The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority seeks input to inform the development of a Marine and Coastal Resources Energy Research Plan. The plan will address information gaps and research needs related to the effects of energy development on the environment and fisheries. Research topics may include planning, permitting, construction, operation, and decommissioning of coastal or marine energy development. The information could also inform the state’s ongoing Ocean Action Plan. RFI 6184

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation seeks applications for an $18 million funding program to support local climate action that would reduce emissions, improve air quality, and increase community resilience. The Climate Smart Communities Grant program will provide at least $17 million in grants for projects related to several topics, including renewable energy projects at municipal facilities, reducing future flood risks, and preparing for extreme weather events. Up to $1 million will be available for planning and assessment grants. Municipalities would be required to provide a local match of 50 percent of project costs, reduced to 20 percent for communities that meet the criteria for financial hardship or for projects in disadvantaged communities.

The Oregon Public Utility Commission will hold a public comment hearing on PacifiCorp’s request for a general rate increase. The company seeks an overall rate increase of approximately $170.7 million, or 8.6 percent. The company has also requested an interim increase of approximately $55.1 million, or 2.8 percent, effective June 4, 2026. If the interim increase is approved, the company requests that the remaining rate increase take effect on July 15, 2027; otherwise, the full increase would take effect April 5, 2027. PacifiCorp is seeking an increased return on equity of 9.7 percent, up from its currently authorized 9.5 percent. UE 470

The California Energy Commission seeks comments on its Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development, or BUILD, Program Implementation Plan – 2026 Update. The program provides technical assistance and incentives to support advanced building design and construction for new all-electric, low-income residential buildings. The updated plan reiterates and clarifies program administration, including participation requirements, incentive structure, and the metrics used to evaluate program performance. The BUILD program was authorized by 2018 legislation alongside the Technology and Equipment for Clean Heating Initiative, or TECH, a residential building decarbonization program designed to accelerate adoption of clean space- and water-heating technologies. The implementation plan is required to be updated biannually for approval by the California Public Utilities Commission. 20-DECARB-01

The California Energy Commission seeks comments on activities conducted as part of its proceeding exploring the role of distributed energy resources in the state’s energy future. The commission recently held a workshop which primarily focused on the use of advanced metering infrastructure data for distributed energy resource planning, as well as the opportunities and challenges for front-of-the-meter DERs in the state. The commission launched the proceeding in 2022 to explore trends in DER technology, capability, deployment, cost, and customer adoption, and to investigate policies to optimize DER value in support of the state’s decarbonization, resilience, affordability, and equity goals. 22-OII-01

The Oregon Public Utility Commission seeks comments on a proposed rule establishing a schedule for investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities’ initial filings for multi-year rate plans. House Bill 3179, enacted in 2025, requires a transition to multi-year rate plans. The rule would stagger the timing of each utility’s first statutorily required filing between 2027 and 2030, limiting the number of utilities filing for rate increases in any given year. AR 677

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission seeks comments on Idaho Power’s application for certificates of public convenience and necessity to build two natural gas-fired power plants. The proposed South Hills plant, in Twin Falls County, is designed to provide up to 222 megawatts of generation and is expected to begin commercial operation on June 1, 2029. The Peregrine plant, in Elmore County, would provide 430 megawatts with commercial operation planned for June 1, 2030. Idaho Power selected the two projects following an 18-month competitive bidding process, after the company’s most recent system reliability assessment identified a capacity deficit of 236 megawatts in 2029 and 352 megawatts in 2030. IPC-E-26-04