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week of Feb. 9, 2023

The EnerKnol Week Ahead is back to give you the key energy policy events happening next week, all powered by the EnerKnol Platform. Coming up, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission discusses the physical security of the transmission system; New York examines a proposal to test the accuracy of managed charging-enabling technologies; and New Jersey considers an update to the state’s Energy Master Plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050.

Featured Entities


BLM

BOEM

CARB

Connecticut PURA

FERC

New Jersey BPU

New York PSC

Federal Agencies

Monday,
February 13
BLM Western Solar Plan Update

The Bureau of Land Management will hold a virtual meeting to discuss an update to its 2012 Western Solar Plan, which guides responsible solar energy development on public lands. The bureau seeks to expand the program, which currently includes six states, to add five new states following its recent announcement to develop a programmatic environmental impact statement for the agency’s utility-scale solar energy planning.

Monday,
February 13
BOEM Oil and Gas Lease Sales

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is due to issue a final record of decision for two Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sales. The bureau announced a final supplemental impact statement review in January to inform the processes for lease sales 259 and 261, which the agency is required to hold by the end of March and September 2023, respectively, to comply with the Inflation Reduction Act enacted last year. In September, the agency announced it has accepted 307 valid high bids from lease sale 257 in the Gulf of Mexico totalling about $190 million, pursuant to the act.

Tuesday,
February 14
BOEM Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is due to receive comments on its draft environmental impact statement for Dominion Energy Inc.’s proposed Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project off Virginia. The 2.6-gigawatt offshore wind farm would include 176 turbine generators with the capacity to power up to 660,000 homes. Virginia has a goal of installing 5.2 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2034. The project would also contribute to the state’s goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy generation by 2045.

Wednesday,
February 15
FERC Electric Transmission Task Force

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold the sixth meeting of the joint federal-state task force on electric transmission. The first-of-its-kind task force, established in June 2021, aims to identify barriers inhibiting planning and development of transmission infrastructure, which is key to facilitating the transition towards clean energy resources, and potential solutions to overcome them. The meeting will focus on the physical security of the transmission system. AD21-15-000

Eastern Region

Wednesday,
February 15
NY PSC EV Technical Standards Working Group

The New York Public Service Commission will convene a technical standards working group to discuss a proposal for testing the accuracy of managed charging-enabling technologies. The commission announced the working group in 2020 to consider the incorporation of technical standards and best practices into the Make-Ready Program aimed to provide incentives for the installation of light-duty electric vehicle infrastructure. 18-E-0138

Thursday,
February 16
CT PURA Performance-Based Ratemaking

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority is due to receive comments on the first phase of a straw proposal for implementing a performance-based ratemaking, or PBR, framework. The agency initiated a proceeding in May 2021 to investigate, develop, and adopt a framework for executing PBR for the state’s electric distribution companies. Phase 1 provides a background on the need to update the utility regulatory framework and recommends regulatory goals and priority outcomes to guide the remainder of this proceeding and electric utility regulation in the state. This phase also recommends a portfolio of PBR elements that form a holistic regulatory framework for further consideration in Phase 2, which will focus on design and implementation of new or updated regulatory mechanisms to achieve the priority outcomes. 21-05-15

Thursday,
February 16
NJ BPU Energy Master Plan Update

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will conduct a hearing to discuss an update to the state’s Energy Master Plan, or EMP, the state’s blueprint to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050. The update will address seven strategies enumerated in the 2019 EMP and incorporate progress information acquired through interagency collaboration and stakeholder feedback to provide recommendations on advancing the state’s overall clean energy and climate goals. The hearing will focus on two strategies: maximizing energy efficiency and conservation, and reducing peak demand; and reducing energy consumption and emissions from the building sector. EO22020080

Western Region

Wednesday,
February 15
CARB Quarterly Carbon Auction

The California Air Resources Board and Québec’s Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change will hold their 34th joint quarterly carbon auction, which will offer allowances for current and future years. The current auction will offer 2023 vintage allowances totaling nearly 56.4 million, and the advance auction will offer 2026 future allowances totaling about 7.6 million. The previous auction held in November sold more than 58.02 million current allowances at a price of $26.8 per allowance and 7.9 million future allowances at $26 per allowance. California’s cap-and trade program places an economy-wide cap on major emitting sources.

Friday,
February 17
CA EC EV Charging Infrastructure Projects Funding

The California Energy Commission is due to receive comments on potential light-duty electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects under its Clean Transportation Program. The commission held a workshop on Jan. 26 which included a discussion on potential future light-duty EV charging infrastructure funding concepts. The 2022-2023 Clean Transportation Program Investment Plan allocates approximately $268 million for light-duty EV charging infrastructure. The program aims to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help meet the state’s climate policies. 20-TRAN-04