The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission will discuss National Grid’s proposed contract to purchase 400 megawatts of electricity from Orsted US Offshore Wind’s Revolution Wind project off the Rhode Island coast. The agency is slated to make a decision at a May 31 open meeting, followed by a June 7 deadline for a written order. 4929

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities will discuss transmission infrastructure needed to connect Vineyard Wind LLC’ planned 800-megawatt offshore wind farm. The project, located south of the island of Martha’s Vineyard, will be the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S. and is scheduled to start by 2021. The state’s electric utilities are required to enter into contracts for 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind energy by the end of June 2027 as part of Massachusetts’ goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Vineyard Wind LLC is co-owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid is owned by Iberdrola SA. EFSB17-05

The Puerto Rico Energy Commission is due to receive a revised integrated resource plan from the Puerto Electric Power Authority, ahead of the March 2020 schedule, to reflect changes in demand and generation as a result of hurricanes Irma and Maria, which devastated the island’s power grid last year. The commission determined the need to update the 20-year resource plan before the mandatory three-year review date to assess any effects from the hurricanes on the island’s electric market. The U.S. territory recently passed legislation which among other energy reforms set a 100 percent renewable portfolio standard by 2050. CEPR-AP-2018-0001

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to receive comments on its investigation into performance metrics, standards and incentives for Xcel Energy Inc. In 2011, the state legislature authorized the regulator to approve multiyear rate plans, which opened the door for exploring more comprehensive PBR mechanisms. The commission set up a stakeholder consultation process with a focus on PBR mechanisms that ensure affordability, reliability, service quality, customer satisfaction and environmental performance, similar to other states that are also investigating these policies. The discussion is happening while Minnesota picks up the momentum in committing to a carbon-free future at state government and utility levels. CI-17-401

The Michigan Public Service Commission is scheduled to receive briefs on a proposed settlement in Consumers Energy Co.’s integrated resource plan. The Solar Energy Industries Association Inc. and Cypress Creek Renewables LLC filed objections to the plan regarding investments in demand response, retirement of coal-fired Karn Units 1 and 2, new avoided cost methodology under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act and other issues. The commission set a deadline of June 10 for a ruling on the proposed agreement. U-20217