GRID: Canadian wildfires triggered a shutdown on a power line importing hydroelectricity to New England’s grid, forcing the regional grid operator to lean on last-minute generators to address the capacity shortfall. (Concord Monitor)
ALSO:
• In New York, a 5 MW lithium-ion battery system that caught fire in May still doesn’t have an estimated in-service date, and local renewable energy advocates worry misinformation will block future projects. (East Hampton Star)
• A report from a clean grid group suggests that most transmission planning across the Northeast is hardly sufficient. (Utility Dive)
• A Hydro-Québec subsidiary plans to build a 3 MW battery energy storage system in Troy, Vermont, to “further the integration of local renewable generation” onto the regional grid. (news release)
WIND:
• New Jersey’s governor signs into law a tax break to ensure two offshore wind projects in Ørsted’s pipeline are completed amid economic pressure — prompting a similar request from another wind developer. (Associated Press)
• The mayor of Ocean City, New Jersey, criticizes the approval of the Ocean Wind I offshore wind project, citing concern with how regulatory reviews “moved so fast.” (OCNJ Daily)
• New York officials’ enthusiasm for offshore wind development is dampened by the need to address lingering problems, like construction delays at the Port of Albany and the loss of significant federal funds. (Spectrum News 1)
BUILDINGS: Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the first city in the country to make existing non-residential buildings cut their greenhouse gas emissions, requiring buildings larger than 100,000 square feet achieve net-zero by 2035. (Utility Dive)
SOLAR:
• Massachusetts issues a new report finding that the state has enough land to generate up to 18 times the amount of solar needed to hit its 2050 decarbonization target. (Salem News)
• A western New York town schedules an August public hearing to consider amending its local solar law, with proposals including larger residential setbacks and new aesthetic screening requirements. (Lockport Union-Sun & Journal)
HYDROPOWER: A 19th-century sawmill in Stowe, Vermont, is being restored and converted to generate hydroelectricity and solar power. (WCAX)
CLIMATE:
• Symptoms of climate change, such as unpredictable spring frosts and wildfire smoke, make it difficult for New York wine grape growers to secure a strong harvest. (Washington Post)
• A nonprofit institute in Massachusetts provides a free, month-long course to liberal arts students to teach climate solutions-minded thinking. (Boston Globe)
AFFORDABILITY: Even as large legacy utilities offer lower standard service rates, some Connecticut ratepayers aren’t switching away from their third-party power suppliers. (NBC Connecticut)
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