ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers say new power plants shouldn’t be needed to support mass electric vehicle charging if enough people charge at work during the day to take advantage of excess solar power. (WPRI)
ALSO: Some Mainers who want to purchase electric vehicles are impeded by long wait lists, unavailable or limited supply of different models, and complicated incentive programs. (Portland Press Herald)
CLIMATE: The Massachusetts Port Authority’s board votes to approve $500 million for projects to help it reach net-zero emissions by 2031. (MassLive)
OIL & GAS:
• Massachusetts utilities’ plans to blend low-carbon hydrogen into distributed gas could be a model across gas-reliant New England, but observers debate the reliance on renewable energy and grid impact of “green hydrogen.” (E&E News)
• New York regulators tell National Grid its plan to install two new vaporizers to house liquefied natural gas at its Greenpoint facility isn’t necessary. (Greenpointers)
WIND:
• Mindful of the whale deaths falsely attributed to offshore wind development in the Northeast, a Virginia utility details its procedures to keep whales safe as it develops a 2.6 GW wind farm off the Virginia Beach coastline. (Energy News Network)
• Brookhaven, New York, is set to receive $135.95 million in total impact fees for the offshore wind farm power cable that will be connected to the grid at its coastline. (Newsday)
• New Yorkers attending a virtual regulatory meeting on the proposed South Shore wind farm and substation cite concerns with the current community outreach process and issues with prior projects from the same developer. (LI Herald)
BUILDINGS: In New York, both legislative chambers show opposition to the governor’s proposed ban on new fossil fuel-based heating equipment by not incorporating it in their budget proposals. (Buffalo News)
GEOTHERMAL: Using federal incentives as a jumping off point, the Connecticut General Assembly considers a bill to cut the upfront cost of installing ground geothermal systems, heat pumps and heat batteries. (CT Insider)
CLEAN ENERGY:
• While land-rich states generate a lot of wind and solar power, places like Washington, D.C., and Rhode Island are leading the nation’s generation when their total available land area is factored. (Inside Climate News)
• Some New Jersey utility leaders say they fear minority-owned businesses don’t stand to benefit from the state’s decarbonization plans. (NJBIZ)
AFFORDABILITY:
• Maryland utility regulators kick off an investigation of several retail energy suppliers after consumer complaints and a report suggesting households have overpaid $1 billion on their bills since 2014. (Inside Climate News)
• Connecticut’s top utility regulator discusses the connection between Eversource’s record profits, high rates and the fact that the utility isn’t required to undergo a base rate case until 2025. (NBC Connecticut)
• A tech glitch that created a confusing billing conundrum led National Fuel to send shut-off notices to thousands of its New York customers. (Buffalo News)
REGULATION: Massachusetts’ energy and environmental affairs secretary appoints two new members to the state public utilities board and extends the appointment of a third. (Worcester Business Journal)
BIOMASS: A Maine manufacturer wants to expand a mill to add steam-exploded wood pellet production for heating and power. (Mainebiz)
GRID: Utilities in Delaware and Pennsylvania consider adopting advanced metering technology programs for billing efficiency, grid modernization and energy efficiency purposes. (Cape Gazette, Reading Eagle)
More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West