GRID: New England’s grid operator says it may call for voluntary power conservation this winter if a lingering cold snap comes to the region, but that the grid should be reliable assuming mild or moderate conditions. (NHPR)

ALSO:
• As more frequent extreme weather is projected to arise amid climate change, PJM Interconnection evaluates whether to cap power prices during severe weather to mitigate bill impacts. (E&E News)
• A Maine town’s public housing authority examines why back-up power didn’t activate to keep the heat on for elderly residents at one of its facilities during a power outage. (Sun Journal)

WIND: The developer behind the 1.2 GW Mayflower Wind project tells Rhode Island’s energy siting board that it’s still committed to building the facility after making statements about its economic viability. (ecoRI)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A new study finds that on-street electric vehicle chargers for two New York City bus routes aren’t sufficiently protected from flooding, a failure researchers suggest could cost the city millions. (The City)
• A golf club in Saratoga County, New York, becomes one of the largest electric vehicle charging sites in the state with the installation of 50 new charging stations in its parking lot. (The Saratogian)
• A Vermont city council considers changing its land regulations to allow more areas to become car dealerships after Tesla expressed interest in developing an electric vehicle shop there. (NBC 5)
• A Massachusetts senator asks 20 car manufacturers to continue installing AM radio in their electric vehicles to facilitate emergency communications, despite concerns the technology drains batteries faster. (MassLive)
• Ten New York communities receive part of a $567,500 state grant to buy or lease zero-emission light- and medium-duty vehicles for their fleets. (news release)

BIOMASS:
• A 20 MW biomass plant in Vermont halts operations because loggers have stopped delivering wood chips to the facility in part over allegations of unpaid invoices. (Seven Days)
• In Springfield, Massachusetts, a developer seeking to build a 35 MW wood waste-burning facility loses its appeal of a state decision last year to rescind a critical permit. (Boston Globe)

BUILDINGS:
• Massachusetts’ clean heat commission doesn’t recommend banning new carbon-fueled appliances in its new roadmap to reduce the state’s building emissions. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• To reduce its local climate footprint, Freeport, Maine, mulls rebates for residents buying certain efficient technologies, like heat pumps, using pandemic relief funds. (Times Record)

TRANSIT: Echoing remarks from the governor, Massachusetts’ lieutenant governor calls a $1 billion expansion of regional rail to communities southeast of Boston a matter of “equity and opportunity.” (CommonWealth Magazine)

SOLAR:
• A Vermont planning commission plans to host a special town hall meeting as it considers whether to allow a 4.13 MW solar development. (Valley News)
• A suburban Philadelphia synagogue explains the connection between energy efficiency and its faith as it holds a dedication ceremony on the first night of Hanukkah for a new rooftop solar array. (Daily Times)
• A Connecticut women’s center installs a rooftop solar array that is projected to reduce the organization’s electric bills by over half. (news release)

More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West
View this campaign in your browser.

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.