MEIC outlines energy bills to watch: geothermal, grid-utilization, 'solar shares' and nuclear watch

Shannon James, MEIC campaign director, ran through energy-related bills the group will track this session, starting with geothermal and grid utilization.

"There were 2 geothermal bills passed, 1 that would establish a regulatory framework for geothermal in the state and 1 that would appropriate funds for a geothermal survey," James said, and noted the Bureau of Mines is already at work on the survey. She said a grid-utilization bill would require utilities to submit improvement plans to the Public Service Commission and that a new version of 'solar shares' scaled the maximum project size from 5 megawatts to 3.

James also said MEIC will track any bills related to nuclear development; she warned nuclear proposals carry high price tags and environmental justice concerns but said geothermal and distributed solar remain the near-term priorities.