$8 billion in cuts target ​“the left’s climate agenda”

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FEDERAL ACTION

• Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont are among the Democratic-leaning states targeted in the Trump administration’s plan to cut nearly $8 billion in grant funding for energy-related projects that ​“fuel the Left’s climate agenda.” (Canary Media)

OFFSHORE WIND

• Half of Vineyard Wind’s turbines are sending power to the grid, and the project should be completed in ​“coming months,” according to executives from parent company Iberdrola. (E&E News)

DATA CENTERS

• Load from data centers on the 13-state PJM grid was the primary reason capacity prices surged to record highs in recent auctions, a market monitor concludes. (Utility Dive)

• A surge in plans for AI data centers in New York poses challenges for the state’s climate and grid reliability goals. (E&E News)

• In the face of a proposed 1.2-gigawatt data center, Delaware lawmakers consider a bill that would require special approvals for any business drawing more than 30 megawatts of power from the grid. (E&E News)

FOSSIL FUELS

• Major pipeline companies express optimism that federal and state political shifts will create opportunities to expand natural gas infrastructure in New England: ​“A lot of key states are coming around.” (RTO Insider)

CLIMATE

• Massachusetts’ energy department says a pilot allowing 10 cities and towns to ban fossil fuel systems in new construction has led to more energy-efficient construction in participating communities, and recommends continuing the program. (WGBH)

EFFICIENCY

• The Massachusetts state auditor issues a report finding the state’s energy efficiency programs aren’t adequately serving lower-income households, particularly in the more rural western parts of the state. (WAMC)

HYDRO

• Constellation Energy agrees to spend more than $340 million to improve water quality at Maryland’s Conowingo Dam, paving the way for the hydroelectric facility to be relicensed and continue operations. (Associated Press)

SOLAR

• Pennsylvania is trying to reclaim its federal Solar for All funding, but a legislative squabble adds another hurdle to implementation. (Canary Media)

AFFORDABILITY

• Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, the state attorney general, and state lawmakers, challenge a utility’s proposal to raise gas rates by more than 55%. (WPRI)

• New York state lawmakers and advocates critique closed-door settlement proceedings that shield the negotiations for new utility rates from public view. (New York Focus)

GRID

• Utility customers in seven PJM states will cover $4.4 billion in transmission costs needed to bring data centers online, according to a Union of Concerned Scientists report. (Utility Dive)