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22 projects found for:
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Topic: Generating Asset Valuation
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Advising the Vermont Legislature on the Future of Vermont Yankee
Client: Vermont General Assembly
Synapse was hired by the Vermont Legislature to identify and analyze numerous technical, economic, and reliability issues surrounding the continued operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station once its initial license period expires in March 2012. Specific tasks include attending and participating in hearings, organizing and staffing informational briefings for the legislature, preparing issue briefs, and performing and/or supervising quantitative analysis of the likely economic attributes of the plant and associated power purchase agreements. Project ongoing.
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Report on Impact of Proposed Reliability Pricing Model
Client: Illinois Citizens Utility Board
Synapse developed a report on the impact of PJM's proposed Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) on Exelon nuclear facilities' capacity revenues in northern Illinois. At the request of Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Synapse analyzed the current capacity revenues earned by Exelon's nuclear fleet in Illinois and compared those revenues to the historical six-year average prices for capacity in PJM and to the RPM "target price" as defined by a benchmark proxy peaker unit. The analysis showed that the capacity revenues for Exelon's nuclear units in northern Illinois would increase from $100 million (2005) to over $500 million annually under RPM, on average, and that annual earnings under RPM for a single year could be as high as $1.2 billion under extreme scarcity conditions. Project completed in August 2005. Download Report
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Analyses of Proposed Decoupling Pilot Projects
Client: Izaak Walton League
Synapse performed analyses of proposed decoupling polices and pilot programs. Project completed in March 2009.
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Customer Perspectives on Delivery of Energy Efficiency
Client: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
For the U.S. EPA, Synapse researched and analyzed concerns that consumer organizations have raised regarding energy efficiency programs in general and ratepayer funded efficiency programs in particular. Project completed in 2009.
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Analysis of Duke Ohio Save A Watt Proposal
Client: Natural Resources Defense Council
Analysis of Duke Energy Ohio's proposed "Save-a-Watt" program, which would institutue financial incentives program for Demand-Side Management.
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Valuation of Moore Hydroelectric Facility
Client: Town of Littleton, NH
Synapse conducted a valuation of the Moore Hydroelectric Facility in Littleton, NH to ensure that their tax valuations are fair and up-to-date. As projected power prices have climbed over the past few years, the value of carbon-free hydroelectric generating resources has increased dramatically. This is because these plants get the benefit of higher electricity prices but pay none of the higher fuel and emissions costs. Facilities which had declined in value during the early years of deregulation can now have a market value of two or three times what it would have been just three or four years ago. Synapse has worked with a number of cities and towns in New England that depend on property taxes from these resources. Project completed in 2008.
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Tufts Cove 6 Waste Heat Recovery Project 2008
Client: Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
For the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, Synapse performed an analysis of a Nova Scotia proposal to convert two existing simple cycle combustion turbines into a single combined cycle unit with duct firing. Synapse reached the conclusion that the Board should proceed with Nova Scotia Power's proposed combined-cycle conversion without the addition of the extra 25MW of capacity from duct firing. The efficiency penalty imposed on the plant through the addition of duct firing was found to reduce the economic benefit to the point where duct firing was not justifiable. Project completed August 2008. Download Report
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Unbundling of Street Lighting Tariffs for Village of Woodstock
Client: Town of Woodstock, VT
Synapse advised the Village of Woodstock, Vermont, regarding Central Vermont Public Service's street lighting tariffs, unbundling of street lighting service, and improving efficiency and cost of street lighting service in rate design litigation before the Vermont Public Service Board. Project completed in September 2007.
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Companion Scenario Analysis
Clients: Conservation Law Foundation, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
For this project, Synapse reviewed a ISO-NE Scenario Analysis report and developed a Companion Report that evaluated two additional scenarios for greater EE, DR, renewables, and reduced carbon resources. Project completed in 2007. Download Report
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Review of Proposed Sale of Point Beach Nuclear Power Plants
Client: Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board
Synapse evaluated the proposed sale of the Point Beach nuclear power plants. The Commission ultimately approved the sale, but applied a number of the conditions we had recommended. Project completed in August 2007. Download Testimony
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Assistance in Lawsuit Regarding the Sale Price of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant
Client: U.S. Department of Justice
Synapse assisted the Department of Justice in litigation brought by Boston Edison regarding the sale price of the Pilgrim Nuclear Station. Synapse's testimony addressed the risks faced by the purchaser of a nuclear power plant in 1998. Project completed in June 2007.
