CLIMATE: A draft of Maine’s new climate plan calls for 100% of new car sales in the state to be electric by 2050, rapid increases in weatherization and heat pump installations, and other measures. (Bangor Daily News)
HYDROPOWER: Under a unique purchase agreement, 21 public utilities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont agree to buy power from dams on the Connecticut River to displace natural gas. (Salem News)
***SPONSORED LINK: The New England Energy Summit, Nov. 16, 23 and 30 will bring together industry leaders, end users and policymakers to address emerging issues and engage in impactful discussion. Featuring keynote speakers Ernest J. Moniz and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. Register at newenglandenergysummit.com .***
COAL: Contura Energy is paying a company $50 million to take over a Pennsylvania coal mine, but little is known about the buyer. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
CLEAN ENERGY:
• Pittsburgh’s mayor pushes a “Marshall Plan for Appalachia” that would direct $600 billion in clean energy investments across four states. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)
• A Maine college that has been carbon neutral since 2018 by purchasing offsets joins a consortium to develop local renewable energy sources. (news release)
NATURAL GAS:
• Pennsylvania officials order operators to keep natural gas out of “unstable sections” of the Revolution Pipeline. (Pittsburgh Business Times)
• Rising natural gas prices could increase reliance on coal-fired generation in the Northeast this winter. (S&P Global)
UTILITIES: Maryland’s moratorium on utility shutoffs expires on Sunday, leaving thousands at risk of losing electricity service as the COVID-19 pandemic surges. (WUSA)
TRANSMISSION: Efforts to fight the Clean Energy Connect transmission line continue on both sides of the border. (Franklin Journal)
WIND: An offshore wind developer plans to build a tower manufacturing facility at the Port of Albany in New York. (Windpower Engineering)
SOLAR: Construction is completed on Maine’s first multi-community solar project. (Daily Bulldog)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Massachusetts advocates push for the Transportation and Climate Initiative to invest in electric vehicle adoption in rural areas. (Berkshire Eagle)
• A New York transit official says that even with federal support, the city is years away from fully electrifying its bus fleet. (Streetsblog)
• New York announces $11 million in Volkswagen settlement funds will be used to develop fast-charging stations, with a focus on underserved communities. (news release)
• A new study finds that rural drivers could save more than $1,900 per year by switching from gasoline to electric. (Union of Concerned Scientists)
***SPONSORED LINK: The Maryland and DC commercial and community solar markets are complex and rapidly evolving. Join the local solar and storage trade association (MDV-SEIA)’s annual Solar Focus Conference, held virtually Nov. 17-18 to unpack the major issues in the market!***
POLITICS: A solar PAC in Pennsylvania notes that 90% of its endorsed candidates won their races. (Solar Power World)
COMMENTARY:
• Advocates weigh the pros and cons of a Massachusetts policy limiting incentives for solar on sensitive lands. (Boston Globe)
• An editorial board says that while Maryland has managed to ditch coal, the problems it created “will continue to plague us for years to come.” (Capital Gazette)
• An energy policy researcher and Pittsburgh native outlines the potential economic boost from clean energy in western Pennsylvania. (Pittsburgh Tribune)