PIPELINES: A New Hampshire utility drops its Granite Bridge pipeline project and instead opts to use existing infrastructure to expand gas service. (NHPR)

NUCLEAR:
• After a public outcry, Connecticut regulators temporarily suspend a rate increase effective July 1 that a utility blames in part on an agreement to keep the state’s Millstone nuclear plant operating. (CT Examiner)
• A bill to bail out Pennnsylvania’s nuclear fleet stalls in legislative committees amid a bribery scandal in Ohio over a similar law. (TribLIVE)

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CLIMATE:
• The Massachusetts House passes a comprehensive climate bill that must be reconciled with a Senate version as legislators agree to extend the session beyond its July 31 deadline. (WBUR)
• The bill includes an amendment that increases the state’s requirement to procure 3,600 MW of offshore wind. (WWLP)

SOLAR: Massachusetts trails only California in the number of houses of worship that have installed solar power. (Energy News Network)

POWER PLANTS: New Jersey’s largest utility holding company may sell off its fossil fuel plants and keep its nuclear generators. (NJ Spotlight)

OFFSHORE WIND:
• A Massachusetts company sees a former coal power plant site as the most effective landing spot for electricity created by large offshore wind developments off the state’s coast. (E&E News, subscription required)
• New Jersey regulators will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday to discuss its second solicitation for up to 2,400 MW of offshore wind. (Tapinto.net)
• Despite the economic downturn, Connecticut continues redevelopment of two ports to accommodate an expected surge in offshore wind development. (Hartford Courant)

RENEWABLE ENERGY: New Jersey’s public employee pension fund commits $100 million to a financial firm that invests solely in renewable energy projects. (NJ Spotlight)

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DIVESTMENT: New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli defends his go-slow approach to remove fossil fuel assets from the state’s public pension fund. (Lockport Journal)

COMMENTARY:
• An editorial board lauds New York’s commitment to offshore wind with its recent solicitation for up to 2,500 MW off Long Island. (Newsday)
• While Massachusetts seeks to limit building emissions long-term, a university professor says adopting a passive building standard is one way to immediately lower building emissions. (CommonWealth Magazine)
• A former economic development official in Vermont says transitioning off fossil fuels serves three goals of keeping money in-state, lowering consumer costs and creating good-paying jobs. (VT Digger)
• New Hampshire’s consumer advocate says a utility’s decision to abandon an expensive pipeline project saves customers money and uses existing infrastructure more efficiently. (InDepthNH)

 

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.