GRID: Electricity prices are at new lows in New England as demand sinks about 5% during the coronavirus pandemic and load shifts from commercial buildings to residences. (Hartford Courant)

OFFSHORE WIND:
• Federal regulators must decide whether transmission to serve offshore wind should be tied to generation or, as developer Anbaric proposes, be an open access network. (Platts)
• Fishing groups file notice that they are restarting an appeal against the Empire Wind project off the coast of Long Island. (Bloomberg, subscription required)

***SPONSORED LINK: Due to the coronavirus, the International Partnering Forum (IPF) has been divided into two parts. IPF Virtual, April 21-22, will deliver the most time-sensitive information on the U.S. offshore wind market. This virtual event is open to all IPF registered attendees. The in-person forum will take place at IPF Together, August 18-21 in Providence, Rhode Island. Attendees must register for IPF Together in August to gain access to IPF Virtual in April.***

TRANSMISSION:
• Despite some signatures being gathered illegally, a Maine judge rules that enough valid signatures for an anti-transmission corridor referendum have been collected so the question should be placed on the ballot. (Bangor Daily News)
• Two groups opposed to the referendum spent $9.5 million since last year on efforts to derail it, putting it on track to be the most expensive battle of its kind in state history. (Bangor Daily News)

SOLAR:
• The University of Pennsylvania signs contracts for the output of two solar farms totaling 220 MW that will be built by 2023 and provide 75% of the college’s energy. (Renewables Now)
• New Jersey designs a community solar program that prioritizes signing up low- and moderate-income customers. (Greentech Media, subscription required)

COAL: A Pennsylvania coal mine closed after a worker tested positive for coronavirus has reopened. (Pittsburgh Business Times)

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CLIMATE:
• Dickinson College in Pennsylvania becomes the first college in the state to achieve carbon neutrality, fulfilling a goal announced in 2007. (Environment + Energy Leader)
• A New Jersey researcher says particulate matter is up to 50% lower as fewer fossil fuels are burned during coronavirus lockdowns. (Asbury Park Press)

COMMENTARY: A New Jersey state senator says the straw proposal for energy efficiency proposed by regulators does not do enough to protect access for lower-income individuals. (news release)

Bill is a freelance journalist based outside Albany, New York. As a former New England correspondent for RTO Insider, he has written about energy for newspapers, magazines and other publications for more than 20 years. He has an extensive career in trade publications and newspapers, mostly focused on the utility sector, covering such issues as restructuring, renewable energy and consumer affairs. Bill covers Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire and also compiles the Northeast Energy News daily email digest.