The Maryland Public Service Commission will begin evidentiary hearings 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. 9849

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority seeks written comments on proposed flexible interconnection programs introduced by Eversource Energy and The United Illuminating Company (UI). Eversource submitted two options: a systemwide deployment using advanced grid management systems and a scheduled flexible interconnection model that builds on the first option using existing infrastructure to allow near-term access while full system capabilities are developed. UI proposed a two-phased approach beginning with a pilot program at selected substations before expanding statewide where all distribution circuits with available hosting capacity would become eligible for flexible interconnection after completing any necessary upgrades. The authority seeks stakeholder input including recommendations on which approach should be adopted and whether it should be uniformly applied across both the utilities.

The North Dakota Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing to discuss Minnesota Power’s proposed 202.5-megawatt wind project in Morton County and related transmission facilities. The project would include up to 45 primary wind turbine generators and 12 alternate wind turbine locations spanning approximately 26,100 acres of primarily rural and agricultural land. The ALLETE Inc. subsidiary also proposes to construct an approximately 2.5-mile-long 230-kilovolt electric transmission line and associated facilities, which would extend the project to the company’s Tri-County substation in Mercer County. The project is expected to begin construction in 2026 and come online in late 2027. PU-25-305

The Alaska Regulatory Commission will host the fifth annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, which gathers industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore the state’s role in advancing sustainable energy solutions. The conference will include discussions on the impacts and opportunities of artificial intelligence, strategic demand for synthetic aviation fuel, and accelerating advanced nuclear power.

The California Air Resources Board and Quebec’s Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change will hold their 47th joint quarterly carbon auction, which will offer allowances for current and future years. The current auction will offer 2024 and 2026 vintage allowances totaling about 49.6 million and the advance auction will offer 2029 future allowances totaling about 6.5 million. The February auction sold all of the nearly 55 million allowances offered in the current auction at the floor price set at $27.94 per allowance, about 1.3 percent lower than the previous auction. California’s cap-and-trade program places an economy-wide cap on major emitting sources.

The California Energy Commission seeks written comments on the Proposition 4 Offshore Wind Port Development program and preliminary considerations for developing a future grant solicitation. Proposition 4 requires the commission to support investments for offshore wind generation activities. The program currently has $225.719 million appropriated for program implementation. The commission has already awarded five grants totaling $42.75 million for the Offshore Wind Waterfront Facility Improvement program using an appropriation from 2025 legislation. Unawarded funds will be allocated through a competitive grant solicitation process. 26-POPD-01