WIND: New Jersey’s largest utility buys a 25% stake in the state’s first offshore wind farm off Atlantic City as it moves toward its zero-carbon generation goal. (NJ Spotlight)
ALSO:
• A year into its operations, a New Hampshire wind farm continues to polarize opponents despite complying with mitigation rules. (Energy News Network)
• An environmentalist and an advocate for marine wildlife debate the benefits of expanding offshore wind commitments in Massachusetts. (Boston Globe)
***SPONSORED LINK: Looking to understand how bias affects energy policy? What role does environmental justice play in utility ratemaking? Join Renew Missouri on Dec. 18 from 12-1 p.m. CST for a critical, engaging webinar. Tickets are only $75. Sign up today! ***
CLIMATE:
• The Vermont Climate Council aims to get the state back on track for reducing emissions after the effort stalls in recent years. (Energy News Network)
• Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan says he will defend the state’s new climate law from a possible constitutional challenge by Gov. Phil Scott. (WCAX)
GRID: A former Maine official and his company will pay $1.5 million to settle federal charges from 2012 that he advised a client to illegally manipulate New England’s energy market during times of high electricity demand. (CentralMaine.com)
WASTE-TO-ENERGY: A waste-to-energy plant in Connecticut that burns trash from dozens of towns will close in 2022 as financing options for its rehabilitation run out. (WNPR)
SOLAR: A mine reclamation project scours northeastern Pennsylvania for potential solar farm sites at former coal mines. (The Citizens’ Voice)
PIPELINES: A part-owner of the PennEast pipeline removes it from its financial projections at least through 2024 as persistent delays push back its proposed in-service date. (Natural Gas Intelligence)
NATURAL GAS:
• The entire legislative delegation of a region in Rhode Island that suffers natural gas shortages opposes a utility plan to solve it by building more capacity. (UpriseRI)
• Federal figures show natural gas-fired power generation surged by 31% from 2015 to 2019. (Natural Gas Intelligence)
FOSSIL FUELS: Analysts see room for optimism that President-elect Biden’s climate plan can take hold in a legacy fossil fuel state like Pennsylvania if job creation from clean energy is emphasized. (AlleghenyFront)
COMMENTARY:
• A southeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce worries that ongoing disputes over the renovation of a State Pier risks the opportunity to develop it as an offshore wind hub for New England. (The Day)
• Activist Mark Ruffalo joins the Sierra Club in urging New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to oppose a liquified natural gas export terminal in the southern part of the state as it comes before a multi-state commission this week. (NJ.com)
• A recreational fisherman and charter boat operator says experience in Europe and in Rhode island shows offshore wind and fishermen can co-exist and even thrive side-by-side. (NJ Spotlight)