ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Delaware lawmaker files a bill to mandate new homes have the electrical infrastructure in place to charge electric vehicles, expanding on New Castle County legislation that last year set the same requirement locally. (WHYY)
ALSO:
• Delaware’s top court allows Tesla to open direct-sale dealerships in the state, reversing a lower court ruling. (Delaware Business Times)
• Some New York City delivery workers say they need their e-bikes to make fast deliveries to earn more money, but new batteries can cost up to six working days’ wages; to that end, the city council considers a battery buyback program. (Gothamist)
• Power utility Potomac Edison begins offering a time-of-use rate that Maryland’s residential electric vehicle drivers can use to save money if they charge during off-peak hours. (news release)
CLIMATE:
• A New York lawmaker introduces legislation to form a “Climate Change Superfund” — modeled after the federal Toxic Superfund — that would effectively require the state’s 30 most polluting companies to fund adaptation and resiliency projects. (Spectrum News 1)
• About 70% of New Jersey residents who responded to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll say they support requiring climate change education, a reversal of earlier concern about funding and instilling climate anxiety in children. (NJ Spotlight)
• New England’s coastlines already see five times more floods than in the 1950’s, a trend expected to continue as sea levels rise up to two more feet in the next 50 years. (WMUR)
OFFSHORE WIND:
• A Massachusetts district court judge dismisses a lawsuit alleging federal officials violated two environmental laws while permitting Vineyard Wind. (E&E News, subscription)
• New Jersey offshore wind supporters say Republicans intentionally misattribute whale deaths to help the fossil fuel industry, negative attention that makes it hard to encourage and pay for new projects. (Politico)
OIL & GAS:
• Gas utilities in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania are among those nationwide that have announced hydrogen pilot projects, which include power generation and pipeline distribution efforts. (S&P Global)
• An upgrade project at a metering and pipeline regulation station outside of Pittsburgh should wrap up early this summer. (Trib Live)
SOLAR:
• A Rhode Island planning board approves its first solar farm — a 998.5 kW array — since passing an ordinance outlining how such developments can proceed, but some say it will disrupt the neighborhood’s historic character. (Warwick Beacon)
• A developer finishes constructing two solar farms that amount to almost 25 MW in the Connecticut towns of North Haven and Waterford. (news release)
BUILDINGS: As the state sees lagging progress toward its building emissions goal, Massachusetts lawmakers host a legislative briefing that examines pending bills aiming to decarbonize the state’s building stock. (RTO Insider, subscription)
TRANSIT:
• In Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County, observers say the initial success of a pilot project to provide free or discounted fares to low-income riders of the regional transit system should lead to its expansion. (Trib Live)
• The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority expands a fare-free program that benefits roughly 800 riders starting trips in Central Falls, adding two bus stops. (Rhode Island Current)
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