GAS: Philadelphia Gas Works’ chief executive says the utility didn’t lobby in favor of a local gas ban preemption bill being considered at the state level, despite emails reportedly showing otherwise. (WHYY)
TRANSPORTATION:
• New Jersey is granting $5 million for a pilot project looking to put 100 self-driving electric vehicles on the road to create a state capital shuttle service. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• Pennsylvania transportation officials publish new guiding principles to steer 40% of funded electric vehicles projects to benefit vulnerable communities. (WESA)
EFFICIENCY:
• Climate activists in Rhode Island criticize Gov. Dan McKee’s plan to divert energy efficiency funds to pay for the state’s climate council. (Energy News Network)
• Despite New Hampshire regulators overturning a decision to cut energy efficiency funding, environmentalists say legislative changes still are necessary to address uncertainties. (Utility Dive)
JOBS: Lawmakers warn the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center that the state needs many more blue-collar, clean energy workers to speed up decarbonization. (Boston Globe)
GRID: New York’s utility regulator will accept public statements at a hearing this week on a transmission project rebuild that spans 100 miles across several counties. (NNY360)
CLIMATE: New Hampshire’s dog sledders find that as the climate warms, the number of good mushing days are dwindling and races are increasingly being canceled. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
SOLAR:
• The backed-up solar interconnection queue in Connecticut is just one example of how the state has gone from clean energy leader to relative laggard. (CT Mirror)
• A small southern Maine town finishes codifying municipal solar development policies, roughly three months after instating a moratorium on new solar applications. (Sun Journal)
BIOENERGY:
• A northern New York county passes a resolution opposing any possible wood burning bans in the state, even though none are currently on the table. (NNY360)
• The Delmarva Chicken Association wants local legislators to oppose a bill that would disallow waste-to-energy plants from being considered renewable energy facilities, which they say would stifle manure management programs in the area. (Cecil Daily)
RATES: Delaware Electric Cooperative considers a potential 8% electricity rate hike, with a company newsletter blaming inflation and rising natural gas prices. (Cape Gazette)
COMMENTARY: A former Maine public advocate highlights what he finds to be deficiencies in Gov. Janet Mills’ utility accountability proposal, including that it adds to regulatory staff’s responsibilities without increasing staff numbers or expertise. (Maine Monitor)