REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA - Notice of Petition for a Large Energy Facility Project and Exemption from Utility Regulation Notice of Petition for a Large Energy Facility[...]

REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA - Notice of Petition for a Large Energy Facility Project and Exemption from Utility Regulation

Notice of Petition for a Large Energy Facility Project and Exemption from Utility Regulation

The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that on October 25, 2024, Solstice Energy LLC (Solstice Energy) filed a petition seeking approval under Alaska Statute (AS) 42.05.785(a) for a large energy facility and seeking exemption under AS 42.05.711(r) from Commission regulation. Docket No. U-24-034 was opened to address this matter.

Solstice Energy plans to construct the Puppy Dog Lake Solar Farm, a 30 MW-AC utility scale solar facility which interconnects to Alaska Electric and Energy Cooperative, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Homer Electric Association, Inc. (HEA), through a planned new substation. The proposed solar farm would be located near Nikiski and is sited on land owned by the Alaska Mental Health Trust, with which Solstice Energy has a long-term-lease. Solstice Energy states it will sell 100 percent of its energy output to HEA, which is estimated to meet approximately 12 percent of HEA's gross general requirements.

AS 42.05.785(a) provides that a utility, including one exempt from regulation under AS 42.05.711, that is interconnected with an interconnected electric energy transmission network served by an electric reliability organization certificated by the Commission may not construct a large energy facility unless the Commission determines that the facility is necessary for the interconnected electric energy transmission network with which it would be interconnected; complies with reliability standards; and would, in a cost effective manner, meet the needs of a load-serving entity that is substantially served by the facility.

AS 42.05.711(r) provides that a plant or facility that generates electricity entirely from renewable energy resources is exempt from Commission regulation, other than applicable regulation under AS 42.05.760 - 42.05.790, if the plant or facility is first placed into commercial operation on or after August 31, 2010, and before July 1, 2028; and does not generate more than 65 megawatts of electricity; the electricity generated by the plant or facility is sold only to one or more electric utilities that are regulated by the Commission; and the person that constructs, owns, acquires, or operates the plant or facility has not received from the State a grant that was used to generate the electricity from the renewable energy resources; or a tax credit related to the generation of electricity from the renewable energy resources.

This notice may not contain all requested revisions, and the Commission may approve a rate or classification which varies from those proposed. You may obtain more information about this filing by contacting Sarah C. Gillstrom, counsel for Solstice Energy at 188 West Northern Lights Blvd, Suite 1100, Anchorage, AK 99503; phone: (907) 257-5300. The complete filing is also available for inspection at the Commission's office, at 701 West Eighth Ave, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone: (907) 276-6222, or may be viewed on the Commission's website at http://rca.alaska.gov by typing "U-24-034" in the Find a Matter search box.

To comment on this filing, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., November 15, 2024, at the Commission address given above or via our website at:

https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx

Please reference U-24-034 and include a statement that you have filed a copy of the comments with Solstice Energy at its address given above. Individuals or groups of people with disabilities, who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or service, or alternative communication formats, please contact Samantha Vukasin at (907) 276-6222, toll-free at 1-800-390-2782, or TTY/Alaska Relay: 7-1-1 or 1-800-770-8973 or send a request via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska gov by November 7, 2024.

DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 31st day of October, 2024.

REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA

John M. Espindola
Chairman