SMUD Gets Huge Response from Feed-In Tariff Opportunity

In the first week that the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s (SMUD) standard tariff for qualifying renewable and combined heat and power generating facilities took effect, the utility received applications for its feed-in tariff (FIT) that exceed the program’s 100 megawatt capacity. All applications received offer solar photovoltaic technology.

“We are very pleased with the interest and heartened by the possibility of bringing another 100 megawatts of clean electricity to the area,” said SMUD AGM of Energy Supply Jim Shetler.

The program is designed to remove barriers to interconnection with the utility by providing standard rates and contract conditions, thus making it easier for SMUD and its power-generating customers to do business. It will also benefit the region by protecting the environment, saving money, reducing climate impacts of electrical generation and providing local economic benefit.

The day after applications were received, SMUD posted a queue of accepted applications including location and size information on the utility Web site and updated the queue as additional applications were accepted. To maintain confidentiality, the names of counter-parties will not be announced until contracts have been signed.

In September 2009, the SMUD Board of Directors approved a FIT for the purchase by SMUD of energy from eligible renewable energy resources and combined heat and power installations.

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