Compass Blog

DEADLINE APPROACHING! Prequalify for New York's Energy Storage RFPs

Written by Rachelle McCann | Oct 23, 2019 5:53:07 PM

Are you an energy developer who conducts business in New York? Then time is running out for you to submit your pre-qualification documents for the upcoming New York Battery Storage RFPs! Released by the independently operated utilities of New York State, projects range from 10 MW to 300 MW and are available to companies who have prior Energy Storage experience.

However, in order to qualify to submit a bid response, you need to submit your pre-qualification documents before October 31st! Time is running out, but you can still submit your documents to qualify for the next stage of the RFP.

 

What do I need for the prequalification?

To qualify, you'll need to submit a number of items including Appendix A of the RFP you're interested in bidding for (you can view the four active Energy Storage RFPs below - we can help you submit for all of them).

Some of the items needed include:

Project Development Experience

  • Front-of-the-meter energy storage projects
  • Operation and Maintenance Experience
  • New York independent system operator experience

Organizational Structure

  • Legal registered name of all owners and affiliates
  • Organization chart of the personnel structure
  • Existing commitments and contingencies

Financial Capability

  • Project’s financing plan and status
  • Three years of audited financial statements
  • Letter of credit details

In order to prepare you for the submission, we've put together this RFP Starter Kit, with a prequalification checklist and a list of 5 RFP pitfalls you should avoid:

 

Why are New York’s Independently-Owned Utilities releasing Energy Storage RFPs?

On December 31st 2018, the New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) set an energy storage goal of 3,000 MW to be accomplished by 2030, and an interim goal of 1,500 MW by 2025.

Then, in April of this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the state will allocate $280 million for energy storage projects to accelerate the industry's growth and drive deployment. Energy storage solutions will help the state achieve its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 and shift to 100% clean electricity by 2040.

Several other states have put forth energy storage targets, but New York’s is the most ambitious to date. California has a 1,300 MW by 2020 target. New Jersey has a 2,000 MW by 2030 target. Massachusetts has a 200 MWh target but is considering raising it to 2,000 MW by 2025.

The projects must be operational by Dec. 31, 2022 and eligible for a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority incentive according to the RFP.

 

Who has released RFPs?

RFPs were previously issued by Con Edison and Orange & Rockland on July 15 with a deadline of August 1st. Unfortunately, it’s too late to submit your pre-qualification documents if you wanted to respond to these RFPs.

The good news? You’re still in luck if you want to submit to the remaining utilities!

On September 30, 2019, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG), Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E), Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid (National Grid) and Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation (Central Hudson) issued their RFPs. The deadline to submit your pre-qualification documents is October 31st, 2019!

Interested bidders must be prequalified to be eligible to submit bids as outlined in the applicable bid documents. While the RFPs include similar terms and conditions regarding project size, credit and site control requirements, each has unique nuances and preferred site locations.

 

What are the Important Dates to know for NYSEG, RG&E, National Grid, and Central Hudson

  • October 31, 2019: deadline for filing qualifications for evaluations
  • November 26, 2019: date on which qualified bidders will receive notification of their status
  • December 20, 2019: deadline by which qualified bidders must submit offers pursuant to the RFP
  • Developers who prequalified for Con Edison and Orange & Rockland by August 1, 2019, are required to submit their RFP responses by October 31, 2019.

 

Where Can I Review the Full RFPs?

Detailed information on the RFPs and applicable bid documents can be viewed at the following websites.

Central Hudson

National Grid

RG&E and NYSEG

Con Edison and Orange & Rockland

 

Too much information?

Let us help! We can go through the pre-qualification documents step-by-step to make sure you don’t miss any parts that will disqualify you from submitting your RFP.

Having successfully worked on prior New York Energy RFPs, we have the capability to ensure you meet and exceed the RFP requirements.

If you have any questions, or just want to chat about the upcoming RFPs do not hesitate to get in contact with us!