Abstract
New York’s Clean Energy Standard (“CES”), adopted in August 2016, aims to steer the state’s electricity sector away from carbon-intensive generation sources. It supports low-carbon alternatives by requiring retail electricity suppliers to purchase credits, the proceeds from which are paid to renewable and nuclear generators. Recognizing that this will affect the operation of wholesale electricity markets, New York’s electric transmission grid operator (the “New York Independent System Operator” or “NYISO”) has commenced a review to assess possible means of incorporating the cost of carbon emissions into market prices. This Article explores two approaches to carbon pricing in NYISO markets: the first would involve NYISO adopting a carbon price of its own initiative with a view to improving the operation of wholesale electricity markets (“Approach 1”), while the second would involve adoption of a carbon price designed to reflect and harmonize state-level policies aimed at reducing electricity sector emissions (“Approach 2”). Under either approach, NYISO would adopt a per megawatt hour carbon price and use it to establish a fee for each generating unit, consistent with its emissions profile. This fee would be added to the prices generators bid into the wholesale electricity market and those adjusted prices used by NYISO to determine the dispatch order. The result would likely be a re-ordering of dispatch, with high-emitting generators dispatched (and paid) less frequently, and cleaner alternatives more frequently. Our proposal, while conceptually simple, is likely to be difficult to implement.
Recommended Citation
Justin Gundlach and Romany Webb, Carbon Pricing in New York ISO Markets: Federal and State Issues, 35 Pace Envtl. L. Rev. 1 (2017)DOI: https://doi.org/10.58948/0738-6206.1810
Available at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/pelr/vol35/iss1/1
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Energy and Utilities Law Commons, Environmental Law Commons, Natural Resources Law Commons, State and Local Government Law Commons