GAS: A Tuesday explosion at an empty Pennsylvania town building reportedly stemmed from contractors hitting a gas line; no permits were issued for the work, and no one followed a critical pre-construction gas line law. (WTAE)

ALSO: The mayor of Washington, D.C., signs a law banning gas use in most new construction and setting a new-zero construction code by 2026, among other policies. (DCist)

GRID: A recent ISO New England report suggests its reserve grid margin may need to rise to 300% by 2040 under certain decarbonization plans, meaning the grid will need to add wind and solar whose capacity outweighs demand. (Utility Dive)

CLIMATE:
• Industry opposition, misinformation and a lack of technical education among lawmakers are some of the reasons the predominantly liberal New York legislature sees delays in passing major climate bills, Democratic legislators say. (Gothamist)
• Research commissioned by a national nonprofit shows thousands of previously flooded New York homes were sold to new homeowners who may face potentially tens of thousands of dollars of future repairs. (City Limits)
• New federal estimates predict high tide flooding frequency along the New Jersey Shore will dramatically rise by midcentury. (Asbury Park Press)
• A New Hampshire community program will host a leadership academy to train residents to execute climate resilience projects. (New Hampshire Public Radio)

SOLAR:
• New York officials determine a 100 MW solar array’s permit application is complete, meaning work is now underway to issue a draft permit for public comment within about two months. (Lockport Union-Sun & Journal)
• A solar developer brought two solar projects online earlier this summer  respectively notching 5.7 MW and 4.9 MW. (news release)

EFFICIENCY:
• New York City’s public housing agency will receive $70 million in state funding to make efficiency upgrades to its residential buildings’ heating and cooling systems. (NY Daily News)
• A Pennsylvania borough decides to take out a $1.2 million loan to purchase efficiency equipment and make related upgrades at municipal buildings. (Indiana Gazette)

EQUITY: In Vermont, training programs, mentorship and representation help usher more female workers into the solar industry. (NBC 5)

AFFORDABILITY: Three of New Hampshire’s four utilities have rate hikes going into effect this month. (New Hampshire Public Radio)

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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.