The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a rulemaking session to consider proposed regulations relating to small generator facility interconnection in transforming the state’s electric distribution systems to ensure that electric service is customer-centered, affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable. Among the key objectives, the commission seeks to complete a rulemaking applying residential solar interconnection standards statewide to ensure that the interconnect process is timely, electronic and customer-friendly, and explore whether to direct or encourage each newly interconnected solar generating system to connect to the grid with a smart inverter.

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will hold a technical meeting to advance various investigative topics related to multi-year rate plans as part of its investigation into revenue adjustment mechanisms for a performance-based regulation, or PBR, framework for the state’s electric distribution companies. In April 2023, the agency issued a final decision in the first phase of its investigation into PBR, adopting the regulatory goals, foundational considerations, and priority outcomes to guide its development and adoption of a PBR framework. The decision also includes the implementation of specific regulatory reforms through the second phase, which comprises a series of reopener proceedings to explore the regulatory mechanisms and PBR elements namely, revenue adjustment mechanisms, performance mechanisms, and integrated distribution system planning.

The New York Public Service Commission will hold a hearing on Hecate Energy Columbia County 1 LLC’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to build and operate an approximately 60-megawatt solar farm in Columbia County. The project is expected to include a point of interconnection with the Craryville 155 kilovolt substation owned by New York State Electric and Gas corporation.

The New York State Department of Public Service will hold a virtual energy workshop to help consumers navigate cold weather events as part of a series of events on winter preparedness including winter energy assistance fairs. The workshop is intended to serve as a “one-stop shopping” virtual workshop that provides community leaders and elected officials the opportunity to hear from state agency experts in energy, housing, aging, and more, about programs to help their constituents this winter. The winter energy assistance fairs, hosted by various state agencies, are designed to help community members learn about energy affordability programs, financial assistance programs, weatherization programs, and energy efficiency, among others.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is set to open Step 2 of its request for proposals to auction the first project under its “Build Ready” program. This first step required proposers to demonstrate their technical and financial ability to meet the minimum qualifications to design, secure financing for, construct, and own and operate the project. Step 2 is the competitive step for proposers to submit bid proposals. NYSERDA is seeking a partner to transform a former mine in St. Lawrence County into one of the largest solar projects in New York’s Adirondack Park. The proposed Benson Mines Solar Project, a 12-megawatt solar facility, would be sited within the boundaries of Benson Mines on a former iron-ore tailings pile, and would be capable of powering up to 3,000 homes annually. The program is designed to identify sites and advance pre-construction development activities for large-scale renewable energy projects on underutilized lands before auctioning and transferring the sites to the private sector for final construction and operation. BRRFP23-1

The California Energy Commission will discuss proposed design changes to the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project, or CALeVIP, 2.0 and the Communities in Charge, or CIC, programs. The workshop will include a summary of past requirements and design elements for both programs, and proposed requirements and changes which may include eligible costs, eligible sites, rebate levels and structures, and match share percentages. The commission funds two block grants for fast and efficient installation of light-duty EV charging stations across the state, with the CALeVIP 2.0 offering rebates for the purchase and installation of high-powered direct current fast chargers and the CIC offering rebates for Level 2 chargers. Comments and due by Jan. 19. 20-TRAN-04

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is due to receive comments regarding Dodge County Wind LLC’s application to build an up to 259-megawatt wind project in Dodge, Mower, and Steele Counties, including an approximately 27 miles of 161 kV transmission line to connect the wind farm with the transmission grid at the Pleasant Valley Substation. The installed capital costs for the proposed wind farm are estimated to be approximately $437 million to $529 million. The NextEra Energy Resources subsidiary anticipates that construction of the wind generating facility to begin in 2025 and be in-service by the end of 2025. The company has entered into a power purchase agreement with Great River Energy for the full output of the project for a 30-year term. WS-20-866

The Oregon Public Utilities Commission will hold a hearing to consider rules relating to resource adequacy. The proposed rules establish resource adequacy requirements for electric companies and service suppliers regulated by the commission to ensure sufficient grid reliability. The rules are intended to ascertain that these entities are adequately planning for their capacity resource needs, which is essential to maintain an adequate and reliable power system. Last September, the commission decided open a rulemaking on resource adequacy following a year of collaboration to identify solutions for a framework of resource adequacy planning. READ MORE