COAL: Coal-fired power plants generating gigawatts of power in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio will shutter by mid-September, according to the facilities’ owner; at least one of the facilities was slated to be converted to natural gas. (Associated Press/Baltimore Sun)

OFFSHORE WIND: A Maine legislative committee amends a state wind energy bill to include a permanent ban on near-shore wind projects in state waters, an attempt to extend an olive branch to the state’s frustrated fishing industry. (Maine Public)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Connecticut legislators fail to advance a bill allowing electric vehicle manufacturers to make direct-to-customer sales, the latest attempt to do so over the past several years. (Hartford Courant)
• In some areas of New York, the American Automobile Association and SparkCharge plan to use mobile charging stations to power up customers’ electric vehicles that run out of juice before they make it home. (WHEC)

SOLAR:
• In Massachusetts, the Solar Technical Assistance Retrofits program intends to invest $10 million in up to 3 MW of solar projects on affordable housing buildings and assist interested community development agencies. (Energy News Network)
• A Connecticut solar trade group wants the state’s governor to veto a bill requiring solar developers to pay a prevailing wage to workers on projects totaling at least 2 MW. (news release)
• A solar developer has wrapped up construction of two solar arrays in Rushford, New York, and in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, totaling 12 MW. (news release)

UTILITIES:
• A New Jersey appeals court reverses a rule outlining how utilities can use money saved from filing consolidated tax returns, a move consumer advocates say may save ratepayers tens of millions of dollars. (NJ Spotlight)
• Although dozens of environmental and citizens groups say he isn’t the right person for the job, the New York State Senate confirmed David Valesky to the state utility commission. (Syracuse.com, subscription)
• New York legislators pass a bill opening up community choice aggregation for local governments in the Long Island Power Authority service territory; the legislation awaits the governor’s signature. (East Hampton Star)

PROPANE: In central New York, investigators believe propane was likely behind a home explosion that killed an elderly couple known for their use of solar panels, a wind turbine and geothermal energy at home. (Times-Union, subscription)

GRID:
• Despite support from environmental justice organizations, a state bill requiring the New York Power Authority to build and operate renewable power projects and phase out fossil fuel assets by 2025 will likely die in session. (Vice)
• New York’s largest population centers saw average May power and gas prices increase 50% and 75% year-over-year, respectively. (S&P Global Platts)

FINANCE: A Philadelphia-area county council approves a program enabling property owners to tap into long-term loans to install renewable energy systems and energy efficiency measures. (news release)

COMMENTARY: A charging technology executive argues that the limits of plug-in car charging require a shift toward wireless electric vehicle charging. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bridget is a freelance reporter and newsletter writer based in the Washington, D.C., area. She compiles the Northeast Energy News digest. Bridget primarily writes about energy, conservation and the environment. Originally from Philadelphia, she graduated from Emerson College in 2015 with a degree in journalism and a minor in environmental studies. When she isn’t working on a story, she’s normally on a northern Maine lake or traveling abroad to practice her Spanish language skills.