The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will discuss a proposed framework for a medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle charging network, continuing its efforts to build out an equitable, reliable EV Ecosystem infrastructure. The proposal recommends a modified “shared responsibility model,” building on the model used for light-duty EV rules issued last year. This model seeks to balance the roles of electric utilities and private investors, in order to minimize the financial impact to ratepayers. Other components of the framework include funding requirements, equitable access to all communities, and utility rate reforms to overcome barriers to mass infrastructure deployment. Legislation enacted in 2020 calls for least 330,000 EVs registered in New Jersey by the end of 2025 and at least 2 million by 2035. An additional meeting will be held on Sept. 24. READ MORE

The Maryland Public Service Commission will discuss energy efficiency and demand response programs, distributed energy resources, and fuel switching as part of EmPOWER Maryland. The current goal structure for EmPOWER, the state’s energy efficiency program, 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 Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority is due to receive stakeholder input on a proposal to establish a competitive process for comparing potential non-wires alternatives with traditional distribution system upgrades. The proposal details the components of a program including goals and objectives, design elements, and utility cost recovery and incentives. Non-wires solutions are considered to be feasible and could be less expensive and more reliable compared to traditional utility solutions. The proposal incorporates input from policymakers, regulators, technology providers, electric distribution companies, and industry experts on non-wires alternative processes. The move aims to encourage the adoption of least-cost solutions and meet the objectives of the framework for an Equitable Modern Grid, which aims to foster innovative solutions to address the challenges and opportunities facing the electric sector. A technical meeting will be held on Oct. 5. 17-12-03RE07

The California Public Utilities Commission will hold a workshop to discuss the scope and schedule of its recently opened rulemaking proceeding to modernize the power grid for a high distributed energy resources future, including consideration of issues specific to transportation electrification. The proceeding is aimed at maximizing ratepayer value through a range of actions including clarifying grid roles and responsibilities, charging infrastructure forecasting, and community involvement. The docket, a successor to the commission’s 2014 distribution resource plans, or DRP, proceeding, will continue to examine the role of planning and grid data transparency to support optimal siting and operations of distributed resources. The docket will address unresolved and ongoing issues in the DRP proceeding, as well as the integrated distributed energy resource proceeding. READ MORE

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will discuss Minnesota Power’s application to develop 16 electric vehicle fast charging stations across its service area. The Allete Inc. subsidiary seeks approval of its proposed EV rate tariff and a retail rate to be paid by drivers at the station, as well as authorization to utilize deferred accounting to track and recover future investments and expenses related to the project. The proposal follows a 2019 order which determined that transportation sector electrification is in the public interest as it improves system utilization to lower rates, increases demand when renewable energy is prevalent, and reduces emissions. M-21-257

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will consider Northern Wind Energy Redevelopment LLC’s request for a draft site permit to allow decommissioning of 65 turbines from the Chanarambie Wind Farm and Viking Wind Farm, both located in Murray County, and replace them with up to 45 new turbines, thereby increasing the combined nameplate capacity from about 97 megawatts to 120 megawatts. In 2015, ALLETE Clean Energy, parent company of Northern Wind, purchased both the wind generation facilities, which came online in 2003. The combined, repowered project, known as the Northern Wind Project, would increase efficiency and reliability, and extend the life of the facility. WS-20-860