Discover the Latest News and Initiatives for a Sustainable Future

GAS: Maryland’s public advocate says the utilities in the state are spending, on average, over $700 million a year on gas infrastructure, a practice that is making it harder for the state to hit its climate goals and reduce costs for low-income households. (Inside Climate News)

‍

EMISSIONS:

• Massachusetts’ top environmental officer rejects the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Hanscom Airport expansion, citing contradictory climate data, among other concerns. (Boston Globe)
• The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked a federal rule that would’ve helped improve summertime smog and air quality concerns in Connecticut, New York and elsewhere in the Northeast from emissions originating in other states. (CT Mirror)

‍

GRID:

• Rhode Island’s governor signs into law a new series of battery storage targets, with an overall goal of installing 600 MW before 2034. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• The developer of a grid upgrade project in Maryland involving 70 new miles of power lines says they may need to invoke eminent domain to get the job done if negotiations don’t pan out. (Fox 45)

‍

TECH: In Maryland, Johns Hopkins University plans to significantly expand its renewable energy technology lab using a state grant, focusing on carbon management, energy storage, grid optimization and wind power. (news release)

‍

SOLAR:

• A New Jersey legislative committee unanimously advances a bill to allow solar projects of between 2 MW and 20 MW to connect to their local utility’s grid without sitting in the grid operator’s interconnection queue. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• A group of developers bring a 7 MW community solar project located on a New York landfill into commercial operation. (news release)
• The Delaware Army National Guard’s armory installed solar panels last year, but some recent grid upgrades are now allowing it to push power to the grid. (Coastal Point)
• Some residents of Unity, Pennsylvania, share concerns about a solar project proposed for 34 acres of agricultural land, including potential noise. (Trib Live)
• The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is receiving loans worth $10.5 million from a state clean energy program to help expand the state’s solar capacity. (news release)

‍

GEOTHERMAL: A Salem, Massachusetts, church signs with a renewable energy company to study the feasibility of generating geothermal energy. (Salem News)

‍

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New electric vehicle registration fees will soon come into effect in Vermont, helping replace revenue from gasoline taxes. (NBC 5)

‍

EFFICIENCY: Federal agriculture officials send over $1.26 million to 17 small Vermont and New Hampshire businesses through its rural energy clean energy grant program. (news release)

‍

HEAT: In Washington, D.C., a lower-income neighborhood with many children and elderly folks struggles to deal with the heat island effect, magnified in their community because of a lack of trees and many impervious surfaces. (Washington Post)

‍

OIL & GAS: Federal regulators approve the $10 billion Calcasieu Pass 2 liquified natural gas export terminal in Louisiana despite the Biden administration’s pause on permitting such projects; the company says it’s still waiting for approval to export the fuel. (Floodlight)

‍

ALSO: Virginia residents protest potential construction of a 1,000 MW gas-fired power plant, although a Dominion Energy official says it hasn’t yet finalized its decision where to build the project. (WRIC)

‍

CLIMATE: An Alabama grant program to strengthen roofs to lower insurance premiums and stave off a climate-related withdrawal by insurance companies has become a model that’s been replicated by at least five other states. (Stateline)

‍

SOLAR:

• A Mississippi public service commission considers a proposal to build a 200 MW solar farm. (WABG)
• Construction of a 130 MW solar farm in Virginia nears completion. (Winchester Star)
• Two South Carolina businesses receive federal grants to install rooftop solar arrays. (WRDW)

‍

NUCLEAR:

• The eventual — but stalled and over-budget — success of Georgia’s Plant Vogtle is sparking optimism in the state and beyond, especially after the passage of $900 million for small nuclear development. (E&E News)
• The Southern Company’s CEO calls for the development of an additional 10 GW of nuclear capacity. (Reuters)

‍

HYDROGEN:

