COAL: Pennsylvania’s largest coal plant will shutter this summer, with its owner saying the state’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has made its future unaffordable. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
SOLAR:
• A Pennsylvania bill with bipartisan support would allow community solar projects that extend clean power access to people who can’t afford their own solar arrays. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• Reports and employees show Buffalo, New York’s Tesla factory, built with big state incentives to produce solar roofs, is instead focusing on charging equipment and self-driving cars. (Investigative Post)
• Massachusetts mayors and climate advocates call on Gov. Maura Healey to set a statewide goal of installing 10 GW of solar capacity by 2030. (Eagle-Tribune)
• Federal data shows Maine and Massachusetts are among states that have suffered the most from recent rate increases, but adopting solar could sharply cut residents’ costs. (PV Magazine)
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RENEWABLES:
• A proposal in New York’s budget would mandate municipalities use real property value to appraise renewable energy projects for tax revenue, rather than the payment in lieu of taxes that many prefer. (Watertown Daily Times)
• New York lawmakers debate three versions of a bill to require the state’s public New York Power Authority build renewable energy projects when private interests fall short of state goals. (Utility Dive)
CLIMATE:
• Connecticut’s Senate debates a bill that would create “sector-specific subtargets” for reducing emissions, as well as a new economy-wide net-zero goal. (CTPost)
• The U.S. EPA awards Maine $3 million for emission-reducing projects. (Maine Public)
• Maryland considers a bill to prioritize purchasing cement and concrete with the lowest emissions impact. (Maryland Matters)
EFFICIENCY:
• New Hampshire’s consumer advocate looks to block three public utility commissioners from voting on the state’s energy efficiency plan, saying they’ve “waged an artful campaign to undermine” it. (Boston Globe)
• A Massachusetts and Connecticut grocery chain improves its stores’ energy efficiency through lighting and HVAC upgrades. (WWLP)
• Burlington, Vermont’s efforts to get landlords to weatherize rental properties is falling behind amid high demand for energy audits. (WCAX)
TRANSPORTATION:
• A Maryland state legislator proposes a Clean Trucks Act that would increase grants for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emissions trucks and ramp up truck electrification goals. (Herald-Mail)
• Pennsylvania’s transportation department asks for ideas on projects it should pursue; successful past suggestions include building solar arrays in highway rights-of-way and a statewide electric vehicle charging network. (Tribune-Democrat)
• Delays in building new garages and budget concerns are holding up Boston’s public transit electrification plans. (Boston Globe)
OIL & GAS: National Grid withdraws its application to build two natural gas vaporizers in north Brooklyn after a state utility regulator deemed them unnecessary to meet energy demands. (Gothamist)
UTILITIES:
• Ten New Hampshire municipalities are set to join a community power coalition next month, and can opt in to renewable power as they make the switch. (Valley News)
• Rhode Island regulators cut Rhode Island Energy’s proposed 2024 infrastructure spending by $76.7 million — a cost that would have been passed on to ratepayers. (Rhode Island Current)
GRID: Burlington, Vermont, continues a years-long effort to install new power lines that can handle increased electrical loads in preparation for electrified buildings and electric vehicles. (Burlington Free Press)
HYDROPOWER: Conservation groups drop their lawsuit against the owner of four hydroelectric dams in Maine’s Kennebec River after claiming the dams threatened salmon. (Bangor Daily News)
COMMENTARY: Two environmental advocates detail a report evaluating New York’s emissions future if it adopts clean cars and grid rules versus if it continues on its current path. (NRDC)
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