POWER PLANTS: A federal rollback of waste water regulations for power plants will not immediately affect Pennsylvania facilities as the state has already adopted stricter rules. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)
PIPELINES: Hundreds of commenters in a federal regulatory docket say it is incorrect to allow PennEast pipeline developers to split the project into two parts to allow construction in Pennsylvania while a court case in New Jersey stalls the rest of the project. (Platts)
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EFFICIENCY: New Hampshire utilities increase their energy efficiency goals over the next three years to sell 5% less electricity and 3% less gas. (NHPR)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Rhode Island installs two free electric vehicle charging stations for the remainder of the year at two commuter parking lots to evaluate usage patterns. (Transportation Today)
SOLAR:
• Advocates say a community solar bill under consideration in Pennsylvania would help the state’s farmers by giving them another income stream from their land. (Tioga Publishing)
• Developers buy a former 203-acre golf course in upstate New York after spending the past year discussing plans for a solar array with town officials. (Albany Business Review, subscription required)
TRANSMISSION: The Massachusetts Supreme Court affirms state approval for a municipal utility to buy the renewable energy credits from the proposed power line from Canada to supply most of its hydropower to Massachusetts. (Reuters)
BIOMASS: Residents of a Massachusetts city demonstrate against a biomass plant first proposed over a decade ago and which would benefit from a pending state climate bill. (Masslive.com)
UTILITIES: A Connecticut legislator proposing a major reform bill for regulation of the state’s utilities says public outrage over storm response and rate increases will overcome industry opposition. (Hartford Courant)
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GRID: Two energy organizations hire a former utility executive to coordinate a “future grid” study in New England. (RTO Insider, subscription required)
COMMENTARY:
• The Sierra Club says a proposed wind farm off Ocean City would help Maryland fulfill its clean energy commitments and create jobs in a new economic sector. (Chesapeake Bay Journal)
• An analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council says Pennsylvania law allows the state to join a regional cap-and-trade emissions agreement without legislative approval.
• A climate activist says Massachusetts’ Democratic primary results this week demonstrate the influence of climate activism and environmental justice in races from the U.S. Senate to town councils. (CommonWealth Magazine)
• A Connecticut clean energy advocate says building a new natural gas plant without exploring cleaner alternatives “would be a tragic mistake.” (Hartford Courant)