Jonathan McClelland, Director at M.J. Beck Consulting, will host the New York City Association of Energy Economics' lunch on March 26th. Jim Gallagher, SVP Energy Policy at the NYC Economic Development Corporation will speak on the "Electric Supply and Demand Challenges facing New York City". More information at www.usaeenyc.org

Jonathan McClelland, a Director at M.J. Beck will speak on Renewable Portfolio Standards at the Washington Energy Policy Conference on April 27th 2009.

Jonathan will speak on the differences between various US State-level Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) programs. Of the thirty states with RPS programs (and a further five with non-binding goals) each is unique. Differences appear on a number of parameters related to eligibility of particular resources, credit trading, technology favoritism, penalties for non-compliance, escape clauses, and program coverage. These differences matter, having significant financial implications for utilities, developers and customers. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of programs pose challenges for policy makers looking to integrate existing state standards and develop a federal RPS.

This week M.J. Beck Consulting (MJB) launched an online database of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). The RPS EDGE™ has been designed to assist MJB clients in understanding the great variety of RPS policies in place across the United States.

In design and impact, Renewable Portfolio Standards are not created equal. With over 50 characteristics on which programs can differ, the implications for policy makers, utilities, customers, developers, and the environment are substantial. The RPS EDGE™ is a web-based application that assists in quickly and easily making sense of the volumes of data associated with state RPS programs. Users can access up-to-date, comprehensive RPS data in a standardized form, as well as execute customized search and/or comparison queries, to rapidly access and assess specific program characteristics and targets.