The New York Department of Public Service will hold a meeting of the Energy Policy Planning Advisory Council, a stakeholder group established through a 2023 order adopting a coordinated grid planning process. The order, issued by the New York Public Service Commission, approved a new long-term system planning process to help the commission and utilities identify transmission investments needed to meet the objectives of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act, enacted in 2020, directed the commission to establish transmission planning processes to ensure timely and cost-effective construction of new, expanded and upgraded transmission infrastructure. The upcoming meeting will include a discussion on conceptual bulk transmission expansion options. 20-E-0197

The New York Department of Public Service will hold a technical conference concerning the EV Make-Ready program established in 2020 to support electric vehicle adoption by providing incentives to developers of EV chargers. The discussion will examine the state of the EV market since the program’s launch, and evolutions that the transportation sector has undergone. Another conference, to be held on Sept. 18, will focus on program requirements for EV supply equipment communication standards in other incentive programs such as those administered by the Federal Highway Administration and the California Energy Commission. READ MORE

The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a procedural conference in its proceedings reviewing long-term planning practices of natural gas companies. In August, the commission instituted formal proceedings to undertake a comprehensive review of current long-term capacity, supply, and capital investment planning practices of natural gas companies under its jurisdiction to determine whether any changes are necessary. The commission issued an order in June revising the state’s gas line extension policy, a move aimed at reducing stranded cost risks and aligning utility planning with the state’s decarbonization laws. The state has a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent from 2006 levels by 2031, and to achieve a net-zero status by 2045.

The Oregon Public Utilities Commission will hold an oral argument on Northwest Natural Gas Company’s application to adjust retail rates and charges applicable to its natural gas service. Pursuant to a stipulation filed in June, parties agreed to an annual revenue requirement increase of $21.3 million with a proposed return on equity of 9.5 percent. This marks a significant reduction from the company’s initial request for a $59.4 million increase with a 10.4 percent return on equity.

The California Energy Commission will hold an informational and environmental scoping meeting to discuss Levy Alameda LLC’s proposed 400-megawatt Potentia-Viridi battery energy storage system project in eastern Alameda County. The Obra Maestra Renewable LLC subsidiary proposes to construct and operate the project on about 102 acres, with the battery system located on a 70-acre leased portion of the site. The project would include an up to 3,200-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system, gen-tie line, and interconnection facilities within the Tesla Substation owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. 24-OPT-04

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed rules to determine mass-based greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for gas utilities’ clean heat plans for the year 2035. The commission granted a petition this June, filed by the Colorado Energy Office and the Air Pollution Control Division of the Department of Public Health and Environment, proposing a 2035 target reduction of 41 percent, from a 2015 baseline, which translates to a mass-based emission target of 5.270 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent across the state’s three regulated gas utilities. The utilities filed clean heat plans in 2023, following a 2021 law that directed the commission to adopt rules requiring utilities to reduce emissions from the distribution of gas to customers. The current targets are a 4 percent reduction by 2025 and 22 percent by 2030, from a 2015 baseline. READ MORE

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will discuss Lemon Hill Solar LLC’s application for a site permit to construct an up to 180-megawatt alternating current solar energy generating facility in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The project footprint would span approximately 1,945 acres of agricultural land, of which approximately 966 acres would be used for the operation of the project. The facility would connect to the grid through an overhead 161 kilovolt gen-tie line to Dairyland’s substation. GS-25-126