• A Texas plant illustrates how water can be turned into hydrogen-based fuel, but the power-intensive process relies on massive numbers of wind and solar plants. (Washington Post)
• ExxonMobil partners with a company to build and operate four air separation units to provide oxygen and nitrogen for a hydrogen plant in Texas. (Utility Dive)
• A company announces plans to build a $400 million Virginia factory to make solid oxide electrolysis cells used to produce hydrogen. (Utility Dive)

‍

EMISSIONS: The U.S. Supreme Court pauses the U.S. EPA’s planned “good neighbor” rule to reduce the amount of smog that crosses state lines, which was challenged by West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and industry groups. (Texas Tribune)

‍

PIPELINES: A firm files a lawsuit by 35 Oklahoma landowners to force a pipeline company to clean up their properties. (KWTV)

‍

OVERSIGHT:

• Elected officials and experts agree on the need to revamp South Carolina’s energy policy to account for growing demand and the transition to renewables, but differ on policy specifics. (Charleston City Paper)
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appoints a previous consumer advocate to a utility regulatory board. (Utility Dive)
• More than 100 of Texas’ 254 counties, most of them rural, lack a hazard mitigation plan required to access federal disaster preparation funding. (Texas Tribune)

‍

COAL: An energy company tells Texas regulators it plans to restart a 779 MW coal-fired unit that’s been down since March for maintenance. (Reuters)

‍

GRID:

• Tennessee Valley Authority officials say the regional power grid is carrying “a pretty healthy load” with summer heat driving up demand. (Chattanooga Times Free Press, subscription)
• Appalachian Power officials announce a public meeting about its plans to build six miles of new transmission line and a substation. (Cardinal News)

‍

CLEAN ENERGY: An Oklahoma economic development authority receives $100,000 in federal funding to attract clean energy companies. (KWTV)

‍

COMMENTARY: A West Virginia lawmaker touts the state’s oil and gas industry along with the potential for carbon capture and hydrogen projects. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

‍

TRANSPORTATION: Illinois health and environmental groups call on the state’s pollution control agency to phase out sales of most gas- and diesel-powered vehicles by 2035. (Chicago Sun-Times)

‍

CLEAN ENERGY:

• North Dakota officials warn Minnesota that the state’s carbon-free electricity target by 2040, which applies to electricity imported from across state lines, may be unconstitutional. (Minnesota Reformer)
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signs permitting reforms into law that backers say will speed up renewable energy projects and help the state meet long-term clean energy targets. (KTTC)

‍

AIR POLLUTION: The U.S. Supreme Court sides with Ohio and Indiana by pausing enforcement of the Biden administration’s “good neighbor” rule aimed at preventing downwind air pollution crossing state borders. (Associated Press)

‍

SOLAR: A Chicago-based nonprofit offers 10- to 13-week courses that equip disadvantaged workers with job skills for the state’s growing solar industry. (Chicago Sun-Times)

‍

RENEWABLES: Americans’ support for renewable energy and electric vehicles is declining with older Republicans driving the drop in support since 2020, according to a new Pew survey. (Bloomberg)

‍

NUCLEAR:

• The owner of a shuttered 600 MW Iowa nuclear plant says he’d consider reopening the plant if the supply was needed and the project could be done safely and on budget. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
• Wisconsin’s top energy regulator says new federal legislation could help the state move more quickly to modular nuclear reactors. (WisPolitics)

‍

COAL: Coal plants in Ohio and Indiana have lost hundreds of millions of dollars so far this year as the costs to operate plants grow compared to cheaper alternatives. (Checks & Balances Project)

‍

GRID: New research suggests utility customers could see bill savings of up to 40% when rooftop solar, battery storage and other demand-reducing technologies are deployed. (Inside Climate News)

‍

ELECTRIFICATION: A $2.2 billion hospital under development in Detroit will include a $235 million electric heating and cooling system that would make it just the second all-electric hospital in the country. (Crain’s Detroit, subscription)

‍

COMMENTARY: The head of a biogas advocacy group says capturing methane from landfills, agricultural waste and other sources to produce electricity could help meet growing power demand. (Utility Dive)

