The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a meeting to discuss improvements for the 2027-2029 cycle of EmPOWER Maryland, the state’s energy efficiency program. The meeting, which will reconvene the Future Programming Work Group, will focus on the program’s greenhouse gas reduction goals for the upcoming cycle. A December 2024 order on the group’s recommendations noted that several suggestions were of value but were not fully developed or are better suited for the program’s next cycle, and directed commission staff to reconvene the working group. Staff recommended that the work group take on the assignment of the potential establishment of a demand response goal as well as developing GHG reduction goals. 9705

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is due to receive written comments on a draft report regarding the applicability of performance-based regulation, or PBR, for the state’s electric utilities. The study addresses multi-year rate plans, including indexed revenue formulas and performance incentive mechanisms. The commission recently held a workshop, which provided an opportunity for stakeholder input on the goals of PBR set forth in the draft report, as well as on specific PBR structures suitable for Maine. 2025-00107

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will hold hearings to consider Xcel Energy Inc.’s proposal to construct a 130-mile transmission line in southeast Minnesota. The initiative is part of a portfolio of Long Range Transmission Planning, or LRTP, projects studied and approved by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc. to support system reliability and resiliency as the generation mix continues to shift from aging coal-fired plants to renewable energy sources. Xcel stated that this project, along with other LRTP projects in Wisconsin, is necessary to address loading and congestion issues on the existing 345 kV transmission system across southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. CN-22-532

The California Energy Commission is due to receive comments on an assessment regarding Fountain Wind LLC’s 205-megawatt wind energy generation project in Shasta County. The project, comprising up to 48 turbines, would be located on about 2,855 acres of unincorporated area, with a connection to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s existing transmission line. 23-OPT-01

The New Mexico Environment Department will hold a virtual meeting to gather public input on the state’s Climate Action Plan, which is expected to be completed by December 2025. This meeting is part of a series of discussions focused on various sectors of the state’s economy, including industry, transportation, agriculture, and buildings. The upcoming session will center on the transportation sector — vehicles burning fossil fuels account for roughly 20 percent of New Mexico’s greenhouse gas emissions. Feedback received during community meetings held in March and April provided direction on forest management as a climate solution, sustainable agricultural practices, and emerging technologies to offset oil and gas emissions. A 2019 executive order set statewide targets to reduce emissions by 45 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The California Air Resources Board and Québec’s Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks will release the results of their 43rd joint quarterly carbon auction, which offered allowances for current and future years. The current auction offered 2023 and 2025 vintage allowances totaling about 51.1 million, and the advance auction offered 2028 future allowances totaling about 6.8 million. The previous auction held in February sold all of the nearly 51.5 million current allowances at a price of $29.27 per allowance and 6.8 million future allowances at $28 per allowance. California’s cap-and trade program places an economy-wide cap on major emitting sources. READ MORE

The California Energy Commission will host a remote access workshop to present its Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade School Energy Efficiency Program opportunity notice. The zero-interest revolving loan program provides funds to support energy efficient K-12 grade school retrofits and renewable energy projects in order to help schools improve their energy efficiency and switch to efficient-electric equipment. Commission staff will present the program opportunity notice, including eligibility, application, and reporting requirements. 25-DECARB-01

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is due to receive written comments on Avista Utilities’ 2025 integrated resource plan for natural gas, which identifies a preferred resource strategy, or PRS, to meet system energy demand and emissions compliance. The PRS shows conventional natural gas and energy efficiency as the company’s primary energy source options until the end of the study horizon in 2045, with small portions of renewable natural gas likely to be used as a system least cost solution in individual years. Avista projects that energy efficiency would provide the least cost resource through the planning horizon, offsetting the state’s demand by 11 percent by 2045.