ARIZONA
House Approves Bill to Require Utility Wildfire Prevention Plans
The House of Representatives last week voted 35-25 to approve a bill that would require utilities to create wildfire prevention plans.
The bill would require utilities to prepare wildfire mitigation plans to proactively prevent wildfires and decrease any damages that may occur. Those strategies include inspection procedures for wildfire risks, procedures for de-energizing power lines, community outreach and public awareness efforts, and new steps on how power companies will monitor compliance with their plans.
The bill now heads to the Senate.
More: Arizona Capitol Times
COLORADO
House Passes Bill to List Nuclear as ‘Clean Energy’
The House of Representatives last week voted 43-18 to pass a bill that would add nuclear power to the state’s list of “clean energy” resources.
The state’s definition of “clean energy” determines which projects are eligible for clean energy financing at the county and city levels and determines which resources may be used by a utility to meet the state’s 2050 clean energy target.
The bill now heads to the Senate.
More: Colorado Politics
DELAWARE
NRG Closes State’s Last Coal Plant
NRG announced it officially closed the coal-fired Indian River Power Plant on Feb. 23.
Originally scheduled for decommission in 2022, the plant was kept operational while transmission upgrades were conducted to the grid until 2026. Now, the plant will close 22 months early.
More: WBOC
LOUISIANA
Meta Announces Plans for $10B AI Data Center
Meta recently announced plans to build a $10 billion AI data center in Richland Parish.
To power the massive data center, Entergy is investing $6 billion in infrastructure, including a 10,000-acre solar farm, three natural gas turbines and 100 miles of new transmission lines.
The facility, which is projected to be the largest of more than 20 Meta data centers worldwide, is expected to be operational by 2030.
More: WVUE
NEVADA
NV Energy Seeks 9% Rate Increase
NV Energy is seeking approval from the Public Utilities Commission for a $215 million rate increase in Southern Nevada.
The increase would raise residential rates by 9%.
The utility is also asking to increase shareholder return on equity from 9.5% to 10.25% and save low-income residents about $20/month by eliminating the basic service charge.
More: Nevada Current
NEW MEXICO
House Passes Low-income Rates Bill
The House of Representatives last week voted 42-25 to pass legislation that would pave the way for low-income rates for investor-owned utility customers.
The bill would let utilities submit applications to the Public Regulation Commission for low-income rates. The legislation does not create a low-income rate but instead allows utilities to craft a rate or develop a program that is brought to the PRC for approval.
More: New Mexico Political Report
SOUTH DAKOTA
Lawmakers Endorse Eminent Domain Hurdles, Enviro Studies for Carbon Pipelines
Lawmakers have advanced legislation that would make it more difficult for carbon dioxide pipeline companies to use eminent domain and would subject their projects to required environmental impact statements.
A bill to ban eminent domain for carbon pipelines passed the House last month and is awaiting action in the Senate. Meanwhile, another bill approved by the Senate would retain eminent domain as an option but would require entities using it to first attend mediation with the affected landowner and to have a state permit before commencing eminent domain proceedings.
Elsewhere, the House Commerce and Energy Committee voted 9-4 to send a bill to the House floor that would require an environmental impact statement for CO2 pipelines. The bill would require utility regulators to prepare or require the preparation of statements before approving a permit.
More: South Dakota Searchlight
PUC Approves Massive Wind Farm
The Public Utilities Commission last week approved a 260-MW wind farm.
The $621 million project will consist of 68 turbines on 46 square miles of privately owned land in Deuel County.
More than 50 conditions were included in the permit, addressing cooperation with local agricultural operations, daily time limits on construction, protection of threatened or endangered species, noise levels and more.
More: South Dakota Searchlight
TEXAS
Shell Sells Residential Portfolio to NRG Energy
Shell last week confirmed it has sold its residential book of customers in the ERCOT market to NRG Energy.
No other details of the transaction were released.
More: Houston Chronicle
VERMONT
Lawmakers Signal Pause of Clean Heat Standard
Lawmakers last week indicated they will likely not continue to pursue development of a Clean Heat Standard.
The discussions come a month after a report was released saying the standard would cost $1 billion over 10 years and raise heating fuel 58 cents/gallon to reduce carbon emissions in the thermal sector.
Lawmakers are also discussing a change to the Global Warming Solutions Act, a law that created carbon emission reduction deadlines, if the Clean Heat Standard is abandoned.
More: WPTZ
VIRGINIA
Lawmakers Approve Rate Relief for Appalachian Power Customers
The House and Senate voted unanimously to approve a bill that would provide relief to Appalachian Power ratepayers.
Appalachian would be prohibited from raising rates during the winter months, while there would also be moratoriums on late fees for residential customers.
The bills must be signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
More: Roanoke Times
SCC Approves Dominion LNG Storage Facility
The State Corporation Commission last week approved Dominion Energy’s plans to construct a liquified natural gas storage facility.
The 25 million gallon facility, capable of storing up to 2 billion cubic feet, would be for the utility’s 1,358-MW Brunswick and 1,588-MW Greensville power stations.
Construction is expected to begin this year and be completed by the end of 2027.
More: Inside Climate News