‍

COURTS: The U.S. Supreme Court pauses enforcement of the EPA’s “good neighbor” rule, which sought to hold states responsible for air pollution from power plants and industry that ends up in other states, as legal challenges against it continue. (Associated Press)

‍

ALSO: Another Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Securities and Exchange Commission could make it harder for federal energy regulators to enforce their rules and collect fines. (E&E News)

‍

POLITICS:

• Climate change only got a few minutes of discussion during last night’s presidential debate, with President Biden highlighting his clean energy action and former President Trump giving an “incoherent nonanswer.” (Grist)
• In a speech to staff, U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan recalls the Trump administration’s silencing of federal scientists and praises the Biden administration’s rebuilding of the agency. (Washington Post)

‍

RENEWABLES: Americans’ support for renewable energy and electric vehicles is declining, with older Republicans driving the drop in support since 2020, according to a new Pew survey. (New York Times)

‍

OIL & GAS:

• Federal regulators approve a $10 billion liquified natural gas export terminal in Louisiana despite the Biden administration’s pause on permitting such projects. (Floodlight)
• The Biden administration finalizes plans to ban oil and gas drilling, mining and other development on 28 million acres of federal land in Alaska. (Washington Post)
• A California law banning new oil and gas wells near homes and schools takes effect after an industry group withdrew its ballot referendum seeking to overturn it. (Associated Press)
• Maryland’s public advocate says the utilities in the state are spending, on average, over $700 million a year on gas infrastructure, a practice that is making it harder for the state to hit its climate goals and reduce costs for low-income households. (Inside Climate News)

‍

HYDROGEN: A Texas plant illustrates how water can be turned into hydrogen-based fuel, but the power-intensive process relies on massive numbers of wind and solar plants. (Washington Post)

‍

CLIMATE: At least five other states look to replicate an Alabama grant program that helps homeowners strengthen roofs to lower insurance premiums and stave off a climate-related withdrawal by insurance companies. (Stateline)

‍

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: An analysis finds Nevada’s electric vehicle and battery industries have created more than 12,000 jobs and brought in $15 billion of private investment to the state. (Nevada Current)

‍

Electric vehicles are gaining ground in Nevada, with new cheaper models and federal incentives enticing drivers away from gasoline-dependent transportation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to soon issue updated pollution limits for new passenger cars and trucks that could slash billions of tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide pollution.

And in Nevada, the push for widespread electric-car adoption by President Joe Biden could also be a boon for the state economy.

EV advocates at a press conference Wednesday highlighted how electrification has created high-paying union jobs and billions in infrastructure investments.

Nevada has pulled in $15 billion in private investment in electric vehicle and battery production, creating more than 12,000 jobs, according to a recent analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund, an environmental advocacy group.

Nevada ranks fifth in the country for new investments in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. The state also ranks fifth in terms of electric vehicle adoption per 1,000 vehicles, with about 45,000 registered electric cars on the road.

Investments in infrastructure for electric vehicles have been spurred by $27 billion in federal, states, and local investments nationally.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245 in Nevada has trained thousands of union workers to meet those new demands of electric vehicle infrastructure. Hunter Stern, assistant business manager of IBEW Local 1245, said large investments in charging stations in the state have already resulted in good-paying union jobs for Nevada residents.

In 2021, the Nevada Legislature passed a mandate requiring NV Energy to implement a plan to expand infrastructure for charging stations. The utility invested $100 million in an effort to build nearly two thousand electric vehicle chargers over three years.

“That’s now jobs for IBEW members,” Stern said, during the press conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center. “We hope to install more and more charging stations at facilities like the convention center. We’ve gotten charging stations in many of the casinos and hotels here in Las Vegas, and in Reno and Sparks, but we want more.”

A recent analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation found that the growth of charging infrastructure could create more than 160,000 jobs by 2032, while about 50% of those jobs will be electrical installation, maintenance and repair jobs.

