The New York Department of Public Service will hold a meeting of the Energy Policy Planning Advisory Council, a stakeholder group established through a 2023 order adopting a coordinated grid planning process. The order, issued by the New York Public Service Commission, approved a new long-term system planning process to help the commission and utilities identify transmission investments needed to meet the objectives of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The Accelerated Renewables Act, enacted in 2020, directed the commission to establish new transmission planning processes to ensure timely and cost-effective construction of new, expanded, and upgraded transmission infrastructure. The upcoming meeting will discuss the results of Stage 5 (least cost planning evaluation) of the multi-stage process involving data collection, modeling, system studies, and solutions development. 20-E-0197

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will hold a webinar to discuss a $15 million funding opportunity for projects that reduce nitrogen oxide emission across the state. The funding is made available from the state’s share of the settlement with Volkswagen Group of America for cheating on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions tests. Connecticut has a goal of achieving 45 percent emissions reductions below 2001 levels by 2030. Project proposals are due by June 11.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities seeks bids under the fourth round of its Competitive Solar Incentive program solicitation. The program uses competitive solicitations to award Solar Renewable Energy Certificates to qualifying grid supply solar, solar-plus-storage, and large non-residential net-metered projects, aimed at securing new solar at the lowest possible incentive cost. The board recently approved awards totaling approximately 24 megawatts under the third solicitation, including a floating solar installation at the Wanaque Reservoir that could become the largest of its kind in the U.S. The state has a target of adding 3,750 megawatts of solar by 2026 under the Solar Act of 2021. READ MORE

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, including the advantages or 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. The comment period has been extended from the original deadline of Feb. 27. 22-E-0633

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is due to receive written comments on a site permit application for the proposed Summit Lake Project, which includes a 200 megawatt solar energy generating system and a standalone 200 megawatt/800 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system in Nobles County, Minnesota. Summit Lake, a subsidiary of Geronimo Power LLC, has proposed to construct the project on approximately 1,416 acres. GS-25-89

The California Energy Commission staff is expected to file an updated assessment on Renew Development HoldCo LLC’s proposed Potentia-Viridi battery storage project in eastern Alameda County. The Obra Maestra Renewable LLC subsidiary proposes to construct and operate the project on about 107 acres. The project would include up to 400 megawatts/3,200 megawatt-hours of battery storage, a gen-tie line, and interconnection facilities within the Tesla Substation, owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. 24-OPT-04