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week of Aug. 24, 2020

The EnerKnol Week Ahead is back to give you the key energy policy events happening next week, all powered by the EnerKnol Platform. Coming up, New York is set to receive proposals for large-scale renewable energy projects in response to its solicitation for 1.5 gigawatts of capacity; the California Public Utilities Commission weighs energy alternatives to power safe-to-energize substations during safety power shut-offs; the U.S. Energy Department discusses the industry’s current practices to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in the supply chain for power system components.

Featured Entities

California EC

California PUC

DOE

EIA

FERC

Michigan PSC

New York PSC

NYSERDA

Federal Agencies

Monday,
August 24
FERC Evangeline Pass Expansion Project Environmental Assessment

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is scheduled to issue an environmental review for the Evangeline Pass Expansion Project proposed by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. and Southern Natural Gas Company LLC to provide up to 1.1 million dekatherms per day of additional natural gas capacity on their systems in Louisiana and Mississippi. The purpose of the project is to serve Venture Global LNG Inc.’s proposed Plaquemines export facility in Louisiana. TGP’s portion, which includes a compressor station and looping pipeline segments on its system, is estimated to cost about $262 million. SNG’s estimated $171 million expansion includes a new compressor station, three meter stations, and other modifications. CP20-50-000, CP20-51-000

Monday,
August 24
DOE Bulk Power System Information Request

The U.S. Energy Department is due to receive responses to its request for information on the energy industry’s current practices to address vulnerabilities in the supply chain for components of the bulk power system. The request follows an executive order issued in May prohibiting the acquisition or installation of bulk-power system equipment in which a foreign country has an interest if the transaction raises national security concerns. The order allows the department to establish criteria to recognize certain equipment and vendors as pre-qualified for future transactions. READ MORE

Monday,
August 24
DOE Fusion Energy Advisory Committee Meeting

The U.S. Energy Department will host a virtual meeting of the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee which provides advice on complex scientific and technological issues pertaining to the planning, implementation, and management of the fusion energy sciences program. The agency will receive an update from a subcommittee on the development of a long-range plan for the program and also discuss the outcome of its 2019 workshop on advancing fusion with machine learning.

Wednesday,
August 26
DOE Electricity Advisory Committee Teleconference

The U.S. Energy Department will host a meeting of the Electricity Advisory Committee, which provides advice on modernizing the nation’s electricity delivery infrastructure and implementing the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The agency is expected to discuss the committee’s response to the request for information concerning the Energy Storage Grand Challenge initiative, a 10-year program launched in January to establish and sustain U.S. leadership in energy storage utilization and exports. READ MORE

Wednesday,
August 26
EIA Monthly Energy Review

The U.S. Energy Information Administration will issue its Monthly Energy Review, providing data on energy production, consumption, prices and trade. U.S. consumption of liquid fuels dropped in March and April 2020 as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the agency’s latest short-term outlook. Consumption of petroleum and other liquid fuels is projected to continue rising in the latter half of 2020 as economic activity grows, though demand will be lower than the 2019 average until August 2021.

Eastern Region

Starts
Wednesday,
August 26

Ends
Thursday,
August 27
NY PSC NYSEG, RG&E Rate Cases Hearing

The New York Public Service Commission is due to receive comments on a rate case settlement filed by New York State Electric & Gas Corporation and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation, both subsidiaries of Avangrid Inc., for three years starting from May 1, 2020. Under the proposal, electric revenue increases for NYSEG and RG&E would be $219 million and $74 million, respectively for the three-year period. The companies also proposed to decrease their natural gas revenues in the first year and subsequently increase said revenues in the following two years.

Thursday,
August 27
NYSERDA Large-Scale Renewables Solicitations

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is due to receive submissions for large-scale renewable energy projects capable of generating 1.6 million megawatt hours or more per year. In July, Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo announced solicitations seeking up to 4 gigawatts of renewable capacity, including 2.5 gigawatts of offshore wind and 1.5 gigawatts of land-based large-scale projects. The agency will coordinate with the New York Power Authority in conducting land-based project solicitations. The selected projects will be fast-tracked under a recent law, which established a renewable energy siting office to accelerate large-scale projects. READ MORE

Western Region

Monday,
August 24
MI PSC Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline Hearing

The Michigan Public Service Commission will discuss Enbridge Energy LP’s request for siting authority to relocate a segment of the Line 5 oil and gas pipeline to a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac. In June, the commission rejected a request for a declaratory ruling that Enbridge already has authority to replace the segment under a 1953 order that approved the pipeline, since the proposal differs significantly from the original project. Considering the significant public interest in the issue, the commission deferred action on Enbridge’s April 17 application for approval of the replacement, in order to consider whether new authority is required. The commission decided to address the proposal through a contested case. READ MORE

Tuesday,
August 25
CA PUC Energy Alternatives for Power Shut-Offs Workshop

The California Public Utilities Commission will discuss the opportunities and challenges regarding the use of energy alternatives to power safe-to-energize substations during utility public safety power shut-offs. Electric utilities may shut off power as a last-resort safety measure to reduce the risk of utility infrastructure starting wildfires. The commission adopted additional guidelines for the investor-owned electric utilities ahead of the 2020 wildfire season to address some of the issues that came to light during the 2019 shut off events. As a temporary measure, PG&E is implementing mobile diesel power generators at substations. The workshop will also examine the role of microgrids in enhancing resilience. READ MORE

Thursday,
August 27
CA EC EV Charging Infrastructure Comments

The California Energy Commission is due to receive comments on plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure following a series of workshops held as part of its 2020 integrated energy policy report update. The commission is exploring ways to improve planning and modelling efforts together with community engagement to ensure equitable access to robust technology. Additionally, the agency is examining funding programs for zero emission vehicles and the opportunities for economic recovery and workforce development through clean transportation investments. 20-IEPR-02

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