IS THERE A ROLE FOR IPP IN RPS COMPLIANCE, FINANCING AND MARKETING?
In responding to public demand for renewable energy and complying with renewable portfolio standards in over 25 states plus the District of Columbia, many electric utilities have begun to shift away from purchased power as the sole or primary source of renewable energy for their portfolios. This shift has moved to ownership of the renewable energy resource itself, whether through the complete development of projects or the purchase of projects from developers after project completion. In this program, representatives of electric utilities and independent power producers (IPPs) will discuss the background underlying this trend towards utility ownership, the pros and cons involved in the trend, RPS compliance, scenarios for utility rate recovery, and the future role of IPPs in the renewable energy sector.