OIL & GAS: Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey petitions state regulators to begin a study of the phase-out of natural gas to meet its climate goals. (CommonWealth Magazine) 

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Industry officials say New Jersey must broaden the role utilities can play if it wants to electrify its transportation sector. (NJ Spotlight)
• Exelon says it will electrify 30% of its vehicle fleet by 2025 and half by 2030. (Power Engineering)

***SPONSORED LINK: Applications are now open for the Veterans Advanced Energy Fellowship, a yearlong program for high-performing, high-potential military veterans in advanced energy, presented by the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. Learn more at www.vetsenergyproject.org/fellowship.***

CLEAN ENERGY: Clean energy groups say they will work harder to diversify the industry to address racial injustice. (Greentech Media)

GRID: In a compliance filing with federal regulators, PJM calls a recent ruling on its capacity market an “unreasonable burden.” (Utility Dive)

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: A developer presents plans to build a waste-to-energy plant near the Hudson River that would convert plastic recycled material and organic wastes into an industrial fuel. (Albany Times Union)

PIPELINES: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court denies an appeal by the developer of the Mariner East pipeline of a lower court ruling that said a pump station permit was improperly issued. (LebTown)

SOLAR:
• A Rhode Island judge rules against residents who had challenged a town board’s approval of a solar development in a residential neighborhood. (Westerly Sun)
• A Pennsylvania borough matches a state clean energy grant to build an array to provide about 10% of its electricity. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)
• A Maine town decides not to pursue solar development on town land, citing the length of time it would see a return on its investment. (Sun Journal)

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NUCLEAR: Federal regulators report that after 5,000 hours of inspections, the Seabrook nuclear plant operated safely in 2019. (Seacoastonline)

COMMENTARY:
• New Jersey’s top utility regulator says it is possible to have both clean air and a thriving economy under the state’s proposed Energy Master Plan. (NJ Spotlight)
• Pennsylvania’s Sierra Club says the state will gain economic benefits and help mitigate climate change with membership in a regional emissions cap-and-trade compact. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• A developer says community solar thrives even during a pandemic as residents see its benefits and states can promote economic growth at scale. (Solar Power World)

Bill is a freelance journalist based outside Albany, New York. As a former New England correspondent for RTO Insider, he has written about energy for newspapers, magazines and other publications for more than 20 years. He has an extensive career in trade publications and newspapers, mostly focused on the utility sector, covering such issues as restructuring, renewable energy and consumer affairs. Bill covers Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire and also compiles the Northeast Energy News daily email digest.