The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection seeks public comments on a white paper examining electricity transmission challenges in Connecticut and New England, as well as strategies to expand and maintain the region’s critical transmission infrastructure to meet rising electricity demand while maximizing protections and benefits for ratepayers. This is the first in a series of white papers on topics relevant to the state’s integrated resource plan proceeding, which aims to identify strategies to affordably and reliably meet growing electricity needs. From 2016 to 2024, New England transmission owners invested more than $9 billion to address reliability needs identified by ISO-New England, the region’s grid operator, and replace aging infrastructure. Since 2015, annual transmission costs have increased by 72 percent and now make up 10-11 percent of a typical Connecticut residential customer’s monthly electricity bill.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission seeks a proposed contract from Pine Tree Offshore Wind LLC, an affiliate of New England Aqua Ventus LLC, to support the construction of a 144-megawatt floating offshore wind research array in the Gulf of Maine. The commission directed the company to work with other negotiating parties and file a proposed contract or a final term sheet, if the parties do not reach an agreement on the contract language. A 2020 law requires the negotiation and approval of a long-term contract of at least 20 years with Central Maine Power Company for capacity, energy or renewable energy credits to be generated by a floating offshore wind research project. READ MORE

The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau will hold a meeting of its Smart Inverter Working Group to discuss a compensation structure for grid support services. The meeting will include an overview of grid support services and how operators can ensure that the power quality of the delivered electricity is acceptable. The discussion will examine whether prosumers should be paid for inverter-based-resources grid support services. The agenda also includes an update on the rollout of approved smart inverter functionality requirements.

The Washington Department of Ecology seeks comments on a potential linkage agreement to establish a shared carbon market with California and Quebec. Washington is engaged in a rulemaking process to align certain cap-and-invest program regulations with California and Québec to ensure joint operation of the three markets. California’s cap-and-trade program started in 2012, Québec’s in 2013, and they linked in 2014. Washington launched its cap-and-invest program in 2023. Linking Washington’s market with the California-Québec market could improve collaboration and cost-effectiveness while allowing each jurisdiction to maintain control over its program. READ MORE

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission will convene a status conference to discuss Hawaiian Electric’s Electrification of Transportation, or EoT, Strategic Roadmap Update, outlining recommended utility actions to advance transportation electrification in the state. The original roadmap, developed in 2018 to enable Hawaii’s transition to electrified transportation, outlined a number ways to improve electric vehicle charging options, integrate low-cost renewable energy, and create new opportunities for cost-effective EV adoption. The conference will review the company’s updated vision for EoT projects and priority actions, and discuss policy and regulatory considerations including financial outlook and alignment with state transportation and greenhouse gas reduction goals. Further, the conference will engage stakeholders and agencies to gather feedback, identify potential collaboration opportunities, and discuss next steps.

The California Energy Commission seeks comments on a proposed solicitation aimed to demonstrate electric vehicle charging solutions that integrate direct current-coupled solar microgrids and connect to the grid through flexible service agreements. At a recent workshop, Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison discussed their flexible energization pilots and commission staff outlined a proposed solicitation concept planned to be released in Q3 2025. Many sites seeking to develop charging infrastructure, particularly for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles, lack adequate distribution capacity, often resulting in lengthy, ratepayer-funded utility upgrades to support new loads. Co-locating behind-the-meter distributed energy resources with charging infrastructure has emerged as a potential solution to mitigate grid strain, lower ratepayer costs, and enhance resiliency. 23-ERDD-01

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission seeks reply comments on Xcel Energy’s request for an exemption from certain certificate of need filing requirements for its proposed Lyon County Generating Station. The project is expected to require a site permit for two combustion turbines totaling 420 megawatts and associated facilities, a pipeline route permit and partial exemption, and a route permit for 345-kilovolt transmission lines. The lines would connect the turbines to a proposed substation associated with the Minnesota Energy Connection project. CN-25-145