[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 134 (Friday, July 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45192-45193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14995]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD22-9-000]


New England Winter Gas-Electric Forum; Notice Inviting Post-Forum 
Comments

    On June 20, 2023, the Federal Energy Regulation Commission 
(Commission) convened a Commissioner-led forum to discuss solutions to 
the electric and gas challenges facing the New England region.
    All interested persons are invited to file post-forum comments on 
the topics in the forum agenda and discussed during the forum. We also 
invite responses to the questions below. Commenters may reference 
material previously filed in this docket but are encouraged to avoid 
repetition or replication of previously filed material. Commenters need 
not answer all of the questions but are encouraged to organize 
responses using the numbering and order in the below questions. 
Comments should be submitted on or before 45 days from issuance of this 
notice.

Comments on Supplemental Notice for June 20, 2023, Second New England 
Winter Gas-Electric Forum

    In accordance with the deadline above, we seek responses to the 
questions listed in the Supplemental Notice issued in this proceeding 
on May 26, 2023, which are restated below.

Panel 1: Should Everett Be Retained and, If So, How?

    Please comment on whether Everett is needed for the reliable 
operation of the electric and/or natural gas systems in New England 
during the upcoming winters and beyond. As part of these comments, 
please address the following:
    a. Is there sufficient information available to make this 
assessment? If not, what additional information would be most useful to 
determine whether there is a need to retain Everett (e.g., information 
about the uses of, beneficiaries of, and costs to maintain the Everett 
facility)?
    b. Is LNG from other sources (e.g., Repsol and/or Excelerate) a 
full substitute for the LNG from Everett? If not, under what 
circumstances is it not a full substitute and are there conditions 
under which electric system and/or gas system operators would be unable 
to meet electric and/or gas demand or maintain reliable service if 
Everett retires?
    c. To the extent there is a need for Everett's continued operation, 
does that need change over a longer time horizon? If so, what 
circumstances drive its need?
    d. What are potential next steps on these issues in both the short-
term (winters 2023/2024 and 2024/2025) and beyond (beginning winter 
2025/2026)?

Panel 2: Reactions to the EPRI Study

    Please comment on the assumptions and conclusions of the EPRI study 
and what next steps should be taken given the study's results.\1\ As 
part of these comments, please address the following:
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    \1\ We note that the 45-day comment period provided herein 
should allow commenters to also respond to the 2032 results of the 
EPRI Study that were not available at the time of the June forum, 
based on ISO-NE's announced schedule for the release of those 
results. Several panelists at the June forum stated that the 2032 
results will inform answers to the questions in this notice. We 
therefore encourage commenters to provide feedback on the ``Review 
of Step 3 (Probabilistic Energy Assessments) results for study year 
2032'' and their importance for considering next steps. See ISO New 
England, Reliability Committee Preliminary Meeting Topics (Two-Month 
Look Ahead) July/August 2023, (July 5, 2023) at 2, https://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/2023/07/rc_2_month_look_ahead_forecast_july_august_2023.docx.

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    a. Do these findings provide the information needed to make 
decisions about winter energy risks in New England? If not, what 
additional information is needed?
    b. Are additional or continuous studies needed to assess New 
England electric and gas winter issues? If so, what analyses are needed 
and how often should this be conducted?

Panel 3: Path to Sustainable Solutions--Infrastructure

    Please comment on what infrastructure is necessary to support 
reliable electric and gas system operations in New England. As part of 
these comments, please address the following:
    a. Are those infrastructure projects currently being pursued? If 
not, why not?
    b. What obstacles need to be addressed to allow new infrastructure 
to be placed timely into operation, and how are those obstacles 
currently being addressed?
    c. What steps, if any, should the Commission, ISO-NE, the New 
England states, and/or others take to address obstacles under their 
jurisdiction?

Panel 4: Path to Sustainable Solutions--Market Design

    Please comment on what market reforms are necessary to support 
reliable electric and gas system operations in New England. As part of 
these comments, please address the following:
    a. What proposals currently under consideration in the stakeholder 
process and in the ISO-NE work plan would be most helpful to address 
New England's winter electric and gas system challenges?
    i. Please specify which proposals under consideration are a 
priority for your organization and explain how, if possible, necessary 
market changes can be expedited.\2\
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    \2\ This question has been modified from the May 26 and June 13 
Supplemental Notices that asked ``[a]re these proposals 
appropriately prioritized? If not, what should be done and how can 
necessary market changes be expedited?'' See May 26, 2023, 
Supplemental Notice of Second New England Winter Gas-Electric Forum, 
88 FR 36306 at 36308 (June 2, 2023) and June 13, 2023, Supplemental 
Notice of Second New England Winter Gas-Electric Forum, 88 FR 39837 
at 39838 (June 20, 2023).
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    ii. At a high level, are there any major concerns with the current 
proposals under discussion that should be addressed?
    b. Are there additional reforms that are not currently under 
consideration in the stakeholder process that are necessary for energy 
resources to enhance fuel procurement strategies? If so, what other 
reforms should be considered? How should these market changes should be 
prioritized?

Closing Roundtable

    In the Closing Roundtable, Commissioners and panelists discussed 
what was learned through the presentations and panels and considered 
next steps.
    a. Please discuss what next steps, if any, you recommend coming out 
of the forum.

    Dated: July 10, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-14995 Filed 7-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


