RESRFP25-1 Preview: What to Expect and How to Get Ahead
Part 2 of SEA’s New York REMO CES Biennial Review Blog Series
Publish Date: June 24, 2025
Written by: Po-Yu Yuen, Director and Eric Pinsker-Smith, Senior Analyst
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes
New York’s next Tier 1 large-scale renewables procurement, RESRFP25-1, is on the horizon. For developers, investors, and acquirers, now is the time to start positioning. With newly approved changes from the Clean Energy Standard Biennial Review and an expected return to a more predictable and developer-sensitive procurement timeline (in contrast to the accelerated approach of recent rounds), this solicitation offers a well-timed reset for New York’s Tier 1 market to a potentially deep pool of eligible supply, during a time of significant cost and incentive uncertainty.
What to Expect in RESRFP25-1
Timing: When Is it Coming? NYSERDA has confirmed its intent to release a Request for Information (RESRFI25-1) in Q3 2025, followed by issuance of RESRFP25-1 later in the same quarter. The RFI will preview the proposed logistics and planned new features of the solicitation, allowing stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback before the final RFP is issued. Based on past practices, we expect a short window between RFI and RFP issuance to accommodate that feedback period.
Unlike recent RESRFP rounds that were accelerated to re-capture projects with cancelled awards following post-COVID cost shocks, we expect RESRFP25-1 to potentially mark a return to more measured cadence (75-90 days between RFP issuance and Step 2 bid due date as compared to 50-60 days in the last two rounds). One reason is the expected threshold requirement that projects must be eligible to enter into Phase 2 of the NYISO Cluster Study process (as discussed further below). While the RFP itself may be issued earlier in the quarter, that Phase 2 milestone effectively sets an earliest date for when bid deadlines – especially Step 2 – can reasonably occur.
Eligibility: New Maturity Thresholds: With NYISO’s shift to the FERC Order 2023 Cluster Study process, the PSC’s Biennial Review Order confirms that NYSERDA will require all RESRFP25-1 bids to at minimum “have satisfied the NYISO’s requirements for entry into the Phase 2 study… including making any deposit payment that may then be due”. To enter into the Phase 2 Cluster Study process, projects will need to have completed the ongoing Phase 1 Study, which is scheduled to conclude on September 4, 2025, and accept NYISO’s preliminary cost allocations during the decision period (currently scheduled for September 5-18).
Permitting thresholds have not yet been specified for RESRFP25-1. However, given the state’s broader emphasis on project maturity, developers should prepare for tighter scrutiny of permit application submission status compared to the past round, where projects only needed to demonstrate reasonable readiness to submit applications by a future deadline.
Bid Pool Expectations: Based on NYISO’s interconnection queue data for projects currently in the Cluster Study Phase 1, the pool of potentially eligible projects for RESRFP25-1 includes approximately 8.9 GW of solar and 2.3 GW of land-based wind capacity. This early snapshot shows a potentially large volume of eligible supply relative to the target procurement volume that may suggest more robust competition.
However, the final bid pool will ultimately depend heavily on: (i) each project’s permitting progress and completeness; (ii) the availability of more advanced projects that have already cleared interconnection hurdles; (iii) and the impact of external market forces, particularly ongoing uncertainty around federal tax credit implementation, tariff exposure, and, to a lesser degree, federal permitting risk.
These factors may lead some developers to sit out this round or delay bidding until conditions improve. But for projects that are mature and ready, early strategic positioning could be a decisive advantage. Sustainable Energy Advantage’s New York Renewable Energy Market Outlook (NY REMO) upcoming Early Look Briefing will dig deeper into the likely bid cohort and their breakdown (by technology and location) and help subscribers evaluate competitive playing field.
How to Get Ahead with NY REMO?
With a rising maturity bar and competitive pressure, getting ahead means preparing before the rules are finalized. Our NY REMO Early Look Briefing, to be delivered in late June, includes:
- A preview of expected eligible bid cohort, including total volume and breakdown by technology, location, and size
- Supply curve analysis shaped by the latest policy and market developments
- Insights into expected award outcomes, considering competition and procurement appetite
This briefing will give potential bidders a strategic head start – helping you assess whether to bid, understand how your projects stack up in the competitive landscape, prioritize within your portfolio, initiate internal pricing discussions, and align investment strategy– before the clock starts ticking.
Following issuance of the RFP anticipated later in Q3, our Detailed Look Briefing will be released to help subscribers refine pricing and bid strategy based on final solicitation design, evaluation criteria, and updated market signals.
Together, these briefings form a complete strategy toolkit to help you:
- Benchmark your project against the field
- Understand risk exposure and pricing dynamics
- Position your bid for success
Want an Early Edge?
NY REMO is SEA’s subscription-based market intelligence service built for LSR developers navigating New York’s Clean Energy Standard. Our enhanced service combines robust modeling, scenario analysis, and aggregated market intelligence, delivered through curated subscription packages.
If you’re:
- Considering a bid into RESRFP25-1 or RESRFP26-1
- Pursuing near-term LSR acquisition opportunities in NY
- Looking to pressure-test pricing and strategy in a dynamic environment
…we’d love to connect::
Contact us to schedule a NY REMO demo or Subscribe to this NY REMO blog series to stay ahead of New York’s Tier 1 Market.