Affordability advances in Massachusetts

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GRID

• A new transmission line importing hydropower from Quebec into New York went down late last week as a heat wave settled on the Northeast. (Times Union)

• Grid operator PJM this weekend issued an emergency alert asking consumers to curb their electricity use and curtailed exports to neighboring regions as the heat wave strained the grid. (Reuters)

• Maryland’s state consumer advocate opposes Talen Energy’s request to keep two Baltimore-area fossil fuel power plants running until 2031, arguing that such an extension would just mean more ​“windfall profits” for the company. (RTO Insider)

AFFORDABILITY

• The Massachusetts state Senate passes a major energy affordability bill that aims to save residents $14 billion over 10 years by lowering the cost of borrowing for utilities, changing the state’s energy procurement process, and other measures. (Canary Media)

ELECTRIFICATION

• In a Brooklyn warehouse, startup company Electra is building battery-powered electric induction stoves that use software to charge when demand on the grid is at its lowest. (Canary Media)

DATA CENTERS

• Seven new fossil fuel power plants planned to support data centers in Pennsylvania would increase greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of putting 14 million cars on the road, a new study concludes. (Inside Climate News)

• New Jersey state lawmakers pass a bill requiring regulators to create a tariff for data centers designed to shield consumers from rate increases caused by the energy-hungry facilities. (Utility Dive)

• In coal-mining areas of Pennsylvania, proposals for new data centers bring up old worries about industries that build quickly and cause environmental destruction. (Inside Climate News)

CLIMATE

• New Jersey state legislators push off a vote on a climate ​“superfund” bill, which would force fossil fuel companies to pay $50 billion for climate change adaptation projects. (E&E News)

SOLAR

• New Jersey lawmakers unanimously pass legislation authorizing the use of balcony solar, DIY systems that plug in to conventional electrical outlets. (Solar Power World)

• New York state reaches its goal of 8 GW of installed solar capacity ahead of deadline, on its way to its next milestone of 10 GW by 2030. (Renewables Now)

• Maine regulators will audit utilities’ process for determining the cost of interconnecting small power generation resources, such as residential solar systems, to the grid. (Maine Morning Star)

SITING

• New rules go into effect in Massachusetts shortening the timeline for cities and towns to approve proposed clean energy projects while still improving community engagement. (MassLive)