A task force with the New York Independent System Operator Inc. will discuss its proposal to implement a charge on the emissions of greenhouse gases from power plants. A recent analysis by the Brattle Group found that the charges would have a modest impact on customer costs as the state shifts toward renewables. A carbon charge of $42 per ton is projected to boost retail power rates by 2.2 percent, or about 0.38 cents per kilowatt-hour, over the baseline amount in 2020.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will discuss cost-effective transmission options for large scale offshore wind installations. The New York Public Service Commission requested the study as part of its plan to meet the state’s offshore wind target of 2.4 gigawatts by 2030. As an initial step, the state will seek to buy at least 800 megawatts of offshore wind generation over the next two years. (18-E-0071)

A working group with the New York Public Service Commission is scheduled to receive an impact analysis from the state’s utilities on proposed revisions to how they should pay for distributed energy generation to more accurately reflect the environmental and system benefit of the supplies. Staff with the agency recommended revisions that they said could help drive an additional 1,000 megawatts of new community solar power and expect the utilities to provide a cost shift and project economic analysis. (15-E-0751)

The California Air Resources Board is scheduled to receive comments on a proposal under which automakers seeking to sell cars in California after the 2020 model year would have to meet the state’s stringent emission standards irrespective of the Trump administration’s rollback of federal rules.

The California grid operator is scheduled to receive comments on its draft final proposal to enhance the interconnection procedures and agreements with generators, covering such issues as ride-through requirements for inverter-based generation, network upgrades and the assignment of costs. CAISO wants to simplify the generator interconnection process to reflect changes in the industry and in customer needs.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission will discuss feedback on new rules for community solar companies, covering licensing and registration, annual reporting, fees and consumer protection. The measures are being put in place following legislation passed last year that seeks to promote local renewable energy. (UE-171033)

The California Air Resources Board will consider a proposal to preserve its more stringent auto emissions standards in a direct challenge to the Trump administration, which seeks to ease the limits and withdraw the state’s ability to set its own stricter rules. Under California’s plan, automakers seeking to sell cars in the state after the 2020 model year will have to meet the state’s tougher emissions standards, and may no longer rely on federal standards to achieve compliance. The Trump administration, for its part, has proposed to retain the fuel economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks at 37 miles per gallon from 2021 through 2026, rolling back a 2012 rule that called for reaching a 46.7 miles per gallon target in 2025 and hence lower emissions. Twelve other states and the District of Columbia have embraced California’s standards and Colorado is in the process of adopting them.

The California Air Resources Board will discuss the Innovative Clean Transit measure, which seeks to have 100 percent zero-emission buses by 2040. Sixteen California mayors and sent a letter to the board, delivered by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Advanced Clean Transit Coalition, expressing their support for zero-emission transit buses in their cities. The measure would help meet California’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.