ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The New York Power Authority isn’t placing electric vehicle chargers in the counties that need them most, according to a state comptroller’s audit, which found 30 counties with registered electric vehicles have zero public charging ports. (Auburn Citizen)
ALSO: Massachusetts will distribute more than $13 million in grants to fund over 300 electric vehicle fast-charging stations at dozens of sites statewide. (Associated Press)
FOSSIL FUELS:
• A federal appeals court allows Connecticut’s Killingly Energy Center to participate in ISO-New England’s capacity auction this week, despite the grid operator’s request to end the natural gas facility’s ability to do so. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• Pennsylvania environment officials sue the state legislative reference bureau after it allegedly refused to publish the rule that will allow the state to adopt a carbon-pricing policy and join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. (Reuters)
• A new study finds that certain vulnerable Massachusetts communities are more exposed to gas leaks than the general population and face longer waits to have leaks repaired. (WBUR)
• Utility officials close a residential section of a Norwich, Connecticut, street due to a gas leak. (CBS Connecticut)
EFFICIENCY:
• Vermont Gas Systems announces it will begin selling, leasing, installing and servicing electric heat pump water heaters for customers in a move that it expects to be neutral to its bottom line. (Energy News Network)
• Rhode Island regulators approve a system benefit charge rate increase to fund efficiency programs, but some say even more funding is necessary. (ecoRI)
• In New York, a Jewish community center partners with a clean energy training center to offer virtual efficiency technical training and professional development. (SI Live)
GRID:
• Newly proposed Rhode Island legislation would incrementally increase the state’s renewable energy portfolio standard until it reaches 100% after a decade. (ecoRI)
• Some clean energy advocates say federal energy regulators should reject a proposed minimum price offer rule for ISO-New England because it would eliminate the competitiveness of renewable energy projects. (Boston Globe)
• Thousands of residents of a Pittsburgh-area county lost electricity for several nights late last week because of ice on power lines. (Action News 4)
OFFSHORE WIND: A state contract board determines the Connecticut Port Authority shouldn’t have entered into a public-private partnership regarding offshore wind projects, noting the lack of “open, fair bidding.” (New Haven Register)
TRANSPORTATION: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signals his support for using federal infrastructure funds for a rail expansion between Boston and Springfield. (WWLP)
POLITICS: A radio station analyzes how Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ support for both a controversial transmission line and a newly proposed utility accountability bill impacts her political future. (Maine Public Radio)