7 GW of offshore wind possible off New York and New Jersey

OFFSHORE WIND: A federal bureau concludes that full development of a 488,000 acre area off New York and New Jersey could generate 7 GW of offshore wind energy. (North American Wind Power)

ALSO:

• An initiative at the University of Massachusetts’ flagship campus aims to bolster workforce training and innovation for the offshore wind industry. (Athol Daily News)
• Companies and universities in Maine, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania receive shares of $17 million in federal funding to develop reliable moorings for floating offshore wind and technologies for reducing the noise of installing offshore turbine bases. (news release)

WORKFORCE: A $300 million clean energy job training initiative in New York City has ended amid questions about how many people participated, if they found work, and why subcontractors haven’t been paid in months. (Gothamist)

TRANSMISSION: In Maryland, Baltimore County officials vote to condemn plans for a 70-mile transmission line amid ongoing fears that residents’ property will be seized to accommodate the project. (Baltimore Sun, subscription)

GRID: PJM proposes a fast-track system to let shovel-ready projects jump to the front of the interconnection queue in order to address the region’s reliability needs. (Utility Dive)

NUCLEAR: Both nuclear skeptics and supporters are watching carefully as Three Mile Island works toward becoming the first nuclear plant to shut down and then start back up. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)

INNOVATION: A startup announces plans to develop a 100-acre parcel in Pennsylvania into a pilot site for extracting lithium and using waste coal to synthesize jet fuel and green hydrogen. (news release)

SOLAR: Commercial solar company King Energy raises $10 million to accelerate development of a streamlined solar financing and billing model in states including Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. (Utility Dive)

TRASH: Maryland’s Senate president plans to sponsor legislation to remove trash incineration from the state’s list of renewable energy sources, giving the effort a boost after five years of failed bills. (Maryland Matters)

COMMENTARY:

• Maryland state courts should allow Baltimore to pursue its lawsuit attempting to hold ExxonMobil and other fossil fuel companies accountable for damages caused by climate change, a law professor argues. (Baltimore Sun, subscription)
• Supporting nuclear power with taxpayer-funded subsidies would tie up resources that could be better spent on wind and solar, which can come online faster and don’t pose the same dangers, says a pair of environmental advocates. (Maryland Matters)