Energy Division hosted Freight Infrastructure Planning (FIP) Webinar

To DAWG participants:

California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Energy Division’s Transportation Electrification section staff is hosting a public webinar Monday, May 22, from 2 to 5 p.m. to discuss its Freight Infrastructure Planning (FIP) staff proposal. The proposal addresses the need for proactive planning of long-lead-time utility-side electrical infrastructure (that is, distribution and transmission) needed to support the acceleration of transportation electrification.

FIP Overview:
Medium- (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) freight charging will trigger long-lead-time capacity investments (for example, distribution or transmission or both) that must be identified and initiated before the load materializes to ensure timely energization.

• Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation accelerates charging deployment for MD/HD vehicles across California.
• Staff anticipates medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) charging load will be large and concentrated along major travel corridors. Freight charging along corridors is linked to in-route business needs and, therefore, not as flexible nor responsive to rate signals.
• The proposed FIP framework focuses on MD/HD freight primarily because the sizeable load will trigger grid upgrades and create some of the greatest grid integration challenges. However, CPUC staff analysis will consider other sizable loads, including large light-duty DC fast-charging sites.

Given the nascent nature of the zero-emission MD/HD market, there is uncertainty regarding the assumptions used for long-term planning and forecasting. The FIP proposal aims to provide guidance and improve the planning process. Specifically, the FIP proposes to facilitate timely consideration of distribution, substation, and transmission infrastructure upgrades needed for corridor electrification by:

• Developing planning scenarios that focus on unique issues associated with freight electrification, such as drayage, electrifying domestic/international borders, local reliability, TE-driven transmission, and corridors with limited electrical infrastructure.
• Identifying future load and optimal charging zones based on a variety of policy considerations (for example, air quality, equity/disadvantaged community status, and fire threat districts) and fleet mobility needs.
• Recommending improvements to interagency planning/forecasting coordination.
• Developing unified TE grid planning inputs and assumptions to guide forecasting/planning.

Webinar Objectives:

• Provide timely information to stakeholders about the CPUC Energy Division staff’s planned and ongoing activities related to the FIP proposal.
• Lead a technical discussion regarding the FIP proposal. The webinar will include staff representing the California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, California Transportation Commission, and California Air Resources Board.

Preparation:

• The topics to be addressed in this webinar and future webinars on the FIP are likely to become highly technical. Joint agency staff asks that participants make a good faith effort to review and understand any materials provided in advance of the meetings.
• Agenda and webinar slides will be made available via the Freight Infrastructure Planning (FIP) section of the CPUC Transportation Electrification website shortly before the event date. Staff plans to post the materials by close of business May 11; please check the website then.
• During the webinar, there will be opportunities for stakeholders to provide feedback. However, comments and questions during this webinar will not be considered as submitted comments, and staff will not record them. Stakeholders will need to submit written comments following the instructions provided at the webinar and in the webinar materials. The information discussed and the comments provided by stakeholders either during the webinar or later in writing are not part of any active proceeding.
• Stakeholders will have 30 days from the date of this webinar to submit their informal comments to staff. All submitted comments will then be published on the FIP section of the CPUC Transportation Electrification website.
• Commissioners from the CPUC or their advisors or both may attend. The webinar will be noticed on the CPUC Daily Calendar.
• The webinar will be recorded and the recording will be posted on the FIP website.

Remote Attendance

Join webinar via Webex or you may also access the webinar by going to the Webex website and enter the meeting number and password below:

• Meeting Number: 2493 013 0626
• Meeting Password: FIPwebinar (34793246 from phones and video systems)

Join by phone: 1-855-282-6330
Access code: 249 301 30626

Please contact Paula Gruendling (paula.gruendling@cpuc.ca.gov) or Karolina Maslanka (karolina.maslanka@cpuc.ca.gov) with any questions about the webinar.