WIND: Massachusetts lawmakers are working on a bill that will help make the state more competitive in the offshore wind market: “We had a tremendous advantage, and it’s beginning to slip.” (Boston Business Journal)

ALSO: Extended federal tax credits, states’ clean energy commitments and Vineyard Wind’s approval forecast an offshore wind boom in the U.S., experts say. (S&P Global)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announces a statewide effort to monitor air quality in disadvantaged communities and develop mitigation strategies. (WKBW)

TRANSPORTATION: A new report finds increased flooding fueled by climate change led to $15 million in costs from transportation delays in the first eight months of 2020. (Maryland Matters)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New Jersey launches a $4 million campaign to install EV chargers at tourist destinations. (RTO Insider, subscription)

UTILITIES: Central Maine Power asks state regulators to remove an ongoing penalty that was imposed in January 2020 over chronic billing and customer service issues. (Portland Press Herald)

NATURAL GAS: New York regulators have extended the comment period for a cryptocurrency company’s plan to buy a power plant near Buffalo and run it on renewable natural gas. (Buffalo News)

NUCLEAR: Officials say a Texas facility will still be able to accept waste from the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant despite financial issues. (Bennington Banner)

HYDROPOWER: An analyst says Hydro-Québec is unlikely to pursue another export deal the size of the one it just entered with New York without adding more capacity. (Montreal Gazette)

TECHNOLOGY: A Massachusetts company that aims to recycle lithium from used batteries has raised $70 million in new funding. (PV Magazine)

CLIMATE: A man who successfully sued to overturn a New Hampshire town’s voter-approved climate ordinance is now seeking $40,000 in attorney’s fees. (New Hampshire Public Radio)

COMMENTARY:
• An advocacy group says the urgency of climate change should compel state regulators to provide “forceful oversight” of Central Maine Power’s delays on solar power. (Natural Resources Council of Maine)
• The head of Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources notes that climate change “will require us to make changes in our lifestyle that are hard, or at least inconvenient, and will cost money.” (Manchester Journal)
• An environmental advocate and noted climate scientist say that as the fourth-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the U.S., Pennsylvania has a responsibility to lead on clean energy. (Morning Call)
• A consumer advocate says Connecticut needs to repeal its policy allowing competitive electricity providers, noting they have cost ratepayers an additional $274 million over the past five years. (CT Mirror)

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.