CLIMATE: Maine Gov. Janet Mills announces plans to form a climate council to guide the state toward 100 percent renewable energy. (Portland Press Herald)
ALSO: Advocates are pushing Rhode Island to adhere to its greenhouse gas reduction goals. (Providence Journal)
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NATURAL GAS:
• After a developer drops plans to convert a New Jersey coal plant to natural gas, questions remain about a proposed 22-mile pipeline that was supposed to feed the project, along with other related projects. (NJ Spotlight)
• Meanwhile, Gov. Phil Murphy wants to turn the site into a wind power facility. (NJ.com)
• New York has released proposed lower emissions standards for quick-starting natural gas peaker plants. (Lansing Star)
PIPELINES: Another Pennsylvania county plans to join a legal action against the Mariner East 2 pipeline. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
OVERSIGHT:
• Maine Sen. Susan Collins was the only Republican to oppose confirmation of Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, to head the Environmental Protection Agency. (Reuters)
• A Rhode Island environmental justice group opposes the reappointment of the state’s environment agency leader, citing recent approval of a natural gas project. (Uprise RI)
WIND: After a settlement in Rhode Island, fishermen in Massachusetts are raising concerns about the Vineyard offshore wind project. (Cape Cod Times)
SOLAR:
• A range of opponents, including members of local tribes, criticize plans to clear 210 acres of Maryland forest for a solar array. (Bay Net)
• Officials in a Massachusetts town question plans for a 2.5 acre solar project but only generate a small amount of power. (Eagle Tribune)
• A closed municipal golf course has likely seen its last tee time as borough officials heard a presentation to turn the property into a solar power site. (The Record Herald)
• A Rhode Island developer has scrapped plans to build a shopping center and instead is proposing to turn part of the property into a solar generating site. (Daily News)
• Warwick, R.I. has flipped the switch on a 1 MW solar array, the second city-owned project of three that are planned. (New England Real Estate Journal)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New Jersey will use $11.2 million of its share of the Volkwagen emissions settlement to build hundreds of EV charging stations statewide and purchase electric buses for Camden. (NJ Spotlight)
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POLLUTION: A bill making its way through the Maine Legislature would add a tax to gasoline and home heating oil to encourage residents to switch to lesser polluting fuels. (WGME)
COMMENTARY:
• A former banking executive says an “infrastructure bank” could help Connecticut expand clean energy along with other critical projects. (Hartford Courant)
• The CEO of an oilfield services company says it is “unwise” and “unfair” to block new natural gas infrastructure. (Albany Times Union)
• A pipeline opponent says Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry is pushing empty promises. (PennLive)