SOLAR: Maine regulators open an investigation after solar developers complain about potential delays and steep charges to connect to Central Maine Power’s grid, which the utility says are necessary to cover the cost of unexpected substation upgrades. (Bangor Daily News)
CLIMATE:
• Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee says he’ll sign a major climate bill after the state attorney general assuaged his concern that the legislation would potentially expose the state to frivolous citizen lawsuits. (Boston Globe)
• Vermont Gov. Phil Scott wants to spend $200 million in American Recovery Plan Act funds on climate change mitigation, including $100 million to carry out the state’s climate action plan. (Seven Days)
• New Jersey has high potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the state will control how quickly climate goals are met, according to a report from environmental advocates. (WOBM)
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STORAGE:
• Tenants of a Brooklyn apartment building are frustrated with plans to install a small solar-plus-storage project on its roof, citing a lack of notice and poor building conditions. (Bklyner)
• A new state report finds that New York has “effectively accelerated” its energy storage market, although permitting challenges remain, particularly in New York City. (Utility Dive)
NATURAL GAS:
• Massachusetts’ utilities intend to make billions of dollars worth of upgrades to their natural gas distribution networks — plans that environmentalists say are at odds with decarbonization goals recently signed into law. (Boston Globe)
• Enbridge alerts Massachusetts officials about an unplanned release of gas at its compressor station on the Fore River, the third such instance since September 2020. (Patriot Ledger)
HYDROPOWER: Citing economic concerns, several Maine towns oppose a proposed state policy change to benefit Kennebec River fish that could lead to the removal of several hydroelectric dams that generate 250 million kWh every year. (Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, subscription)
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GRID:
• The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission wants to hear comments on potential alternatives to a PJM Interconnection capacity market policy known as the minimum offer price rule. (S&P Global Platts)
• Despite its age, a 26-mile transmission cable connecting Westchester to Long Island has “not been reliable for the last six months,” according to the Long Island Power Authority’s chief executive. (Newsday)
COMMENTARY: Considering the Biden administration’s decarbonization goals, the Indian Point 3 nuclear facility shouldn’t be retired, according to a former state energy employee. (lohud.com)