TRANSPORTATION: A new study finds vehicle emissions killed thousands of people across the Northeast in 2016 and subsequently racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in “health-related financial tolls.” (Boston Globe)

CLIMATE: Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signs a $7.35 billion budget that includes $50 million for climate change measures, nearly half of which is earmarked for weatherization efforts. (VT Digger)

GRID:
• Northeastern power prices skyrocket to almost triple last year’s costs as soaring temperatures cause residents to crank up their air conditioners. (Bloomberg)
• Connecticut will become the eighth state to institute an energy storage target if its governor signs recently passed legislation that aims for 1 GW of energy storage by the end of 2030. (Utility Dive)
• Building on discoveries made at University of Maryland College Park, a new startup looks to bring better lithium-ion battery storage to market at a lower price. (Technical.ly)

UTILITIES:
• Washington, D.C. regulators authorize a controversial $108.6 million rate hike for Pepco that includes performance incentive mechanisms to encourage the utility’s compliance with local renewable energy targets. (Utility Dive)
• Federal regulators approve fines of $360,000 against Central Maine Power over two transmission system testing standards violations. (Portland Press-Herald, subscription)
• Over 2,800 Con Edison ratepayers in southern New York will receive an average reimbursement of $185 for food spoilage because of a power outage following Hurricane Isaias in August 2020. (Patch.com)

SOLAR:
• New York City officials intend to add solar panels to affordable housing buildings to offset the cost of high-speed broadband and WiFi for residents. (Axios)
• In Delaware, newly proposed legislation seeks to mitigate problems that have hindered widespread community solar development. (news release)

REGULATORS:
• Bea Gonzalez becomes the first Latina to serve on the board of trustees of the New York Power Authority, following her appointment by the governor. (Syracuse.com, subscription)
• The Maine Senate unanimously approves the governor’s nominee to the state utility regulator: Patrick Scully, an energy and utility lawyer with decades of experience. (Portland Press-Herald, subscription)

NATURAL GAS: An Enbridge subsidiary plans to flare gas this week as it inspects a pipeline segment near Bangor, Maine. (WABI 5)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Officials in Brunswick, Maine, approve leases for four new electric vehicles for town employee use, in addition to new charging stations at the town office and police station. (Times Record)

Bridget is a freelance reporter and newsletter writer based in the Washington, D.C., area. She compiles the Northeast Energy News digest. Bridget primarily writes about energy, conservation and the environment. Originally from Philadelphia, she graduated from Emerson College in 2015 with a degree in journalism and a minor in environmental studies. When she isn’t working on a story, she’s normally on a northern Maine lake or traveling abroad to practice her Spanish language skills.