CALIFORNIA
PUC Delays Vote on Aliso Canyon Closure
The Public Utilities Commission last week issued an order to extend the deadline to vote on a proposed closure plan for Southern California Gas’ Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility until March 31.
The PUC said it needed to ensure it had “ample time to thoughtfully deliberate on the proposed decision and address any unexpected issues in that process.”
The PUC was set to vote Dec. 19 on a plan to consider eventually shutting down the facility.
More: E&E News
COLORADO
Denver Modifying GHG Rules After Landlord Protests
Denver’s climate change and energy officials said they will modify a set of greenhouse gas reduction rules for big buildings after challenges from landlords.
Like state rules covering large buildings, Denver in 2021 passed “Energize Denver,” with a target of 30% cuts to buildings’ “energy use intensity” by 2030 and net zero on carbon in 2040. The city law, which started in 2023, requires owners of large buildings to get extensive energy audits and return with plans to reduce energy use and carbon output against a 2021 benchmark.
Denver officials agreed to keep negotiating with the property owners, and issued a revised set of rules they say eases the timelines for the audits and the required targets.
More: The Colorado Sun
INDIANA
Federal Judge Blocks Law Giving In-state Utilities First Dibs on Projects
Chief Judge Tonya Walton Pratt blocked a state law passed in 2023 that gives the major utilities the right of first refusal for electric transmission projects.
House Enrolled Act 1420 changed state code to allow utilities first dibs on transmission projects that are approved by MISO.
“HEA 1420, though not a complete ban on out-of-state transmission owners, erects a barrier to the interstate electric transmission market by limiting who can compete for new construction projects in Indiana,” Pratt wrote. “The right of first refusal in favor of Indiana incumbents runs contrary to the Supreme Court’s admonition that ‘States cannot require an out-of-state firm to become a resident in order to compete on equal terms.’”
More: Indianapolis Star
Gov.-elect Braun Taps Jaworowski for Energy Secretary
Gov.-elect Mike Braun last week named Suzanne Jaworowski — an electricity system official who previously worked for President-elect Donald Trump — as his pick for energy and natural resources secretary.
Jaworowski will oversee the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Management, Utility Regulatory Commission and several other agencies.
Jaworowski was most recently the executive director of stakeholder services for MISO. She previously spent time as an energy consultant and made an unsuccessful bid for Indiana House in 2022.
More: Indiana Capital Chronicle
MARYLAND
Commission Votes to Study Ways to Pay for Climate Plan
The Commission on Climate Change last week adopted amendments to the state’s original climate plan recommendations for generating revenues that instead call for studies on how those proposals could be implemented.
Last year a state environmental agency calculated that it would cost Maryland at least $10 billion to meet the government climate mandates. Instead of recommending a cap-and-invest program, the commissioners unanimously accepted an amendment proposed by Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain that would instead urge the legislature to authorize a study of how a cap-and-invest program would be implemented, how it would impact consumers and how much revenue it might generate.
The recommendation also suggests the legislature direct the DOE to establish a rule that would require fossil fuel companies in the state to annually report their greenhouse emissions beginning in 2027.
More: Maryland Matters
MINNESOTA
CenterPoint Reaches Settlement on Gas Rates
CenterPoint Energy last week filed a settlement with the Public Utilities Commission that will raise residential gas rates by 5.2%.
The increase equals about $50 per year for most customers compared to 2023 levels. CenterPoint initially requested a 10.3% increase.
The settlement will also slash the amount in membership dues CenterPoint can pass onto customers for belonging to organizations that lobby on behalf of the natural gas industry.
More: Sahan Journal
NEW JERSEY
Assembly Committee Approves Delay of Clean-truck Rule
The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee last week unanimously voted to advance a bill that would delay by two years implementation of the Advanced Clean Truck rule, which was set to go into effect in January.
The rule would require manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks to sell an increasing percentage of new battery-powered vehicles each year.
The bill still needs to pass a full Assembly and Senate.
More: NJ Spotlight News
NORTH DAKOTA
Industrial Commission Approves Carbon Dioxide Storage Permits
The Industrial Commission last week unanimously approved permits for Summit Carbon Solutions’ three proposed carbon dioxide underground storage sites.
Summit’s proposed 2,500-mile, $8 billion pipeline would transport CO2 emissions from 57 ethanol plants in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska for underground storage. Summit’s storage facilities would hold about 352 million metric tons of CO2 over 20 years.
More: The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA
Supreme Court Refuses to Stop Corporation Commissioner Hiett from Voting
The state Supreme Court voted 8-0 to refuse to block Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett from voting on rate hikes due to misconduct accusations.
One justice said the Ethics Commission, and not the Supreme Court, was the more appropriate avenue for the disqualification request.
Hiett has been accused of inappropriate actions while intoxicated, according to reports.
More: The Oklahoman
TEXAS
Austin Approves Energy Generation Plan
The Austin City Council last week unanimously approved the “Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2035.”
The plan lays out city priorities such as continuing to move toward 100% carbon-free energy by 2035 and improving reliability, affordability and environmental sustainability.
More: KXAN
WEST VIRGINIA
PSC Imposes Stricter Standards on Mon Power, Potomac Edison
The Public Service Commission told Monongahela Power and The Potomac Edison Co. that it was imposing stricter standards to reduce service interruptions for customers.
The new standards will require the companies to meet a 2% improvement. The improvement will be measured by two factors: average interruption duration and outage frequency.
More: WDTV
WISCONSIN
We Energies Plans New Gas-fired Plant to Meet Growing Demand
We Energies announced plans to build a new natural gas-fired plant in Kenosha County, arguing the project is critical to meeting increasing demand.
The plan to build a $300 million gas plant in the town of Paris is part of a planned $2 billion investment in natural gas infrastructure. The biggest chunk of that is a $1.2 billion project to transition the company’s Oak Creek site from coal to natural gas. The projects, along with a 33-mile natural gas pipeline, will need to be approved by the Public Service Commission.
The company hopes to begin construction next year and bring the plant online in 2026.
More: Wisconsin Public Radio
PSC OKs Portage County Solar Farm
The Public Service Commission last week approved the Vista Sands Solar Project in Portage County.
The project will be the largest in the state and among the most powerful in the country, generating nearly 1.3 GW.
More: Stevens Point Journal
WYOMING
PSC Approves Rocky Mountain Power Rate Increase Settlement
The Public Service Commission last week approved a settlement agreement that finalizes an $80.6 million increase for Rocky Mountain Power.
The settlement is about 7% less than the company’s original request of $86.4 million. Officials later said the initial figure was in error and was adjusted.
The average residential bill will increase by about $11.95.
More: WyoFile
