TRANSMISSION: Renewable energy developers and state officials in Maine say more transmission capacity will be needed to meet the state’s clean energy goals. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:
• Vineyard Wind has reached a deal with New England’s grid operator for a transmission interconnection for its 800 MW offshore wind farm. (ReNews)
• Three environmental groups have filed a lawsuit seeking a more rigorous review of the proposed Clean Energy Connect project, as developers and union leaders encourage people to apply for jobs working on the project. (Associated Press, Sun Journal)

EFFICIENCY: Connecticut’s weatherization goals may be limited by the need for costly remediation of mold and asbestos in many older properties, which is not covered under state efficiency incentives. (Energy News Network)

WIND: Orsted is hoping that larger offshore wind turbines can help it reduce the impact of federal permitting delays. (Greentech Media)

SOLAR:
• Baltimore solar entrepreneur Kristal Hansley talks about her efforts to expand clean energy opportunities to Black communities. (Vogue)
• Construction begins on a solar project that will offset 100% of a Maine town’s electricity use. (Lakes Region Weekly)
• The Seneca Nation calls for work to stop on a New York solar project to determine whether burial sites are being disturbed after a bone is discovered. (Livingston County News)

CLEAN ENERGY: A study by a power producers trade group says states in the PJM Interconnection could save billions of dollars by taking a regional approach to clean energy development. (S&P Global)

EQUITY: A New York official says the state is “putting equity at the center” of its climate plans. (Axios)

UTILITIES:
• Citing a “once-in-a-hundred-year crisis,” Rhode Island regulators defer half of National Grid’s natural gas rate increase to soften the financial blow to customers. (Providence Journal)
• Advocates push Connecticut regulators to extend a moratorium on utility shut-offs. (CT Mirror)

COAL: A 36-year old worker was killed Tuesday in an accident at a central Pennsylvania coal mine. (Associated Press)

OIL & GAS:
• A New Jersey refinery is shutting down most of its fuel-producing units, citing low demand and prices. (Reuters)
• Rhode Island communities debate over the proposed site of a National Grid liquified natural gas facility. (Newport Daily News)

BIOENERGY: Plans are progressing for a biorefinery in Maine that will produce heating oil from wood waste. (Portland Press Herald)

COMMENTARY:
• A new report finds Pennsylvania is lagging neighboring states on renewable energy development. (PennEnvironment)
• A retired minister highlights Maine cities’ progress on climate change in the absence of federal leadership. (Portland Press Herald)
• A former mayor of a New Jersey town says the “blue holes” at sand and gravel mining sites provide an opportunity for solar development. (NJ Spotlight)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.