Every week, Stateside Associates will feature energy-related legislative, regulatory, and federal programs impacting state and local public policies and proceedings, including upcoming Groups events, activities, and conversations in This Week in Energy.
For more information on our Energy Practice, please contact Taylor Beis.
LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
MAINE
On January 22, the Joint Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee will meet to discuss LD 2038, which provides a transmission and distribution utility may not own or control a transmission and distribution plant within Maine unless they participate in a regional transmission organization.
Contact: Addison Green
MASSACHUSETTS
On January 27, the House Joint Committee on Revenue will meet to discuss HB 4722, which sets the tax rules for zero-emission vehicles.
Contact: Maxwell Klein
WASHINGTON
On January 23, the House Committee on Finance will meet to discuss HB 1960, which exempts all personal property used primarily for renewable energy generation or storage from property taxation if the facility becomes operational on or after January 1, 2026.
Contact: Addison Green
REGULATORY and LOCAL UPDATES
REGULATORY HIGHLIGHTS
CALIFORNIA
The Energy Commission will hold a workshop on January 29 concerning the Draft 2025 California Building Energy Action Plan.
Contact: Benjamin Williams
MINNESOTA
The Public Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing on January 26 concerning the application of Xcel Energy for a Certificate of Need, Site Permit, Route Permit, and Pipeline Permit for the Lyon County Generating Station in Lyon County, Minnesota.
Contact: Abigail Dent
NEW YORK
The Department of Public Service will hold public comment hearings on January 27 concerning the Shepherd’s Run Solar Project in Columbia County.
Contact: Jose Cordero
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS
For more information regarding the below local highlights, please contact Stephanie Rojo, Senior Director of Local Services.
MARYLAND
On January 20, the Montgomery County Council introduced an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance to define a data center as a new use subject to zoning requirements, specify the zones where data centers may locate in the county as conditional uses, establish minimum standards for the location of data centers in the county, and generally amend the law regarding permissible locations and conditions for data centers in the county.
NEW JERSEY
On January 21, the Newark Municipal Council considered an ordinance amending Title 41, Zoning and Land Use Regulations, Chapter 20, Environmental Justice and Cumulative Impacts of the Revised General Ordinances to prohibit any new or expanded fossil fuel facility, including fossil fuel power generation.
The Council also considered an ordinance amending Title X, Finance and Taxation of the Revised General Ordinances by adding a new section, Chapter 34, prohibition on use of city funds for fossil fuel, including fossil fuel power generation.
WISCONSIN
On January 20, the Sustainable Madison Committee received an update pertaining to city building decarbonization. The city is currently seeking a contractor to provide decarbonization assessments of 21 priority buildings and a strategic plan for decarbonizing all 146 buildings in the city’s portfolio that currently use natural gas.
GROUPS EVENTS
For more information on upcoming events, contact Taylor Beis.
There are no energy-related Groups events this week.
