CLIMATE: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker sends back a twice-passed climate bill to the legislature with proposed amendments that strikes a more conciliatory tone than his previous rejection. (CommonWealth Magazine)
TRANSMISSION: While a federal injunction halts work on a section of a power line in Maine, tree clearing continues on other parts of the project as developers race to complete it under the terms of construction contracts. (Portland Press Herald)
OVERSIGHT: A legislative committee agenda reveals that Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo plans to name former Senate Majority Leader John Revens to the state’s Public Utilities Commission. (Providence Journal)
NATURAL GAS: Two lawsuits wending their way through federal courts will help determine if a multi-state authority intended to protect the Delaware River Basin can prohibit fracking. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
EMISSIONS:
• An environmental group in western Massachusetts is lining up allies in the social justice community to urge conversion of three peaker power plants to cleaner resources or battery storage. (Berkshire Eagle)
• In a party line vote, a Pennsylvania Senate committee writes to a state regulatory board that will vote on a proposal in opposition to joining a regional emissions agreement. (Times Observer)
SOLAR: A Vermont ski resort completes its sixth solar project, and the first on-site, which will be dedicated in a ceremony today. (Solar Power World)
WASTE-TO-ENERGY:
• The potential buyer of a closed waste-to-energy plant in Maine burns a combination of trash and waste sewage sludge at plants it owns overseas. (Bangor Daily News)
• The mayor of a Massachusetts city that hosts a new natural gas compressor station wants to use a $1 payment from it to dismantle a closed waste-to-energy plant. (Patch.com)
HYDROPOWER: A company that bought three hydropower dams in New Hampshire wants to change their federal licenses and operations to lessen their environmental impacts. (Concord Monitor)
TRANSPORTATION: A new report suggests ways in which Pennsylvania utilities can encourage the adoption of electric school buses through purchase incentives and infrastructure investments. (MyChesCo)
POWER PLANTS: Finger-pointing continues in Connecticut as power sector players debate over who has ultimate control over the prospects of a new natural gas power plant that could start construction later this year. (WNPR)
COMMENTARY:
• Environmental justice advocates say a switch to clean transportation will benefit communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by the COVID pandemic. (Energy News Network)
• An environmental coalition says the minor environmental impact of floating offshore wind turbines should not discourage Maine from researching and developing the technology off its coast. (PenBay Pilot)
• A clean energy advocate in Vermont says the state can build on momentum started last year with its passage of a climate bill by adopting more policies that diminish reliance on fossil fuels and promote environmental justice. (Vermont Biz)