OFFSHORE WIND: Critics say New England’s grid operator missed an opportunity to plan for integrating offshore wind as it copes with maintaining reliability after a major power plant shuts down in 2024. (Energy News Network)

UTILITIES:
• All four New Jersey utilities have plans to offer smart meters although state regulators are reluctant to impose their installation costs on consumers. (NJ Spotlight)
• Maryland regulators extend a moratorium on utility shut-offs until Oct. 1 after a lengthy hearing last week. (Maryland Matters)

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PIPELINES: A federal court in Massachusetts reverses a previous decision and says a compressor station can operate during environmental reviews that it previously ruled were inadequate. (Bloomberg Law, subscription required) 

BIOENERGY: Researchers at Dartmouth College publish a study that examines how current uses of bioenergy and biofuels can be solutions to climate change. (NHPR)

SOLAR: Advocates say at least 220 shovel-ready community solar projects in Pennsylvania await legislative action. (Solar Power World)

FINANCE: The Connecticut Green Bank solicits proposals for potential funding from commercially viable or nearly viable projects from clean energy developers. (Solar Builder)

ACTIVISM: Students successfully petition a Pennsylvania school district to set a goal for 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and all other energy uses to be renewable by 2040. (PV Magazine)

CLIMATE: Air pollution has lessened in recent decades but a Pittsburgh researcher says those gains can be reversed by climate change. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)

SUSTAINABILITY: Baltimore County’s sustainability officer is “cautiously optimistic” goals set by the office can be met despite several efforts derailed by the coronavirus pandemic. (Baltimore Sun)

RENEWABLE ENERGY: New Jersey Gas joins the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, which includes methane collection from organic waste sites among its commitments. (news release)   

COMMENTARY:
• A new Maine resident originally from Africa says the state can provide economic opportunity through clean energy and instill those values as a global example. (Portland Press Herald)
• Pennsylvania labor leaders say it is a false choice that jobs and a clean environment are mutually exclusive as they defend bipartisan actions to promote natural gas development. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

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.