To draft public comments on behalf of CCAN in response to the Office of People’s Counsel’s February 2023 petition to the Maryland Public Service Commission regarding future gas planning in the state of Maryland. These comments should focus on how gas planning can be
accomplished in Maryland to meet the state’s climate goals set forth in the Climate Solutions Now Act and move the state toward electrification. These comments should also focus on the gas planning efforts of other states how these efforts can inform Maryland state policy.
CCAN seeks recommendations on the priority actions the MPSC should require utility companies to take. Areas to focus on include: modifying gas procurement practices, gas line extension policies, gas company marketing practices, and energy efficiency practices (under Maryland’s EmPOWER program). Students should begin with a baseline of current practices (start on p.37 of the OPC petition) and recommend the changes needed to these practices in order to comply with state climate policy and protect ratepayers, especially low-income ratepayers. Research should include best practices from other state proceedings and a review of existing literature. Because CCAN also seeks to ensure that the process and outcomes of this process are equitable, CCAN also seeks to learn more about how equity and justice have been
incorporated into the planning process for other states.
Based on existing literature and research of other state proceedings, what near-term changes should the MPSC require utilities to make in the following areas to meet the state’s climate goals in an equitable way?
gas procurement practices;
gas line extension policies;
gas company marketing practices; and
energy efficiency practices (under Maryland’s EmPOWER program)
How have equity and justice been incorporated into planning processes for other
states?
If time allows, what are the actions the MPSC should take as part of the long-term
gas utility transition process?
It is so important to follow up on references you find in relevant documents. And for journal articles, in addition to using the references, be sure to look forward and go to google scholar to see who has cited the article. See the tab: Citation Chasing.
Examples - The Environmental Defense Fund Report: Aligning Gas Regulation and Climate Goals A Road Map for State Regulators (linked under Assignment Resources) has pages of Notes and References.
The Maryland's Climate Pathway report (linked under Assignment resources) has pages of References.
Journal articles included - such as
Julio Romero Agüero, Erik Takayesu, Damir Novosel, Ralph Masiello,
Grid modernization: challenges and opportunities, The Electricity Journal, Volume 30, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 1-6,
Find that article (worldcat / google scholar / google and the reload button) and then look at those references.
Then go to google scholar and see if it has been cited - it has! 21 times - Your research will be greatly expanded if you take a look at the citing documents. Build your bibliography.
Databases (linked below) and possible/suggested strategies:
Look at your Questions to Answer and use the keywords and try different combinations:
Google Scholar = "gas procurement" states utilities
The other databases use connectors.
Web of Science
ScienceDirect - also, when in results, look on the right for Recommended articles
"gas procurement"
and
utilities or utility
and
climate
and
states
-------
"gas companies" or "gas utilities")
and "
climate change"
-----
"gas companies" or "gas utilities"
and "
climate change"
and
equity or justice
----
"gas companies" or "gas utilities"
and
equity or justice
------
Google - use the site: and org / gov
"gas procurement" and utilities site:gov
"gas companies" "gas utilities" "public relations" "climate change" site:org
