Commission defers vote on Golden Beams solar/data‑center jurisdiction petition

The commission considered a petition from Golden Beams asking the agency to find that a proposed 3‑megawatt solar project serving an adjacent data facility is not a public (electric) utility. Staff reviewed filings and recommended the commission find the project, as described, does not create a public utility or electric public utility, subject to conditions intended to address unknowns in the project agreements and the identities of project participants.

Staff’s recommendation included requiring final executed copies of leases and participant agreements, affidavits authenticating any party lists, and a commitment that no material change in project structure or sales to wholesale markets would occur without notifying the commission. The applicant’s representative (identified in the record as JP) attended and answered commissioners’ questions about financing, the presence of an AI/data‑center use case and a small amount of planned Bitcoin‑related activity; commissioners raised questions about capital sources and proximity to military installations.

Commissioner Campbell, whose district includes the project, asked for additional outreach to local government and recommended deferral for further review; the commission agreed to defer the matter to allow staff and applicant to address local engagement and cybersecurity or capital-source inquiries. Staff noted the item could be revisited after follow‑up and additional filings are submitted.

The commission did not adopt a jurisdictional order at this meeting; staff’s written recommendation remains in the record with conditions proposed for acceptance if the docket proceeds.