Energy efficiency group urges BPU to expand stakeholder engagement and extend comment periods

Justin Carpenter, policy counsel for the Energy Efficiency Alliance, told the Board of Public Utilities during the quarterly public comment period that while he commended the board's actions on energy efficiency and decarbonization, he is concerned about the pace and depth of stakeholder engagement for transformational initiatives.

"Robust stakeholder engagement and public comment proceedings are essential to the effectiveness of statewide policy implementation," Carpenter said, urging the board to standardize in-person and virtual stakeholder meetings and extend comment periods so stakeholders can provide technically sound input.

Carpenter said rushed comment deadlines risk missing implementation challenges and unintended consequences that stakeholders could help identify. He recommended a more scheduled format of stakeholder meetings and longer comment windows for major energy programming to improve policy outcomes.

When the president asked whether Carpenter had a particular matter in mind for an extended comment period, Carpenter replied, "Probably not without your attorney striking me down," and the president suggested he share specifics with commissioner aides for consideration. No formal board action followed from the public comment session.