REV Conference Recap: Opportunities for Distributed Generation in New York

The Sullivan Energy Finance team recently hosted an event on New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative. In particular, the panel participants, including former New York Public Service Commission Commissioner Bob Curry, Mike Pantelogianis of Investec, Sarah Carson Zemanick of Cornell University and Jay Worenklein of US Grid Company, focused on how deals will get done under the new framework.

While REV is in its relative infancy, and while it is perhaps difficult to draw too many conclusions regarding business models as a result, the panelists nonetheless made some interesting points that policymakers would do well to take under consideration. In particular, the participants seemed to agree that uncertainty is one of the largest risks to investment coming into the market. Additionally, the panelists seemed to agree that getting the role of the utilities correct will not be an easy task, but could lead to interesting investment opportunities, particularly in the microgrid space.

The issues the panelists addressed can be added to others we have discussed in the past, including: 1) addressing technology risk; 2) ensuring reliability; 3) containing cost; and, 4) avoiding regulatory issues.

Those interested in viewing the program in its entirety can find it here: REV Roundtable