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week of Mar. 20, 2026

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, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission announces an investigative inquiry on energy affordability involving the state’s five largest investor-owned utilities; the Oregon Public Utilities Commission considers amendments to rules governing its resource adequacy program; and New York regulators examine the potential impacts of utility ownership of renewable generation and changes to wholesale market design to better align with clean energy procurement mechanisms.

Featured Entities

BLM

California EC

DOE

Indiana IURC

Maryland PSC

New York PSC

Oregon PUC

Federal Agencies

Monday,
March 23
BLM Oil and Gas Lease Sale

The Bureau of Land Management seeks public input on plans to include 32 oil and gas parcels totaling approximately 21,181 acres in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas in a lease sale scheduled for August 2026. BLM reviews drilling permit applications, conducts an environmental analysis, and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders. Parcels offered in a federal oil and gas lease sale include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources.

Monday,
March 23
DOE Advanced Nuclear Reactor Deployment

The U.S. Energy Department seeks comments regarding worker safety and health requirements to support reforms to nuclear reactor testing. The department has issued a proposal to amend its regulations for worker safety and health in order to expedite the review, approval, and deployment of advanced reactors under its jurisdiction, including projects in a pilot program launched in 2025. The pilot program, aimed at expediting the testing of advanced reactor designs, follows an executive order that reforms and streamlines national laboratory processes for reactor testing at the department. DOE’s proposed amendments would ensure that its worker safety and health program continues to protect workers, while incorporating lessons learned from decades of operating experience and fostering nuclear innovation and technologies. The department has reopened the comment period, which closed on Feb. 20, to allow for additional input.

Thursday,
March 26
DOE Critical Minerals Processing Expansion

The U.S. Energy Department will hold a webinar to discuss a funding opportunity of up to $500 million to expand domestic processing of critical minerals and strengthen the nation’s battery materials supply chain. The funding, offered through the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, would support demonstration and commercial-scale facilities that process, recycle, or manufacture battery minerals, which may include those used in commercially available batteries as well as traditional minerals such as lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, and aluminum. The initiative aims to expand manufacturing of battery supply chains for defense, grid resilience, transportation, manufacturing, and other industries. READ MORE

Friday,
March 27
DOE Geothermal Exploration Funding Program

The U.S. Energy Department is due to receive letters of intent for a $171.5 million funding opportunity to support next-generation geothermal field-scale tests for electricity generation and exploration drilling. The initiative is intended to support resource characterization and confirm promising geothermal prospects. While the U.S. leads the world in geothermal electricity capacity with about four gigawatts, DOE’s analysis shows potential for at least 300 gigawatts of geothermal power on the U.S. grid by 2050. Projects under this opportunity are expected to help derisk geothermal development approaches and locations nationwide, encourage private investment, support industry growth, and help realize this potential. The funding structure includes six topic areas with varying award levels. The first application round will focus on field demonstrations of enhanced geothermal systems and drilling to characterize next-generation and hydrothermal resources. Full applications are due by April 30. READ MORE

Eastern Region

Tuesday,
March 24
MD PSC Washington Gas Light Company’s Rate Case

The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a hearing on Washington Gas Light Company’s application for adjustments to retail rates and charges applicable to its natural gas service. The company is seeking an increase of approximately $82.5 million, with an incremental increase of $67.1 million after the inclusion of its commission-approved Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement revenue requirements. This would result in a 5.3 percent increase in the total bill of an average residential customer. An additional hearing will be held on April 7. 9849

Wednesday,
March 25
NY PSC Advanced Technology Working Group

The New York Public Service Commission announced that the Advanced Technology Working Group will hold a webinar to discuss its 2025 annual report, efforts over the past year, and a program calendar of its anticipated activities in 2026. The group works to help ensure that the electric transmission and distribution systems in New York can support the achievement of the goals of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The group aims to resolve technical barriers and challenges associated with deploying advanced technologies on these systems and to ensure that the necessary policies, procedures, and standards exist to address technical, process, regulatory, and economic concerns related to modern and innovative technologies. 20-E-0197

Friday,
March 27
NY PSC Renewable Energy Generation

The New York Public Service Commission seeks comments on the potential impacts of utility ownership of renewable generation and whether a change in policy might better serve ratepayer interests. The commission invites responses to a series of questions regarding ratepayer and regulatory implications, as well as utility-related impacts and the advantages and disadvantages of renewable generation siting. Further, the commission is interested in exploring how existing wholesale capacity and energy market designs may need to be modified to better align with current or proposed clean energy procurement mechanisms. Following comments received in response to a July 2025 notice on both utility ownership of renewables and renewable solicitation practices, the commission now seeks additional feedback to more fully comprehend issues regarding utility ownership.

Western Region

Tuesday,
March 24
IN IURC Inquiry on Energy Affordability

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will conduct an investigative inquiry on energy affordability. The state’s five largest investor-owned utilities will present on various topics, including how usage and rates lead to bills, the impact of growth on affordability, and steps that can be taken in the short term to increase bill transparency and address rising energy costs. The utilities are AES Indiana, CenterPoint Energy Indiana, Duke Energy Indiana LLC, Indiana Michigan Power Company, and Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC. Based on the inquiry, the commission will determine any appropriate next steps, which can include formal or informal actions. READ MORE

Wednesday,
March 25
CA EC 2026 Integrated Energy Policy Report Update

The California Energy Commission seeks comments on a draft scoping order for its 2026 Integrated Energy Policy Report, or IEPR, update. The report will include an updated 15-year electricity demand forecast, an assessment of the challenges and opportunities for geothermal development, and the commission’s progress towards its commitment to embed equity and environmental justice in its policies, programs, and activities. The IEPR, developed biennially, broadly assesses California’s energy system and provides recommendations to advance clean energy, with updates issued in the intervening years. 26-IEPR-01

Thursday,
March 26
OR PUC Resource Adequacy Program

The Oregon Public Utilities Commission is expected to publish a draft proposal with amendments to the state’s resource adequacy program rules adopted in 2024. Last September, the Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition requested that the commission adopt a penalty framework for the program, which requires participants to be subject to a penalty if they do not cure deficiencies identified in their forward showings within a certain period. Staff plans to take a phased approach, with the first phase focusing on non-compliance penalties and whether load-serving entities that have notified the Western Resource Adequacy Program of their intent to withdraw are required to submit forward showings for the compliance process that begins on April 1, 2027. Draft rules are expected to be published on May 21, 2026. Staff plans to request a separate investigation at a later date to consider broader changes to the program. READ MORE

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