CLIMATE: An eye-opening climate analysis from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sparks calls for action from legislators, business leaders and climate advocates from Boston to New Jersey. (Boston Globe, NJ Spotlight)
ALSO: Massachusetts legislative discussions suggest a future package of climate change legislation is likely to focus on electric vehicle adoption; energy storage; offshore wind solicitations; and interconnection and grid modernization efforts. (State House News Service)
SOLAR:
• Maine’s solar industry implores state utility regulators to monitor Central Maine Power’s interconnection study process after months of delayed assessments; the utility says the problem is due in part to a lack of qualified experts. (Portland Press Herald)
• A division of EDP Renewables plans to build a 54 MW community solar project in New York but hasn’t released more details about the site, which is larger than most community solar projects. (PV magazine)
WIND: Almost all of the Block Island Wind Farm turbines have been offline for several weeks to handle what developer Ørsted characterizes as “routine summer maintenance,” but an anti-wind group says local fishers have reported turbine workers in hazmat suits belaying from blades. (ecoRI)
PIPELINES: U.S. Senate leader Chuck Schumer on Friday joined community protests against the North Brooklyn Pipeline Project, which raises environmental justice and climate crisis concerns, and a related rate hike to pay for construction. (City Limits)
UTILITIES:
• A Maine lawmaker who frequently challenges the legislature and Gov. Janet Mills on energy issues applauds her administration’s decision to hire a veteran energy lawyer to assist with policy development. (Bangor Daily News)
• The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation builds an outdoor lineworker training facility to allow for larger classes and help apprentices avoid lengthy educational trips out of town. (Delaware Business Times)
• A leading rooftop solar installation company taps Mary Powell, a former head of Vermont’s Green Mountain Power, as its next CEO, pointing to her clean energy efforts and ability to translate utility and generation matters. (Canary Media)
NATURAL GAS: Police say a late June house explosion that killed an Erie County, New York, woman was caused by a natural gas leak, but provider National Fuel says it can’t comment on the equipment because customers are responsible for house lines and connections. (WKBW)
EFFICIENCY:
• Plans to replace all 2,100 streetlights in Concord, New Hampshire, with LED models require more than just a ladder: Officials must consider details like prior accident data and lighting warmth before they make the switch. (Concord Monitor)
• Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island were among five states to pass appliance efficiency standards this year, according to a nonprofit research organization. (blog post)