GAS: Federal regulators approve ISO New England’s request to end its contract with the proposed Killingly Energy Center in Connecticut after agreeing that the developer has made “virtually no progress” building the 650 MW gas-fired plant. (E&E News, Bulletin)
ALSO:
• A biofuel company partners with a central New York county to build a renewable natural gas project on its landfill. (Biofuels Digest)
• Pennsylvania utility UGI signs an agreement to sell renewable natural gas from a Scranton-area landfill. (news release)
GRID:
• A Maine judge sends Central Maine Power’s transmission project referendum lawsuit to the state supreme court to adjudicate the numerous constitutional questions; oral arguments may begin in the spring. (Maine Public Radio)
• Slight annual demand upticks projected for PJM Interconnection’s grid over the next decade are primarily attributed to an expected increase in data centers and electric vehicles. (Utility Dive)
SOLAR:
• A Vermont developer who sought to build a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station on an unoccupied Rutland lot says the project won’t work because the landowner doesn’t like the proposed design. (Rutland Herald)
• The town of Killingly, Connecticut, completes construction of roughly 1 MW worth of distributed solar projects across four municipal properties. (news release)
CLIMATE:
• Acton, Massachusetts, releases a draft climate action plan that aims to get the town to net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. (Wicked Local)
• Northeast states lack a way to pay for their plans to reduce transportation emissions, especially after the collapse of the regional Transportation and Climate Initiative. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• An executive order from Connecticut’s governor will direct the state’s portion of federal infrastructure funding toward emissions reduction and climate adaptation projects. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• New York City proposes extending its eastern coastline with a two-level esplanade meant to protect lower Manhattan from sea level rise and worsening storms. (Commercial Observer)
OFFSHORE WIND:
• New York this year is set to begin building a clean energy transmission line from Canada to New York City and major wind and solar projects. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• New Jersey’s utility regulator joins a national offshore wind research and development alliance. (North American Wind Power)
UTILITIES: New York’s utility regulator is expected to decide whether National Grid can increase its gas and electric rates for upstate customers within the next month. (Times Union)
EFFICIENCY:
• New York’s climate action council recommends barring installation of propane, gas and oil equipment in new homes starting in 2024 and replacing the systems with heat pumps. (Times Union)
• New York’s energy development authority awards $1.8 million to St. John’s University to support decarbonizing heating and cooling systems at the school’s Queens campus. (news release)
• New Jersey’s development authority seeks input from energy efficiency contractors, utilities, and other stakeholders as it seeks to develop a loan program for efficiency projects. (ROI NJ)