“Those numbers are going to be skewed higher here in Nevada because of the commitment the state has already made, the plans that are being made, and the work that is coming,” Stern said.

Stern said IBEW Local 1245 in Nevada has trained more than 1,000 workers in the state to work on transportation electrification and has increased the training capacity at facilities in the state to train enough workers to meet demand.

“The state adopted an aggressive, IBEW-endorsed EV charging infrastructure plan that has already met several of its targets. We are meeting the moment,” Stern continued.

Nevada is also on track to receive $38 million from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, funding that will pay for even more charging stations in the state.

Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy highlighted the county’s plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, a goal that will require electric vehicle buy-in, said McCurdy.

“It’s our job as elected officials to address extreme heat and attain air quality standards. Nearly a third of greenhouse gas pollution comes from the transportation sector, and zero emission clean cars will protect the health of Las Vegas and help clean our air,” McCurdy said.

“We’re doing everything we can to improve our electric vehicle infrastructure,” he continued.

Electric vehicles are also becoming more affordable in Nevada, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.

There are 37 EV models available in Nevada for less than the average new vehicle purchase price of $48,000, with 12 models available for less than $35,000, said David Kieve, president of Environmental Defense Fund Action, the political arm of the group. On average, Nevadans can save up to $27,900 on an electric vehicle compared to a gas-powered vehicle over 10 years, according to the group’s analysis.

Americans are being incentivized more than ever to purchase elective vehicles. Electric vehicle owners can receive as much as a $7,500 federal tax rebate on a new EV or $4,000 for a used one.

“If you’re not sure whether your next car, truck, or SUV should be electric, just ask one of the 45,000 people in the state who own them. Ask them whether they miss spending their hard-earned money at the gas pump, or on costly repairs,” Kieve said.

‍

Nevada Current is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nevada Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Hugh Jackson for questions: info@nevadacurrent.com. Follow Nevada Current on Facebook and X.

‍

GRID: Two utilities argue that allowing the colocation of an Amazon data center at Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna nuclear plant as the current deal is written would allow the tech company to shift up to $140 million in transmission costs to ratepayers. (Utility Dive)

‍

ALSO:

• Construction is wrapping up at the Great Kills battery energy storage site on Staten Island. (SI Live)
• Pennsylvania Republicans say that greening the grid will risk reliability, but environmentalists in the state say the concern is overblown and can be resolved by streamlining development for clean energy projects. (Spotlight PA)

‍

TRANSIT: The board of New York City’s transit agency votes to confirm the governor’s widely contested request to indefinitely delay the start of the Manhattan traffic congestion tolls, stopping over $16 billion in system upgrades and maintenance. (NBC New York, Gothamist)

‍

WIND:

• With tensions still high between the state and groups that don’t want to see an offshore wind port on Maine’s undeveloped Sears Island, state officials say it’s going to take awhile before they make a decision between that location and Mack Point, an industrially developed area. (Penobscot Bay Pilot)
• With federal officials looking to auction off three open ocean parcels for offshore wind development to the east of Cape Cod, local leaders want to ensure they’re consulted throughout the development process. (Cape Cod Times)

‍

SOLAR:

• The New York branch of the solar industry’s top trade group publishes a policy report that suggests the state should set a 20 GW of distributed solar by 2035 goal, 10 GW higher but five years later than the actual current goal. (news release)
• A developer starts construction of a 2.5 MW solar project in Brewster, Massachusetts, in the same industrial area as three smaller arrays. (Cape Cod Chronicle)
• Dozens of Wendy’s fast food joints are now subscribed to community solar projects in Massachusetts, New York and elsewhere, sourcing between 30% to 100% of each location’s energy demand. (news release)
• Some residents of a Vermont town push back on a proposal for a 50 MW solar project they say isn’t in the locally designated renewable energy siting zone and could harm a nearby wildlife area. (WCAX)
• A Delaware library installs enough rooftop solar to cover half of its electricity needs. (news release)

