This Week in Energy

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

MICHIGAN

The House Energy, Communications, and Technology Committee held a hearing on December 4 regarding:

HB 5606: This measure provides a definition for "advanced nuclear reactor technology," effectively opening the door for future siting of advanced reactors.
Contact: Ian Thompson

HB 5607: This measure requires the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to develop and administer a nuclear and hydrogen graduate attraction and retention program.  

Contact: Ian Thompson

HB 5608: This measure establishes the Nuclear and Hydrogen Education Grant Program within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (Department). The Department may award funding from the grant to postsecondary schools seeking to expand or establish degree programs or credentials that would support the nuclear or hydrogen industry. This includes skilled craft or engineering programs to support nuclear or hydrogen operations. 

Contact: Tyler Knolhoff

HB 5609: This measure establishes the Nuclear and Hydrogen Education Grant Program. Funding from the grant may only be issued for awards to postsecondary schools that are seeking to create or expand qualified education programs related to nuclear and hydrogen education. 

Contact: Tyler Knolhoff

The Senate Energy and Environment Committee will hold a hearing on December 5 regarding SB 1131. This measure establishes regulations for carbon sequestration. 

Contact: Ian Thompson

OHIO

The Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing on December 4 regarding SB 266. This measure prohibits electric distribution utilities from owning or operating publicly available electric vehicle (EV) charging stations except through a separate affiliate or subsidiary that is not subject to public utilities commission jurisdiction.

Contact: Maxwell Klein

REGULATORY and LOCAL UPDATES

REGULATORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW JERSEY

The Board of Public Utilities will accept comments until December 6 on proposed rules concerning the Community Solar Energy Program.

Contact: Marshall Bellando

OREGON

The Conservation and Development Commission will hold a public hearing December 6 on proposed rules concerning the siting of photovoltaic solar energy generation facilities in Eastern Oregon.

Contact: Amy Cole

LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

For more information regarding the below local highlights, please contact Stephanie Rojo, Director of Local Services.

CALIFORNIA

On December 5, the Calabasas Planning Commission will discuss the state's Green Building Code -  CalGreen. Options for revising the city's Green Building Ordinance were originally discussed at the September 19 meeting. At that meeting, staff discussed the city’s currently adopted Green Building Ordinance, which requires all non-residential development to meet the equivalent of a Certified or Silver rating using the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System Version 2.0. Staff also discussed the subsequent emergence of the state's Green Building Code (CalGreen), and the redundancy that CalGreen created in the local review process. After commissioner deliberation, the Commission continued the item and requested that CalGreen’s Tier 1 and Tier 2 requirements be discussed at a future meeting. 

HAWAII

On December 6, the Maui County Council will consider a bill establishing a Climate Action and Resiliency Plan to guide county policy and actions to mitigate and adapt to climate-change effects, transition to 100-percent renewable energy, and achieve net-negative emissions.     

ILLINOIS

On December 2, the Plano Buildings, Grounds, and Zoning Committee reviewed the draft solar ordinance. 

GROUPS EVENTS

For more information on upcoming events, contact Taylor Beis.

There are no energy-related Groups events this week.