The New York Independent System Operator Inc. is due to receive comments regarding its evaluation of project proposals to the Long Island Offshore Wind Export Public Policy Transmission Need. The grid operator held a meeting in October to discuss power flow and market impact assumptions. The meeting also discussed criteria and metrics applicable to the policy requirement to achieve the targets of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which set a goal of 9 gigawatts of offshore wind energy generation by 2035.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will host an informational webinar on Phase II of the Empire Building Challenge, a multi-phase initiative designed to support replicable and scalable low carbon retrofit approaches to achieving carbon neutrality in existing tall buildings. The first phase of this initiative was a competitive solicitation process to establish partnerships between NYSERDA and leading real estate owners with the ability to commit to carbon neutrality for one or more of their buildings in their portfolios by 2035. The second phase consists of funding demonstration projects that demonstrate different pathways to carbon neutrality for high-rise buildings.

The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a legislative hearing to discuss modifications to several heightened requirements relating to consumer protections for utility disconnections established at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion will consider termination notice periods, payment plan lengths, and the number of permitted defaults. As the impact of the pandemic on the state’s economy and ratepayers changes, the commission is responding to the reality of growing customer arrearages, which will burden utility ratepayers and encourages electric and gas utilities to work with their customers to minimize unnecessary disconnections. PC53

The California Public Utilities Commission will hold public forums to provide an opportunity for customers of PacifiCorp to offer their perspective and input to the commission about the company’s electric rate proposal. For 2023, the company is requesting an increase of $27.9 million, or 34 percent, bringing its total base revenue to $110.09 million. PacifiCorp states the main contributors for the rate increase are costs for wildfire mitigation, vegetation management, electric system operations, administration, depreciation expense, and capital.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will discuss the environmental assessment of Byron Solar LLC’s application to construct a 200-megawatt solar energy facility and a 345 kV transmission line in Olmsted and Dodge Counties. The EDF Renewables Inc. subsidiary anticipates a developed area of approximately 1,550 acres within a 1,800-acre project site. The project aims to meet the growing renewable energy demand from commercial and industrial customers and help reach the clean energy requirements in Minnesota and neighboring states. Byron expects to begin construction in 2024 and complete the project in time to start operating at the end of 2025. The company has applied for two generator interconnection agreements with the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.