CONNECTICUT
Gillett Confirmed for 2nd PURA Term
Marissa Gillett was confirmed by a 21-0 Senate vote for a second four-year term as the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s chair. Gillett, who has led the authority since 2019, was confirmed with none of the chamber’s 11 Republicans participating due to a planned walkout. The Senate also voted to confirm nominee David Arconti.
More: CT Mirror
ILLINOIS
Byron Nuclear Center to Receive $355M Upgrade
Constellation Energy announced it plans to invest $355 million in the Byron Nuclear Power Station to increase the site’s output and extend its life of operation. The upgrade, set to begin in 2026 and finish in 2029, will replace six low-pressure turbines and two high-pressure turbines. The new turbines will generate an additional 80 MW and raise the facility’s output to 2,427 MW.
More: Shaw Local News Network
INDIANA
Gov. Braun Signs ‘Construction-in-progress’ SMR Bill
Gov. Mike Braun signed a bill into law that enables public utilities to petition state regulators to recover costs for developing small module nuclear reactors. The law allows the state’s investor-owned utilities to recover the costs of developing SMRs from ratepayers before receiving a certificate of public convenience and necessity.
More: Indianapolis Star
Indiana Michigan Power Eyes Purchase of 870-MW Gas Plant
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) has asked the Utility Regulatory Commission for permission to buy the Oregon Clean Energy Center. The existing 870-MW natural gas plant is one component of the utility’s Future Ready plan as it tries to meet power demand through 2044. Power demand is expected to more than double from approximately 2,800 MW in 2024 to more than 7,000 MW in 2030. I&M said it anticipates a decision from the URC on the filing in early 2026.
More: Power Engineering
MASSACHUSETTS
DEP Delays Enforcement of Clean Truck Requirements
The Department of Environmental Protection announced a delay in its enforcement of minimum electric truck sales requirements. Under the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation the state adopted following California’s lead in 2021, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers are required to produce and sell a gradually increasing percentage of zero-emission vehicles starting in model year 2025.
The DEP said some manufacturers said the sales requirements “are too difficult to meet” and municipalities have said only a limited supply of clean trucks are available to comply with the standards. The department, which previously indicated it would be flexible about enforcement of some provisions, said it “will exercise enforcement discretion by not taking enforcement action against manufacturers that do not meet their Model Year 2025 or Model Year 2026” sales requirements as long as those manufacturers continue to provide internal combustion vehicles to distributors.
More: State House News Service
Massport Hires Climate Chief
The Massachusetts Port Authority has hired Jill Valdes Horwood as its first chief climate and resilience officer. The job includes helping the agency, which owns and operates Logan International Airport, get to its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2031.
More: CommonWealth Beacon
OHIO
Power Siting Board Denies Solar Application
The Power Siting Board unanimously denied Stark Solar a certificate to construct, operate and maintain a 150-MW solar farm in Stark County. The board said there were many benefits to the project, but the benefits do not outweigh negative impacts to residents near the project. It cited opposition from local governments and residents as reasons for its denial. The company, or other intervenors in the case, could appeal the decision.
More: Canton Repository
PENNSYLVANIA
EV, Hybrid Owners to Pay ‘Road-user’ Charge
Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners will have to pay a fee each year to help with road maintenance beginning May 1. The annual fee is $200 for 2025 for full electric vehicles and $50 for plug-in hybrids. In 2026, that amount jumps to $250 for EVs and $63 for hybrids. After that, the fee would be reset based on the prior year’s consumer price index.
The fee is expected to generate $16 million in 2025, which would be deposited in the state’s Motor License Fund that helps pay for construction, maintenance, repair and safety improvements on highways and bridges.
More: Penn Live
TEXAS
Senate Approves Fines for Deceiving Solar Customers
The state Senate voted 22-8 to approve a measure that would give a state board the authority to fine residential solar companies as much as $100,000 for deceiving customers.
A San Antonio Express-News analysis of consumer complaints filed with the Office of the Attorney General found that more than 50% said they were making payments on systems that were unfinished or faulty or that never worked. Another 28% said their systems were generating much less power than promised and usually not enough to offset the cost.
The bill now heads to the House.
More: Houston Chronicle
VIRGINIA
Balico Application for Pittsylvania Data Center Denied
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors denied Balico’s application to rezone 750 acres for a data center and power generation project. Balico tried to withdraw its application; however, that move also was denied by the board. Balico will need to wait a full year before it can submit another proposal.
More: Danville Register & Bee; Cardinal News
Mecklenburg County Blocks Future Large-scale Solar Development
The Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to remove utility-scale solar as a future allowed land use. County Administrator Alex Gottschalk said the county was an early adopter of utility-scale solar but “the cons have, to date, far outweighed the pros in most people’s minds.” The supervisors will allow three pending projects to continue their permitting process, although they can approve or deny the projects as they see fit.
More: Cardinal News
WASHINGTON
NextEra Energy Plans Grant County Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources announced plans for the Dry Falls Solar project in Grant County. The facility would generate up to 400 MW while being complemented by 1,600 MW of battery storage. The proposal has been submitted to county commissioners, while the company hopes to begin construction this summer.
More: Columbia Basin Herald
WYOMING
PSC OKs Rocky Mountain Power Rate Hike
The Public Service Commission approved a rate hike for Rocky Mountain Power. The PSC unanimously accepted a settlement between Rocky Mountain Power, the Wyoming Industrial Energy Consumers group and the Office of Consumer Advocate. The deal reduced the utility’s original request for a $123.5 million (14.7%) increase to a $85.5 million (10.2%) increase. The average residential bill will climb by about $14/month.
More: WyoFile
