TRANSMISSION: The parent of Central Maine Power sues Maine to halt a fall referendum against its proposed power line, saying the vote violates the state constitution. (Bangor Daily News)

OIL & GAS:
• Shell says 800 workers are back on site at its ethane cracker plant in Pennsylvania and another 300 will be added next week as it slowly resumes construction halted by coronavirus. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• National Grid releases a new report for natural gas capacity in areas in and around New York City that includes options for new infrastructure and non-pipeline alternatives. (Daily Energy Insider)

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OFFSHORE WIND: Large majorities of New Jersey residents support offshore wind, saying they would continue to vacation on the shore even if turbines were visible. (ROI-NJ)

PIPELINES: The top federal energy regulator rejects a request by 10 attorneys general, including several from the Northeast, to pause approvals of natural gas pipelines during the coronavirus pandemic. (The Hill)

RENEWABLE ENERGY: A Maine panel discussion says the coronavirus pandemic brings volatility to energy markets while creating opportunities for more renewable energy to be added to the distribution systems. (MaineBiz)

TRANSPORTATION: A coalition of residents and environmentalists oppose a proposed natural gas power plant that would power operations of New Jersey Transit saying renewable energy alternatives should be explored. (news release)

SOLAR: Rhode Island awards $100,000 in grants to five farms to install solar arrays to “green their operations.” (ecoRI)

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CLIMATE: Rhode Island’s legislatively required climate advisory panels have made little progress as they have no budgets, little staff and rarely meet. (ecoRI)

COMMENTARY: An environmental advocate says New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy must soon decide whether to back a natural gas compressor and pipeline headed to New York City that has been opposed by regulatory agencies in both states. (Asbury Park Press)

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.