UTILITIES: Connecticut municipal officials say communication from Eversource was non-existent during the early days of outages from Tropical Storm Isaias as the state kicks off a week of performance review hearings. (CT Mirror)
EFFICIENCY: A Pennsylvania official says a “major piece” of the up to $320 million annually in proceeds from its participation in a regional emissions cap-and-trade agreement will be spent on energy efficiency. (RTO Insider, subscription)
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PIPELINES: Pipeline safety proponents are ramping up efforts for inclusion as negotiations in Massachusetts wind down for a final version of a major climate bill. (WGBH)
NATURAL GAS:
• Whistleblowers say radioactive waste produced during fracking is rarely discussed and consequences of it are largely unknown. (Public Herald)
• A Rhode Island commission created to strategize energy infrastructure in response to a natural gas shortage two years ago has no representatives from environmental or renewable energy groups. (UpriseRI)
CLEAN ENERGY: Advocates and state officials discuss the prospects of creating a “green bank” in Maine to fund clean energy development. (Portland Press Herald)
SOLAR:
• Environmentalists say a solar array planned for a Maine college could endanger a rare grassland. (Portland Press Herald)
• A solar-powered weather station will monitor conditions as part of New Hampshire’s wildfire prevention efforts. (E&E News, subscription required)
GRID: The CEO of New York’s grid operator says a priority for 2021 is to work with federal regulators to ensure fair treatment of renewable resources that are an increasingly important part of the state’s energy mix. (S&P Global)
WASTE-TO-ENERGY: An environment commissioner says Connecticut faces a “waste crisis” with closure in 2022 of a waste-to-energy plant that serves much of the state. (WNPR)
TRANSPORTATION: A Delaware after-school program taps into nearly $180,000 in state Volkwagen settlement funds to replace a diesel bus with an electric one plus charging equipment. (news release)
COMMENTARY: An environmental student and offshore wind supporter says fishermen should be given a voice in the nascent floating wind turbine discussions in Maine. (Portland Press Herald)