‍

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New York City’s public housing authority explains its new rules for lithium-ion battery use in their units and the consequences of breaking them, months after setting them. (City Limits)

‍

UTILITIES: New Hampshire’s public advocate wants the state utility commission to investigate an electricity co-op over concerns with its power purchase practices and allegations its board is struggling with sexism and bullying. (In-Depth NH)

‍

SOLAR: Louisiana regulators approve a sleeved power purchase agreement to purchase power from non-utility sources for a coalition of 26 companies, including some of the state’s largest industrial giants, that have grown frustrated with the lack of renewables available from utilities. (Louisiana Illuminator)

‍

ALSO:

• The owners of an dilapidated Oklahoma apartment announce plans to rebuild and add rooftop solar, with a dedicated solar fuel cell for each apartment. (Oklahoman)
• A Norwegian energy company announces plans to build a $620 million factory in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to make monocrystalline silicon wafers for the solar industry. (Journal Record)
• Virginia officials fine a solar company more than $100,000 for 75 violations that range from erosion control to not performing inspections at multiple solar farms in the state. (Farmville Herald)
• A group of churches partner with Entergy to build “community lighthouses” around New Orleans where solar panels charge backup batteries in case of power outages. (WVUE)
• An energy company introduces two models of a pre-constructed solar canopy at a Florida warehouse. (PV Magazine)

‍

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• An investigation reveals federal, state and local officials seem to have largely glossed over the water needs of Hyundai’s electric vehicle plant in Georgia, which now faces a potential legal challenge. (Savannah Morning News)
• Electric vehicle maker Rivian’s stock price rises 23% after this week’s announcement Volkswagen would invest up to $1 billion in the company. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

‍

CLEAN ENERGY: Columbus, Georgia, business leaders say they’re building out the area’s higher education systems and freeing up land in hopes of taking part in the clean energy manufacturing boom that’s seen $32 billion invested in the state since 2021. (Columbus Ledger-Enquirer)

‍

OIL & GAS:

• Texas residents warily eye an oil and gas company’s proposal to build a pipeline to its planned liquified natural gas plant in Louisiana. (KBMT)
• Virginia residents organize against Dominion Energy’s plans to build a natural gas-fired power plant at an old coal plant. (WTVR)

‍

HYDRO: A federal loan program provides $16.6 million for construction of the third of six planned hydroelectric plants in Kentucky, while a grant will fund solar power at a farm. (Kentucky Lantern)

‍

GRID: A Virginia county supervisor proposes requiring new data centers to build on-site power to limit the use of eminent domain and construction of new transmission lines. (Loudoun Times-Mirror)

‍

EMISSIONS: Researchers find plumes of toxic gas at the fenceline of some chemical plants in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” to be more than 1,000 times higher than what the U.S. EPA deems “an acceptable risk.” (Inside Climate News)

‍

UTILITIES:

• The Tennessee Valley Authority notifies a Mississippi utility it may sue over unresolved questions about its financial reports and audits. (South Reporter)
• The Tennessee Valley Authority considers what to do with an office complex in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

‍

COAL: Businesses owned by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice reach a settlement with a Virginia bank over roughly $300 million in outstanding loans, but now face the prospect of the forced sale of a coal company to satisfy different debts. (Cardinal News, WV Metro News)

‍

COMMENTARY: A college student interviews climate activist Bill McKibben about the campaign to push the Tennessee Valley Authority away from building new natural gas-fired power plants toward solar power. (Tennessean)

‍

CLIMATE: A group of climate scientists says the market for carbon credits needs to adopt significant oversight and reforms after finding many offsetting markets didn’t deliver their promised climate benefits. (The Guardian)

‍

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• An analysis predicts the price of electric vehicles will limit their adoption until about 2028, when manufacturing efficiencies are expected to make costs more comparable with combustion cars. (Utility Dive)
• California regulators order Tesla to fix air quality problems at its Bay Area manufacturing facility after it racks up more than 100 toxic emissions-related violations. (Associated Press)

