfeited.

10-30-2019

FAQ-CRG-12
Q: Can you please confirm that the Bid Participation Fee of $500 is a fee per bidder and is not dependent on the number of projects for which a bidder is presenting proposals?

Each participant is required to pay a non‐refundable bid participation fee of $500 as a condition of completing the Part 1 Proposal to the extent that such participant has not already paid a bid participation fee pursuant to its participation in a 2019 procurement event. A Bidder that submits proposals for multiple Projects is only required to pay a single bid participation fee.

10-30-2019

FAQ-CRG-11
Q: If a Bid is submitted for a project, but such Bid is not a selected and approved by the Commission, does the project get put on a waitlist?

There is no waitlist under the Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP.

10-30-2019

FAQ-CRG-10
Q: Is a bidder required to obtain all non-ministerial permits prior to the bidder’s submission of its Part 1 Proposal?

The final RFP Rules and documents, including the proposal requirements, will be posted by Tuesday, October 22, 2019. At this time we anticipate that it will NOT be required that all non-ministerial permits would be obtained prior to submission of the Part 1 Proposal. More information regarding how this deadline will be extended will be made available as soon as practicable.

09-27-2019

FAQ-CRG-9
Q: With co-location, can multiple projects utilize a single interconnect?

No, each project must have a separate interconnection agreement and point.

08-15-2019

FAQ-
Q: Could you clarify co-location rules. Does “two or more” co-located projects suggest more than 4 MW of co-location is allowed? Is one parcel separating projects enough to constitute a “separated” project, per Adjustable Block rules?

Co-located projects summing to more than 2 MW of Community projects may be permissibly located in 2 ways:

  • Two projects (of up to 2 MW each) on one parcel; or
  • One project (of up to 2 MW) on each of two contiguous parcels.

The two contiguous parcels may not have been divided within the 2 years prior to the Bid Date. Each Project must have separate interconnection points. Please refer to Section 7.3.1 of the Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan for additional information regarding the co-location standard.

08-15-2019

FAQ-CRG-7
Q: Where can I find the bidder information webcast for the Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP?

The Procurement Administrator posted the presentation materials and the audio recording from the bidder information webcast held on July 31, 2019 to the Draft Documents page of the Community Renewable Generation Program section of the procurement website.

08-05-2019

FAQ-CRG-6
Q: When will the REC target for the Non-Solar Community Renewables RFP be announced?

The target will be provided at a later date when it becomes available. At this time, it is expected to be provided with the RFP Rules currently scheduled to be posted on October 22, 2019.

08-05-2019

FAQ-CRG-5
Q: Could we split a single wind turbine into two “co-located” community renewables projects? I ask because we are considering a wind turbine with a capacity that is over 2 MW.

No. That would be inconsistent with the definition of a community renewable generation project in Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act:

“Community renewable generation project” means an electric generating facility that:

[items (1) – (3) omitted]

(4) is limited in nameplate capacity to less than or equal to 2,000 kilowatts.

05-24-2019

FAQ-CRG-4
Q: Regarding the co-location standards under the Community Renewable Generation Program, will they be the same as the standards under the Adjustable Block Program?

The co-location standards that will apply to the Community Renewable Generation Program will mirror the standards under the Adjustable Block Program. Therefore, a community renewable generation project that is not solar is not impacted by other renewable generation projects of different technology type, or of the same technology type that are not participating in the Community Renewable Generation Program, at the same location.

05-24-2019

FAQ-CRG-3
Q: Have the proposal requirements for the Community Renewable Generation Program been finalized?

The contract and RFP documents under this program are not yet available and the requirements for participation have not been finalized.  The IPA is currently assessing appropriate project maturity requirements specific to this procurement. Any such requirements will seek to account for development timelines external to the procurement itself.

05-24-2019

FAQ-CRG-2
Q: Is it still expected that the Community Renewable Generation Program Forward Procurement will be held in 2019?

The Community Renewable Generation Program Forward Procurement will be held later in 2019 as planned under the Long-Term Plan approved on April 3, 2018.   More information is expected to be posted in the coming months, and an announcement will be sent to all registrants at that time.

05-24-2019

FAQ-CRG-1
Q: Is there additional information regarding the timeline for the Community Renewable Generation Program Forward Procurement in relation to the Solar for All Program?

The Community Renewable Generation Program Forward Procurement will be held in 2019.   Please note that the Community Renewable Generation Program is a program for projects that are not solar (while the Solar for All Program, https://www.illinoissfa.com/, is specifically for solar projects).  More information will be available soon.  The schedule will be posted to the Calendar page of the procurement website and an announcement will be sent to all registrants at that time.

Information pertaining to this procurement will be posted to the dedicated Community Renewable Generation Program Forward Procurement page of the procurement website as soon as it becomes available. At this time, please refer to Section 5.8.4 of the Long-Term Plan for additional information.

04-25-2019