The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is due to receive submissions in response to its request for information regarding potential sites for large-scale renewable energy projects to advance “Build Ready” projects under the 2020 Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act. The initiative is designed to identify sites and advance pre-construction development activities for large-scale renewable energy projects on underutilized lands before auctioning and transferring the sites to the private sector for final construction and operation. The program is in the process of developing a pipeline of projects on brownfields, landfills, and abandoned and existing commercial and industrial sites for eventual auction. The agency has developed a proposed auction process and is seeking information from solar PV developers, investors, owners and operators on a series of questions on the process.

The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a hearing regarding Waypost Solar Project LLC’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to build an approximately 92-megawatt solar project and an 80-megawatt hour battery storage system in Caroline County. The project, proposed by Enel Green Power, is expected to begin commercial operations in 2023. The company expects the project, covering a total area of about 1,323 acres, to generate an estimated $21 million in tax revenue over its lifetime. The development would contribute to the state’s goals of sourcing 50 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. 9675

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will hold a public hearing on draft criteria for identifying disadvantaged communities to guide the equitable implementation of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Under the law, New York must reduce economywide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels, and attain a carbon-free power system by 2040. The draft provides an interactive map and a list of communities as well as criteria to direct initiatives that cut emissions, open economic development opportunities, and support investments in clean energy and energy efficiency. The department has scheduled 11 hearings during May and June to receive public input on the draft criteria based on geographic, public health, environmental hazard, and socioeconomic factors.

The California Energy Commission is expected to consider applications for two energy storage projects at its business meeting. Pecho Energy Storage Center, proposed by Pecho LD Energy Storage LLC, consists of a 400-megawatt advanced compressed air energy storage facility to be located in San Luis Obispo County, California. GEM A-CAES LLC’s proposed Gem Energy Storage Center would include a 500-megawatt energy storage center in Kern County, using the same technology. The Pecho and GEM projects would be capable of delivering 3,200-megawatt/hours and 4000-megawatt/hours, respectively, over a period of 8 hours when discharging at nameplate capacity. The meeting agenda also includes an overview of the commission’s activities related to the federal funding opportunities provided by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The California Public Utilities Commission is due to receive comments on its proposed net metering successor tariff. The commission is reconsidering the proposal, issued in December 2021, following industry outcry over proposed elements of the tariff that would make solar more expensive, and add unpredictability and instability for existing customer generators. The proposal, the third iteration of the state’s 25-year old net metering program, is a net billing version, with an export compensation rate based on avoided cost values and import rates that encourage electrification and solar paired with storage. The commission found that the current NEM 2.0 program participants bypass infrastructure and service costs embedded in volumetric rates by decreasing grid imports. Reply comments are due by June 24. READ MORE