SOLAR: Federal regulators unanimously dismiss a petition by a New England dark money group seeking to undermine state solar net-metering programs. (Greentech Media)

ALSO: A western Maryland county approves a nearly 20 MW solar farm on 113 acres at a former surface mining site. (Times-News)

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CLIMATE: A climate working group in Maine makes five recommendations on meeting the state’s goals that would require a “power sector transformation.” (Energy News Network)

TRANSMISSION: Two Texas companies with natural gas power plants in Maine will spend $6 million on televisions ads to support a ballot referendum opposing a transmission line from Canada. (Bangor Daily News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• New York regulators approve a $700 million electric vehicle incentive program to encourage utilities to build charging station infrastructure that also includes $206 million dedicated to low-income areas. (E&E News, subscription required)
• Six electric vehicle charging stations are installed at county government facilities in northern Maryland. (Baltimore Sun)

OIL & GAS: Shell stops adding workers at its western Pennsylvania cracker plant construction site as more workers test positive for coronavirus. (Pittsburgh Business Times, subscription required)

OFFSHORE WIND: Orsted considers two sites in Delaware to connect its Maryland offshore wind farm to land after it dropped its first choice due to concerns over damage to wetlands. (Coastal Point)

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DIVESTMENT: Rutgers University in New Jersey says it is considering divesting fossil fuel investments that account for about 6% of its endowment. (NorthJersey.com)

COMMENTARY:
• A former head of Pennsylvania’s environmental department defends the agency and his tenure that were criticized in a grand jury report that blasted state regulation of the fracking industry. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• A solar developer says commercial rooftops present a major opportunity for New Jersey to expand its clean energy output to meet its climate goals. (NJ Spotlight)
• A columnist says a 100% renewable energy proposal is a better approach for Massachusetts as a competing “net-zero” law still opens the door to additional fossil fuel generation and infrastructure. (Daily Hampshire Gazette)

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Bill Opalka

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.