CLIMATE: Vermont regulators release a report that says the state won’t make a significant impact on heating and transportation emissions reduction without new public funding sources. (Energy News Network)

ALSO: A new analysis from Brown University shows how lobbying from business groups has been effective in holding back climate legislation in Massachusetts. (Inside Climate News)

TRANSPORTATION:
• New Jersey regulators approve a $166 million plan by the state’s largest utility to build out electric vehicle charging infrastructure. (ROI-NJ.com)
• A Vermont entrepreneur is attempting to launch an electric commuter rail service connecting Montpelier, Burlington and other cities. (Vermont Business)

PIPELINES: The Maryland Public Works Board grants the final approval to a natural gas pipeline to extend service to the state’s Eastern Shore. (Maryland Matters)

OIL & GAS:
• Oil drilling off the New Jersey coast became increasingly unlikely as President Biden signs an executive order pausing new leases on the East Coast. (NJ.com)
• A Pennsylvania agency says impact fees from oil and gas drilling are expected to hit their lowest level since 2013. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)

SOLAR:
• Con Edison is testing interconnection technology that simplifies the amount of electrical work needed to install solar panels, which can greatly reduce costs. (Greentech Media, Energy News Network archive)
• A developer says it will install 3.7 MW of solar projects at five of its retail and office properties in New York and Massachusetts. (Renewable Energy World)

STORAGE:
• A New York utility with a little-used energy storage project for peak load reduction asks the state grid operator for permission to participate in the wholesale power market. (PV Magazine)
• A Pittsburgh battery storage joint venture is riding several hot trends soon after it went public. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

CLEAN ENERGY: New York announces $17 million available in grants to local governments for clean energy projects and climate change mitigation efforts. (Rochester First)

COMMENTARY:
• A trade union says the Connecticut governor’s opposition to a power plant hurts economic recovery from the pandemic and also sends the wrong signal to developers wanting to invest in projects in the state. (CT Mirror)
• Environmental organizations say an electric vehicle charging station agreement between New Jersey regulators and a utility does not go far enough as it ignores medium- and heavy-duty trucks. (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Solar activists say Rhode Island’s plan to decarbonize needs more urgent attention as it is not binding or enforceable. (ecoRI)
• Business and environmental leaders say Massachusetts should pass its refiled climate bill and Gov. Charlie Baker should now sign it. (CommonWealth Magazine)

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.