TASK ONE: The contractor shall work with DOER in the development of a program framework and eligibility criteria, soliciting and processing stakeholder feedback on the development of the program, and developing application and selection processes with respect to the Program. In connection with the development of the program, DOER intends to release a straw proposal of program design to solicit and incorporate stakeholder feedback. The contractor will support DOER in the development of this straw proposal, soliciting and summarizing stakeholder feedback, and incorporating feedback resulting in a program manual, and application and evaluations forms for grant participants. The program to be devolved with include the following areas: I. Standalone Bulk Storage Programs / Peaker Replacement – DOER’s Report found that fossil fuel-based “peaker” plants provide critical support during peak demand, but often at the cost of significant greenhouse gas emissions and poor local air quality. Energy storage systems can also provide the same critical support services without the drawbacks associated with local emissions. Program Elements • Support non-emitting energy storage projects sited or pursuing siting at a fossil fuel peaker plants in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that would be able to reduce or phase out the peaker plants’ operations • Program could support feasibility studies for energy storage projects looking to replace a peaker plant or could support such projects already under development • The program would require Clean Peak Storage (CPS) registration and a minimum level of performance within the program • Projects that can demonstrate benefits to Low and Moderate Income (LMI) or Environmental Justice communities would receive additional incentives. Specific carveouts for such projects may be considered and established at the sole discretion of DOER. II. Resiliency programs – DOER’s Study identified the significant value that energy storage can provide power during an outage to critical facilities that serve a community or a region. Program Elements • Grant to help offset project costs and provide technical assistance, with portions to be paid according to certain project development milestones. There will be a minimum cost share percentage as well as an overall cap per project award. • Applicants must clearly demonstrate anticipated project benefits, including hours of resiliency designed for and islanding ability of critical loads from non-critical loads, and commit to performance reporting requirements to DOER if funded under this program. • Encourage microgrids and/or pairing energy storage with renewables, though projects must specifically have energy storage and grant funding can only be used for energy storage-related costs. • Projects encouraged to participate in other incentive programs (e.g., CPS, ConnectedSolutions) and wholesale markets, but must address how such participation will not impact resiliency use case. • Projects that can demonstrate benefits to LMI or EJ communities would receive additional incentives. Specific carveouts for such projects will be assigned and incentive adders considered, at the sole discretion of DOER. • Project identification requires understanding of site energy needs and energy assessment that may not have been completed at the time of program deployment. LMI or EJ communities may need additional support to identify sites, which will be identified by DOER and tasked to the Contractor.
