The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold an in-person rulemaking session to consider proposed regulations related to promoting incentives for energy efficiency investments, following recent amendments to the EmPOWER Maryland statute. Legislation enacted last year requires each electric and gas utility to promote the availability of federal and state rebates, tax credits, and other incentives that support energy efficiency, including energy-efficient and non-fossil-fuel-powered appliances and cooking equipment. The proposed regulations would require each utility to post information about available incentives on its website and to report any updates in its semiannual filings under EmPOWER Maryland, the state’s energy efficiency program. 9705

The New York Public Service Commission seeks comments regarding the “Grid Flexibility Potential Study” and the first iteration of the “Grid of the Future Plan,” filed by the Department of Public Service staff on Jan. 31 and March 31, respectively. These filings are part of a proceeding initiated in April 2024 to develop a comprehensive plan establishing targets for the deployment of flexible resources such as virtual power plants and identify utility investments required to enable the grid of the future. The study provides an assessment of the cost-effective, achievable potential for grid flexibility in 2030 and 2040. The initial plan leverages insights from the study to provide an actionable path for the use of flexible resources to help meet the state’s climate and energy goals on time and at the greatest value for customers. READ MORE

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is due to receive reply comments on Wisconsin Power & Light’s application for a site permit to build and operate an approximately 153-megawatt large wind conversion system in Freeborn County, Minnesota. The Alliant Energy subsidiary’s project will include 34 wind turbine generators, as well as associated infrastructure and facilities, and is expected to power approximately 50,000 homes. WS-24-349

The California Energy Commission will hold a public meeting to discuss an assessment regarding Fountain Wind LLC’s 205-megawatt wind energy generation project in Shasta County. The project, comprising up to 48 turbines, would be located on about 2,855 acres of unincorporated area, with a connection to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s existing transmission line. Comments on the assessment are due by May 27. 23-OPT-01

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and Minnesota Department of Commerce will hold public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings regarding Summit Lake Solar LLC’s joint site permit application to construct a solar energy generating system and a standalone battery energy storage system, each having a capacity of up to 200 megawatts, in Nobles County, Minnesota. Summit Lake, a subsidiary of National Grid Renewables Development LLC, has secured leases or purchase options for approximately 1,990 acres of privately owned land and the project will cover about 1,482 acres of that footprint. Summit Lake has an executed generator interconnection agreement with Xcel Energy and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator for 200 megawatts. ESS-25-88

The California Air Resources Board and Québec’s Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks will hold their 43rd joint quarterly carbon auction, which will offer allowances for current and future years. The current auction will offer 2023 and 2025 vintage allowances totaling about 51.1 million, and the advance auction will offer 2028 future allowances totaling about 6.8 million. The previous auction held in February sold all of the nearly 51.5 million current allowances at a price of $29.27 per allowance and 6.8 million future allowances at $28 per allowance. California’s cap-and trade program places an economy-wide cap on major emitting sources. READ MORE

The California Energy Commission seeks comments on its 2025 draft assessment of energy resource planning and reliability. The California Energy Resource and Reliability Outlook is a statewide assessment covering the electric system, fossil gas system, and petroleum supply. The report examines electric utility resource plans in the context of grid reliability planning standards, analyzes potential scenarios—including extreme weather events such as the 2020 and 2022 heat waves—and assesses the impact of factors like resource delays and wildfire-related infrastructure disruptions. The report also reviews long term electricity supply projections and gas supply conditions, including projected storage capacities relative to anticipated peak summer demand. The outlook includes an analysis of petroleum resources, market trends, and overall system risks, offering a broad view of the state’s energy sectors and resource adequacy. The commission will review and consider comments submitted on the draft report before issuing the final report. 21-ESR-01