POLLUTION: New Jersey regulators are investigating after data shows that five waste-to-energy incinerators violated state and federal pollution laws while collecting millions of dollars in renewable energy credits. (Politico)

HEATING:
• New England’s wood heat industry hopes a new federal tax credit boosts efficient systems in an energy source that advocates say is underutilized. (Energy News Network)
• A Vermont utility increases rebates for heat pumps to up to $1,000 for low- and moderate-income customers. (VT Digger)

FRACKING: Pennsylvania issues permits for expanded wastewater facilities at fracking sites without public notice despite environmentalists saying recent policy changes require notification. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

OFFSHORE WIND:
• Massachusetts officials and utilities release a draft request for proposals in preparation for procurement of 1,600 MW of offshore wind that would culminate in contracts in the spring of 2022. (Statehouse News Service)
• Offshore wind developers are anxious to bid on additional lease areas off Long Island now that the Biden administration has broken the deadlock on additional projects along the East Coast. (Newsday)
• A New York authority and its state university partner to create an offshore wind worker training center that could educate 2,500 workers. (CBS6)

CLIMATE:
• Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont will file legislation to expand the role of the state’s Green Bank to include loans for climate resilience and adaptation. (CT Mirror)
• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signs into law a bill that requires local governments to include climate mitigation actions in their master plans. (NJ Spotlight)
• New York’s top financial regulator will incentivize banks to support projects that boost climate resilience in low-income neighborhoods. (E&E News, subscription required)

SOLAR:
• Three Maine solar projects receive $17 million in federal loan guarantees from an Agriculture Department rural development fund. (Portland Press Herald)
• A Massachusetts utility proposes to expand solar access to 20,000 low income customers through the state’s community solar program. (WWLP)

MARKETING: A New York energy retailer is sued for $100 million in a class action lawsuit claiming deceptive marketing practices. (Westfaironline)

TRANSMISSION: The first pole is raised during construction of a 145-mile power line to transmit hydropower from Canada through western Maine. (Bangor Daily News)

HYDROPOWER: Canadian officials see “a big economic opportunity” in exporting hydropower to the U.S. to meet clean energy targets. (Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION: New York City officials outline top transit priorities as prospects grow for an infusion of new funding under the Biden administration. (New York Times)

COMMENTARY:
• A New York county legislature unanimously opposes the reopening of a Hudson River power plant fueled by natural gas. (Food and Water Watch)
• A former Pennsylvania Democratic party chair and energy lobbyist says state voters believed President Biden’s campaign pledge to oppose a fracking ban, as the practice is vital to the state’s economy. (Morning Call)
• Clean energy advocates offer a five-step economic recovery plan for Maine centered on energy development, equity, a modern grid, electric vehicles and storage. (CentralMaine.com)

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.