OFFSHORE WIND: New York’s top energy official says the state will proceed with a solicitation of 2.5 GW of offshore wind proposals this year, but that a lack of federal leasing areas could be an obstacle. (Recharge)

ALSO: A week after the release of an environmental impact statement for Vineyard Wind, analysts say it’s still unclear how favorable the Trump administration will be to development. (E&E News)

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PIPELINES:
• Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court denies Sunoco’s appeal to a ruling that some of its work was conducted without proper permits. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)
• A New Jersey judge dismisses an ethics lawsuit against two county officials that claimed their union membership posed a conflict of interest in pipeline decisions. (Burlington County Times)

SOLAR:
• Officials in a Connecticut town say a proposed 120 MW solar project announced this week will help put an end to trespassing and illegal parties at the gravel pit site where it will be located. (Hartford Courant)
• A New Jersey real estate developer will be the largest community solar host in the state, with 11 MW of projects planned at industrial rooftop sites. (NJBiz)
• A Boston real estate firm plans 8.5 MW of rooftop solar at industrial properties in Massachusetts and New Jersey. (news release)
• A Connecticut school district is taking advantage of the early shutdown this year to install solar and other energy upgrades. (NorthJersey.com)

CLIMATE: A New Hampshire town begins an audit of greenhouse gas emissions from its municipal operations. (Seacoast Online)

UTILITIES:
• Pennsylvania regulators uphold a moratorium on utility disconnections. (Associated Press)
• Vermont lawmakers advance legislation that would help residents with unpaid utility bills and expand broadband internet. (VT Digger)
• Three Connecticut utilities have resumed indoor work at homes and businesses. (Middletown Press)

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TRANSPORTATION: An infrastructure bill in the U.S. House could fund east-west passenger rail service from Boston to Springfield, Massachusetts. (MassLive)

COMMENTARY:
• A writer says building a solar array at Rikers Island in New York could help atone for a history of racism and abuse. (The New Republic)
• An MIT graduate student says Massachusetts should make driving more expensive to avoid “carmageddon” as commuters return to work. (CommonWealth Magazine)
• An editorial board has questions about New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s offshore wind terminal plans. (NJ.com)

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Ken Paulman

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.