The Louisiana Public Service Commission is due to receive responses to over a dozen questions as it looks to determine the best approach to design a renewable energy program including green tariffs. Last October, the commission launched a proceeding, exploring green tariffs in different states with the focus of bringing new renewable energy resources to the state. The commission staff found that 23 green tariffs in 17 states have been proposed or approved since 2013, paving the way for more than 900 megawatts of new solar and wind projects. Green pricing options allow customers to meet a portion of their electricity needs from renewable energy resources. While offering innovative products to increase customer access to green power, these programs provide larger consumers the option to meet their varying sustainability and renewable energy goals. R-35423

The Virginia State Corporate Commission is due to receive prefiling testimony from the agency staff regarding Dominion Energy Inc.’s proposed time-of-use rate schedule and solar incentive program. A 2019 law directed the company to propose such a program for customers served under time-varying retail rates and having advanced metering technology equipment. Eligible customers will receive rebates to partially offset the cost of installing distributed solar equipment. PUR-2019-00214

The New York Public Service Commission will hold its EV Make-Ready Conference to allow stakeholders the opportunity to discuss about a statewide “Make-Ready Program” that would provide incentives for light-duty electric vehicle supply equipment and infrastructure. A whitepaper issued by the commission staff in January provides recommendations to accelerate the development of charging infrastructure needed to support the expected EV growth through 2025, coinciding with the state’s goal of deploying 850,000 zero emission vehicles by that year. The EV Readiness Working Group will facilitate the development of the tools and functionalities needed to meet this level of infrastructure deployment. Participation will be by WebEx. 18-E-0138

The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment will discuss petitions seeking rehearing of a permit allowing Bluestone Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Calpine Corporation, to construct a 124-megawatt wind energy project in Broome County. Petitioners challenge the factual and legal findings of the board with regard to the project’s impact on eagles and its compliance with state law. The utility-scale project would include up to 33 wind turbines and a 10-megawatt battery storage system. 16-F-0559

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is due to receive proposals for long-term renewable energy contracts pursuant to a 2019 law that strengthened the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 100 percent by 2050. The law directed the commission to conduct two competitive solicitations for an amount of energy equal to 14 percent of the state’s retail sales. Selected projects will enter into 20-year contracts with one or both of Maine’s investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities – Central Maine Power Company and Emera Maine. The law allows for bids from resources co-located or paired with grid-connected energy storage facilities. READ MORE

The Oregon Public Utility Commission is due to receive reply comments on Phase 1 of a general investigation into long-term direct access programs that allow customers to purchase electricity from competitive suppliers. The Alliance of Western Energy Consumers requested the investigation because of significant disputes over these programs in recent years. The commission will examine the potential benefits and harms of long-term direct access offerings to ensure that non-participating customers are not affected by unwarranted shifting of costs. The first phase of the four-step investigation will consider policy issues and the cost of legislative requirements. UM 2024

The California Energy Commission will conduct a pre-solicitation workshop to receive comments on a draft concept for a competitive grant solicitation to be issued by the agency’s Clean Transportation Program to support zero-emission transit fleet infrastructure deployment. For the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year,the program allotted $30 million to medium-and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles and associated infrastructure. The solicitation aims to provide capital assistance for make-ready equipment upgrades and charging or hydrogen refueling infrastructure to support the roll out of zero-emission transit bus fleets. 19-TRAN-02