The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will hold a webinar to discuss the New York School Bus Incentive Program, or NYSBIP, a point-of-sale incentive program intended to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission school buses in the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle weight classes in the state. NYSERDA has released program rules to guide the allotment of $500 million for zero-emission school buses and infrastructure from the 2022 Clean Air, Clean Water and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. An initial total of $100 million is available to fund the acquisition of new buses and charging infrastructure costs. The state requires all school bus purchases to be zero emissions by 2027, with the entire fleet transitioned to zero emissions by 2035.

The Maryland Public Service Commission will host a public conference to discuss how it should meet the increasing solar energy requirements of Maryland law while adequately addressing potential adverse effects to local communities. The 2019 Clean Energy Jobs Act raised Maryland’s overall renewable portfolio standard to 50 percent by 2030, and also increased the solar carve-out requirement to 14.5 percent by 2030. The Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 calls for a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2031 and net-zero statewide emissions by 2045. The commission notes that a steep increase in renewable energy applications imposes challenges on how to most effectively and fairly weigh the environmental and economic benefits of the proposed projects with the potential burdens on communities in which they may be built.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is due to receive reply comments on Xcel Energy’s proposed Solar-Powered Storage Incentive Program for 2024 through June 2027. Legislation enacted in May established the initiative and appropriated $4 million for Xcel to administer the program within its service territory. The law caps eligible projects at 50 kilowatt hours and individual grant amounts at $5,000, and requires energy storage systems to be connected to a qualifying solar energy generation system. The commission seeks input on a series of topics, including integration of the company’s future Renewable Battery Connect program and eligibility for income-qualified incentive levels. M-23-459

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is due to receive reply comments on whether to grant a certificate of need for Dodge County Wind LLC’s application to build an up to 259-megawatt wind project in Dodge, Mower, and Steele Counties. The installed capital costs for the proposed wind farm are estimated to be approximately $437 million to $529 million. Dodge County Wind anticipates that construction of the wind generating facility will begin in the second quarter of 2025 and the facility will begin commercial operation by the end of 2025. The company has entered into a power purchase agreement with Great River Energy for the full output of the project for a 30-year term. CN-20-865

The California Energy Commission will hold a workshop to discuss its Gas Research and Development program’s proposed energy-related gas research initiatives for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Commission staff will present research initiative themes in the areas of gas decommissioning, gas system safety, renewable generation, clean renewable hydrogen distribution, and building decarbonization. A 2018 state law requires all retail electricity to be supplied by zero-carbon resources by 2045. Comments are due by Jan. 19, 2024. 23-ERDD-02

Public Service Company of New Mexico will file its integrated resource plan, or IRP, covering the 2023–2043 time frame. In November 2022, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission established new procedures for the state’s investor-owned electric utilities to pursue stakeholder engagement in developing their 20-year resource plans. The commission appointed Gridworks as the independent facilitator to lead a stakeholder process intended to advise the utility and reach a potential agreement on the statement of need and action plan, the two key elements of the IRP. READ MORE