EFFICIENCY: Plagued for decades with reliability issues, Block Island wants to continue its energy transformation with an efficiency program added to its interconnection to the mainland and a nearby offshore wind farm. (Energy News Network)

OIL AND GAS:
• With lax enforcement of environmental laws during the coronavirus pandemic, Pennsylvania regulators struggle to fill the gap monitoring activities such as fracking. (Grist)
• An analysis shows that the buyer of a closed refinery in Philadelphia has a mixed record in fulfilling its promises to redevelop polluted industrial sites. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

***SPONSORED LINK: Applications are now open for the Veterans Advanced Energy Fellowship, a yearlong program for high-performing, high-potential military veterans in advanced energy, presented by the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. Learn more at www.vetsenergyproject.org/fellowship.***

OFFSHORE WIND: A power contract between Vineyard Wind and Connecticut utilities for 804 MW of offshore wind is filed with state regulators. (reNEWS)

CLIMATE:
• The Maine Climate Council notes that the shift to workers telecommuting forced by the coronavirus pandemic can account for a change in the state’s emissions profile even if only partially made permanent. (Portland Press Herald)
• Rhode Island seeks public comments on carbon pricing as it begins a study of the concept. (ecoRI)

TRANSMISSION: A Maine ethics panel rules that an anti-transmission line group must disclose its donors as an investigation into possible campaign finance law violations continues. (Bangor Daily News) 

***SPONSORED LINK: Do you know someone who works hard to facilitate the transition to a clean energy economy? Nominate yourself or someone you know for Energy News Network’s 40 Under 40 today.***

FINANCE: Cornell University trustees place a moratorium on new fossil fuel investments and vow to increase support for alternative energy technologies. (E&E News, subscription required)

COMMENTARY:
• Anti-nuclear activists say federal regulators are endangering plant workers with relaxed standards and longer work shifts caused by COVID-19. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• A doctor treating coronavirus patients says one of the best prescriptions available is cleaner air from sustainable transportation as the virus disproportionately affects those exposed to dirtier air. (Boston Globe)
• Renewable energy advocates say a petition to rewrite federal jurisdiction over net metering prompted by a New Hampshire group would have major implications on state policies. (Greentech Media)
• An editorial board endorses a proposal to put idled oil and gas workers on the job of capping abandoned wells, with at least 8,500 existing in Pennsylvania. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

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Bill Opalka

Bill is a freelance journalist based outside Albany, New York. As a former New England correspondent for RTO Insider, he has written about energy for newspapers, magazines and other publications for more than 20 years. He has an extensive career in trade publications and newspapers, mostly focused on the utility sector, covering such issues as restructuring, renewable energy and consumer affairs. Bill covers Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire and also compiles the Northeast Energy News daily email digest.