The New York Public Service Commission will hold a technical conference to discuss a whitepaper as part of its “midpoint review” of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Make-Ready program run by the state’s large investor-owned electric utilities. The conference will focus on the barriers of obtaining and providing EV charging infrastructure data. The whitepaper provides recommendations to improve the program including increasing the initiative’s budget from $701 million to $1.108 billion and updating the plug targets, extending the program’s deadline beyond Jan. 1, 2025 if the plug targets are not met, and creating a $25 million micromobility make-ready program targeting disadvantaged communities. The commission had detailed a list of topics that the review should assess including future-proofing requirements and budgets and utility ownership of charging station hardware. 18-E-0138

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is due to receive comments on proposed amendments to interconnection rules aimed to facilitate customer-sited solar and battery installations. The move supports the implementation of the requirements of 2022 legislation – An Act To Support the Continued Access to Solar Energy and Battery Storage by Maine Homes and Businesses. Among other things, the legislation directed the commission to evaluate its practices to ensure that timelines and requirements for interconnection do not unduly limit the installation of on-site solar energy generation and battery storage to offset a customer’s electrical consumption. The rulemaking proposes changes to facilitate the interconnection process for all levels of generation facilities and adds provisions related to export control and energy storage. READ MORE

The New York Public Service Commission will hold a public comment hearing on AES Corporation’s application for a permit to build the Brookside Solar project, a 100-megawatt solar electric generation facility spanning an area of 1,100 acres in Franklin County. The project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 131,000 metric tons each year and contribute to the state’s goal of generating 70 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040.

The New York Public Service Commission will hold a joint meeting of the Indian Point Closure Task Force and Decommissioning Oversight Board established to provide guidance and support for communities affected by the three-unit Indian Point Energy Center ceasing operations. The meeting will examine the scope and goals of the task force and the oversight board, and presentations on key issues related to the decommissioning and spent fuel management. The task force is charged with exploring ways to mitigate local tax and workforce impacts and evaluate new economic opportunities and initiatives, as well as identifying a decommissioning timeline that is in the interest of local communities. The oversight board is required to assess ways to protect the interest of affected communities including current workforce and public safety. Indian Point, which had a capacity of 1,040 megawatts, shut down its last nuclear reactor on April 30, 2021, marking the end of 59 years of continuous power generation.

The California Energy Commission will hold a workshop to seek input on draft guidelines for its Equitable Building Decarbonization direct installation program. The workshop will provide an overview of current and upcoming funding opportunities for equitable building decarbonization, home energy efficiency, and electrification. The commission will also include an update to the state’s funding for home energy efficiency and all-electric appliance upgrades provided by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Legislation enacted in 2022 directed the commission to develop and implement the program and provided $112 million in funding for the first year, and budgeted up to $922 million over the next four fiscal years. 22-DECARB-03

The Oregon Public Utilities Commission will discuss Portland General Electric Company’s 2023 integrated resource plan and clean energy plan. As part of its new strategy, the company plans to add 155 megawatts of additional community-based renewable energy by 2030, with plans to pursue at least 66 megawatts by 2026. The utility expects to conduct one or more request for proposals for an additional 181-megawatt average of non-emitting generation and sufficient capacity to remain resource adequate each year. LC 80