‍

SOLAR:

• A domestic solar panel manufacturer that spent millions lobbying for the Inflation Reduction Act has been among the law’s biggest beneficiaries, records show. (Associated Press)
• Louisiana regulators let a coalition of 26 companies purchase power from non-utility sources after they say they’ve grown frustrated with the lack of renewables available from utilities. (Louisiana Illuminator)

‍

NUCLEAR: The eventual — but stalled and over-budget — success of Georgia’s Plant Vogtle is sparking optimism in the state and beyond, especially after the passage of $900 million for small nuclear development. (E&E News)

‍

CLEAN ENERGY:

• The USDA announces $375 million for renewable energy projects in rural areas, including $275 million for renewable electrification. (The Hill)
• The U.S. Energy Department announces $63.5 million for four companies developing “transformative” energy technologies. (Utility Dive)

‍

GRID:

• Two utilities argue that allowing the colocation of an Amazon data center at Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna nuclear plant as the current deal is written would allow the tech company to shift up to $140 million in transmission costs to ratepayers. (Utility Dive)
• An energy efficiency bill working through the Ohio General Assembly is among the first signs of bipartisan policy agreement after the HB 6 scandal and comes as utilities brace for a surge in power demand. (E&E News)

‍

UTILITIES:

• Ohio regulators will stick to a piecemeal approach as they consider four separate, ongoing House Bill 6-related FirstEnergy cases despite calls from the utility and customer groups for consolidation. (Energy News Network)
• A U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down part of a federal bribery law could result in a new trial for four convicted former ComEd executives and lobbyists. (Center Square)

‍

OIL & GAS: A study finds more than half of the 47,000 oil and gas wells in Colorado don’t generate enough money to pay for their end-of-life plugging and remediation, potentially saddling taxpayers with the tab. (Colorado Sun)

‍

COMMENTARY: California’s increasingly clean energy mix proves the rest of the country’s grid can be powered with 100% clean energy sources, a climate advocate argues. (The New Yorker)

‍

CLIMATE: An advocacy group’s legal analysis finds Arizona could reasonably bring homicide charges against the fossil fuel industry for hundreds of deaths caused by a climate change-exacerbated 2023 heat wave. (Guardian)

‍

OIL & GAS:

• A study finds more than half of the 47,000 oil and gas wells in Colorado don’t generate enough money to pay for their end-of-life plugging and remediation, potentially saddling taxpayers with the tab. (Colorado Sun)
• A California oil and gas industry group withdraws a ballot initiative challenging a 2022 law prohibiting drilling near homes and schools, and says it plans to sue over the ban instead. (Politico, subscription)
• California lawmakers advance legislation that would fine oil companies $10,000 daily for operating low-producing wells near homes and schools. (E&E News, subscription)
• The Biden administration awards Alaska and Arizona nearly $30 million to plug and reclaim abandoned oil and gas wells. (news release)

‍

ELECTRIFICATION: Santa Cruz, California’s city council votes to ban the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers. (East Bay Times)

‍

SOLAR: Records show an Arizona solar manufacturing company benefited from the Inflation Reduction Act after lobbying Congress and donating to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. (Associated Press)

‍

WIND: A developer proposes an offshore wind power facility off Hawaii’s coast. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

‍

HYDROPOWER: Records show federal government officials in the 1940s and 1950s welcomed Northwest hydropower dams’ destruction of salmon fisheries and the tribal nations reliant upon them. (ProPublica)

‍

TRANSPORTATION: Washington state considers implementing a fee on e-commerce doorstep deliveries to help replace dwindling gasoline-tax revenues. (E&E News)

‍

POLITICS: Conservative Climate Caucus founder Rep. John Curtis wins the Utah Republican primary for Mitt Romney’s Senate seat. (Heatmap)

‍

STORAGE:

