The Maryland Public Service Commission is due to receive comments on cost recovery and performance incentive mechanisms as it examines a new goal structure for EmPOWER Maryland, the state’s energy efficiency program. The commission received a report from the Future Programming Work Group following a series of meetings held in March to discuss the mechanisms but could not reach a consensus. The current goal structure is mandated by legislation through the end of the 2021-2023 program cycle and the commission is required to provide the General Assembly with recommendations on future goals and cost-effectiveness tests by July 1, 2022. An order issued in December 2020 authorized the transition to the next three-year program cycle and approved various proposals by the program administrators to continue operating the core energy efficiency programs in 2021-2023. 9648

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a public hearing of the Climate Action Council to discuss its draft scoping plan, which describes recommended policies and actions to help the state meet its ambitious climate goals as part of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Under the law, New York must reduce economywide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. The act requires New York to attain a carbon-free power system by 2040, setting ambitious goals to make the transition – 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, 6 gigawatts of distributed solar by 2025, and 3 gigawatts of energy storage by 2030. The department has scheduled 10 hearings during April and May to receive public input on the draft and advance work on a final scoping plan to guide the implementation of the law.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will hold a virtual public hearing to discuss its draft Environmental Justice Policy, which expands and improves upon the existing policy, which has been in effect since 2004. The draft attempts to integrate environmental justice into additional aspects of the department’s work. Proposed changes include revising definitions of environmental justice areas or populations, enhancing collaboration and planning between state government agencies, developing resources and data for community use, and prioritizing environmental justice in grantmaking practices.

Eversource and United Illuminating will conduct a webinar on the topic of site host electric vehicle charging to support the rollout of a statewide EV charging program that the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority established as part of the Equitable Modern Grid initiative. In February, the agency announced a webinar series, as well as additional resources to facilitate the rollout. Under the program, residential customers qualify for rebates under multiple categories including installation of smart chargers and associated home wiring upgrades, as well as additional performance incentives for participating in a managed charging program. READ MORE

The California Energy Commission will discuss applications for two energy storage projects to be located in San Luis Obispo County and Kern County, California. Pecho Energy Storage Center, proposed by Pecho LD Energy Storage LLC, consists of a 400-megawatt advanced compressed air energy storage facility. GEM A-CAES LLC’s proposed Gem Energy Storage Center would include a 500-megawatt energy storage center utilizing the same technology. The Pecho and GEM projects would be capable of delivering 3,200-megawatt/hours and 4000-megawatt/hours, respectively, over a period of 8 hours when discharging at nameplate capacity. 21-AFC-01

The Missouri Public Service Commission will consider the Empire District Gas Company’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to its natural gas service. The Liberty Utilities subsidiary asked for an annual revenue increase of $1.36 million, which would result in a bill increase of $2.71, or 5.6 percent, for the average customer consuming 54 hundred cubic feet per month. Additional hearings are scheduled for May 2-6. GR-2021-0320

The California Energy Commission is due to receive comments on proposed allocations in the draft version of the 2022-2023 investment plan update for the Clean Transportation Program and implementation activities. The program aims to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels, and advanced transportation technologies to help meet the state’s climate policies. The commission has an annual budget of about $100 million for the program to provide financial and technical support for a range of projects. These include initiatives that reduce transportation sector emissions, support the deployment of electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, and address clean air, employment, and mobility needs of low-income or disadvantaged communities. READ MORE