TRANSPORTATION: New York City’s transit agency plans to build a $400 million all-electric bus depot in the Queens borough, with construction expected to end in around 4.5 years. (amNY)
OIL & GAS:
• If New York City officials today vote as expected to prohibit gas-powered stoves, space heaters and water boilers in all new buildings, it will become the largest U.S. city to institute such a ban. (New York Times)
• Pennsylvania shale gas drillers in November requested the lowest number of permits from the state in 13 years, minimizing their gas production despite rising gas prices. (S&P Global)
• Two oil trucks caught fire at a northeast Massachusetts heating oil supplier that backs up to a residential neighborhood, resulting in no reported injuries but destroying seven vehicles. (WCVB)
EFFICIENCY:
• A Cape Cod energy organization appeals Massachusetts regulators’ recent ruling against a proposal to provide heat pumps, solar power and battery storage to low-income customers, saying the state missed the point of the program. (Energy News Network)
• A southern New Hampshire library receives a $27,000 rebate from a local utility for energy efficiency projects in a new facility that is being constructed. (Sentinel Source)
• New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signals his support for those pushing the state utility regulator to reverse its controversial energy efficiency program order. (New Hampshire Bulletin)
UTILITIES: Advocates of a plan to form a publicly owned, nonprofit utility with the assets of Maine’s investor-owned electric utilities want to take advantage of existing animosity toward Central Maine Power to gain more supporters. (Spectrum News)
GRID: New York State Electric and Gas officials meet with a group of aggravated customers in the Finger Lakes region experiencing frequent and lengthy power outages. (Ithaca Voice)
CONSUMER PROTECTION:
• Three Pennsylvania lawmakers file legislation to reinstitute the state’s monthly emergency financial assistance stipend, noting that many residents still are having trouble paying their bills. (Daily Local News)
• New Jersey’s pandemic-related utility payment moratorium ends in just over two weeks, but other options remain for those behind on bills. (NJ.com)
• Pennsylvania’s attorney general nominates a new state consumer advocate: Patrick Cicero, who has nearly 20 years of legal aid and low-income utility advocacy experience in the state. (Penn Live Patriot-News)
CLIMATE: Top Pennsylvania Republicans intend to pass a resolution against the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in another legislative maneuver meant to delay the policy’s implementation. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
SOLAR:
• A small solar canopy will likely be producing power by January at a Cape Cod golf course parking lot, with final permits expected to be granted next week. (Wicked Local)
• Two small community solar farms in Vermont’s Woodstock-Quechee region, including an agrivoltaic project, wrap up construction. (news release)