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Valuation of a Gas-Fired Cogeneration Facility
Client: Town of Jay, Maine
Assisted the valuation consultant retained by the Town of Jay by analyzing the expectations regarding the gas-fired cogeneration facility project's long-term annual revenues and operating costs for two set points in time. Project completed in May 2007. Download Report
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Rockingham Hydro Plant Valuation - Bellows Falls
Client: Town of Rockingham, VT
Synapse provided an economic valuation of the Bellows Falls hydroelectric facility as of April 2006 for the Town of Rockingham, VT. Project completed in March 2007.
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Economic and Environmental Benefits of Glebe Mountain Wind Farm
Client: Catamount Energy
Synapse was asked to provide prefiled testimony in a 248 proceeding (Certificate of Public Need) on behalf of Catamount Energy, Inc., outlining the economic and environmental benefits of a proposed wind farm in Glebe Mountain, Vermont. Synapse evaluated the need for new energy resources in Vermont, the demand for renewable energy to fulfill state Renewable Portfolio Standards in the region, and the economic benefits of clean energy and displaced emissions. In addition, Synapse evaluated how the proposed project conformed to the Vermont Electric Plan. Project completed in April 2006.
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Midland Resource Conservation Plan
Client: Michigan Department of the Attorney General
Review the Resource Conservation Plan for purchases from Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership. Download Testimony
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Economic and Environmental Benefits of Deerfield Wind Farm
Client: Private-sector wind developer
Synapse was asked to provide prefiled testimony in a 248 proceeding (Certificate of Public Need) on behalf of a private sector wind developer, outlining the economic and environmental benefits of a proposed wind farm in Deerfield, Vermont. Synapse evaluated the need for new energy resources in Vermont, the demand for renewable energy to fulfill state Renewable Portfolio Standards in the region, and the economic benefits of clean energy and displaced emissions. In addition, Synapse projected project costs and revenues to demonstrate the economic viability of the proposal. Project completed in March 2006.
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Salem Harbor Reliability and Environmental Compliance Assessment
Client: Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Synapse assisted a coalition of intervening parties in a utility environmental compliance settlement involving a multi-unit coal and oil generation station in Salem, MA. Synapse provided an analysis of the impact of future transmission upgrades on the reliability need for coal and oil units that were out of compliance with Massachusetts environmental regulations for air emissions. The intervenors were considering possible settlement strategies to allow for the continued operation of the non-compliant units contingent on the addition of specific short-term remedial actions to reduce emissions. Project completed in September 2005.
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Analysis of Securitization of Stranded Costs & CTC Charges in Texas
Client: Gulf Coast Coalition of Cities
Synapse provided expert witness testimony in Docket Nos. 30485 (January 2005) and 30706 (March 2005) before the Texas Public Utility Commission. Neil Talbot and Robert Fagan testified in January on aspects of securitization of stranded costs by CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, the T&D arm of the former Houston Light and Power. In a separate but related docket, Amy Roschelle testified in March on the appropriate interest rate to use in association with a competitive transition charge (CTC) for stranded assets. The thrust of the testimony of all three witnesses focused on ensuring a fair and reasonable stranded cost recovery process, a risk-adjusted rate of return, and minimizing the impact of charges to consumers. Project completed in May 2005. Download Testimony
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Economic Valuation of the Bellows Falls Hydroelectric Facility
Client: Town of Rockingham, VT
Synapse provided an economic valuation of the Bellows Falls hydroelectric facility as of April 2004 for the Town of Rockingham, VT. Project completed in March 2005.
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Stranded Cost True-Up
Client: Gulf Coast Coalition of Cities
Synapse reviewed the stranded cost true-up filing made by CenterPoint and Reliant Energy, requesting recovery of several billion dollars of stranded costs. Issues addressed in the testimony of Synapse's Neil Talbot and Bruce Biewald before the Public Utility Commission of Texas included whether a "control premium" is justified, what an appropriate capital structure would be for the GenCo, the cost of environmental controls, the treatment of "excess mitigation credits," and construction work in progress. Project completed in July 2004. Download Direct Testimony
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Valuation of Hydroelectric Plants
Clients: Vermont Department of Taxes, Town of Whitingham, VT, Town of Rockingham, VT
Synapse and Resource Insight prepared estimates of the market value of eight hydro-electric generation facilities in Vermont. These facilities were assessed using the income approach, the replacement cost approach and the comparable sales approach. The income approach relied upon computer simulation modeling of the New England electricity market. Project completed in 1999, with subsequent support following negotiations continuing until May 2003.
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Valuation of Power Plant Site
Client: Mississippi Public Service Commission Staff
Synapse worked with Resource Insight to estimate the value of a power plant site leased by the regulated utility company to its affiliate generating company for use at a new combustion turbine generating facility. Project completed in February 2003.
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