• A report finds California has led the nation’s battery energy storage system buildup by adding 8,600 MW of capacity since 2019. (Reuters)
• An Arizona utility seeks proposals to develop up to 50 MW of demonstration non-lithium-ion long-duration energy storage projects. (news release)

‍

MINING: The Havasupai Tribe continues to push back against a uranium mine reopening near the Grand Canyon, saying it could contaminate their drinking water source. (KJZZ)

‍

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• California regulators order Tesla to fix air quality problems at its Bay Area manufacturing facility after it racks up more than 100 toxic emissions-related violations. (Associated Press)
• California agencies unveil plans to develop living-wage and skills-based electric vehicle industry careers for disadvantaged communities. (RTO Insider, subscription)

‍

COMMENTARY:

• California’s increasingly clean energy mix proves the rest of the country can be powered with 100% clean energy sources, a climate advocate argues. (New Yorker)
• A journalist worries the rapid buildup of electricity-intensive data centers in Western states to power AI and cryptocurrency mining imperils the energy transition. (High Country News)

‍

WIND: With 21 of its planned 62 wind turbines completely installed, Vineyard Wind claims to now be the largest operating wind project in the country, pushing 136 MW to the grid. (electrek)

‍

SOLAR:

• The backers of a proposed solar ordinance that essentially bans projects greater than 25 MW in Rotterdam, New York, claim it’s legal but seem to ignore inconvenient aspects of state renewable energy siting law. (Daily Gazette)
• In Pennsylvania, scaled-down solar projects are appeasing landowners and getting approval from state utility regulators but are frustrating utilities that want tighter net metering and merchant generation rules. (Lancaster Farming)

‍

RENEWABLE POWER:

• Massachusetts state senators advance legislation that intends to lower power bills while increasing renewable energy development, ban competitive electric suppliers and ease permitting for energy projects and electric vehicle chargers, among other provisions. (Associated Press)
• Pennsylvania lawmakers advance a bill restructuring a state energy authority to allow it to use federal funds to develop energy projects. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

‍

GRID:

• New York’s grid operator receives four bids to develop up to 8 GW of offshore wind power transmission to New York City, most of which would connect to the Brooklyn Clean Energy Hub. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• With hot temperatures arriving earlier than usual, the Washington, D.C., grid is straining to cope with increased cooling demand — and makes working conditions more strenuous for line workers. (WTOP)
• Several consumer advocates file a complaint with federal energy regulators that claims PJM Interconnection practices stop energy efficiency resources from completely participating in the capacity market. (Utility Dive)
• In New Jersey, the developer of the Atlantic Shores offshore wind project selects a contractor to expand an Egg Harbor Township substation to help carry the project’s anticipated 1.5 GW of electricity. (news release)
• A spinoff startup out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology wants to deploy special power lines that look like any other but can transmit up to ten times the electricity. (news release)

‍

FOSSIL FUELS:

• Pennsylvania environmental protection officials will host a hearing this week on a proposed natural gas pipeline route that local conservation groups say would harm a wetland and several streams in its path. (NorthCentralPA.com)
• Much of the toxic remnants of the Tonawanda Coke Site near Buffalo, New York, have been removed, but some remediation activities remain before it can be redeveloped for commercial purposes. (Buffalo News)
• A top Massachusetts lawmaker says claims that thousands of natural gas workers could lose their jobs due to pending state climate legislation is “fundamentally flawed” and “misinformation.” (Boston Herald)

‍

CLEAN TECH: For Boston’s clean tech hub dream to become reality, observers say it needs a “flagship” firm to attract workers and innovative ideas — but could that kickstarter be GE Vernova? (Boston Globe)

‍

BIOENERGY: A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed in Massachusetts against a home heating oil dealer, which allegedly claimed to be selling them biodiesel when they weren’t. (Law360)

‍

AFFORDABILITY: In a rural Maine county, residents subject to recently rising Versant Power rates discuss their affordability concerns. (The County)

‍