Another offshore wind project pulls the plug

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Northeast Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

OFFSHORE WIND

• The Leading Light offshore wind project informs New Jersey utility regulators that the company ​“does not see a pathway forward” and intends to pull the plug on the development, which would have been one the largest renewable energy projects in the country. (Heatmap)

• SouthCoast Wind has yet to sign final contracts with Rhode Island Energy for 200 megawatts of power from the planned project, despite several deadline extensions. (ecoRI)

LITIGATION

• A group of environmental advocates sue the Trump administration for canceling $7.6 billion for energy projects, largely in blue states, saying ​“animus and political retribution” against left-leaning states are the only possible reasons for the targeted funding terminations. (The Hill)

ELECTRIFICATION

• Massachusetts lawmakers consider a bill that would double the size of a pilot program that allows cities and towns to ban fossil fuel in new construction and major renovations. (Canary Media)

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she will seriously consider a request by 19 Democratic legislators to slow down implementation of a statewide all-electric building standard. (Canary Media)

• A Connecticut chapter of Habitat for Humanity unveils 10 net-zero homes that will run on renewable energy. (Connecticut Public)

EMISSIONS

• A fossil fuel-powered cryptocurrency mining operation in upstate New York will be allowed to continue operations under an agreement that requires the facility to cut its emissions 44%; environmental groups plan to challenge the decision. (Gothamist)

• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Democratic lawmakers are considering a deal to break a four-month budget stalemate that would withdraw the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. (Spotlight PA)

RENEWABLES

• New Hampshire lawmakers advance a bill that would restructure the state’s requirements for utilities to procure renewable power in a way that opponents say would discourage clean energy development. (New Hampshire Bulletin)

• Voters in the Cape Cod town of Falmouth are set to accept a historic golf course as a gift and lease the land to a solar developer. (Boston.com)

NATURAL GAS

• Some Maryland counties are pursuing projects that would capture methane from landfills and convert it into natural gas. (Baltimore Sun)

• Federal officials investigate ethane leaks at a liquefied natural gas terminal in Maryland and ask that two storage tanks be taken out of service. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY

• If Maryland wants to position itself as a leader in AI and quantum computing, it must also commit to develop the clean energy and energy storage needed to make the burgeoning industry sustainable, say three energy innovation advocates. (Maryland Matters)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Trump’s DOE may soon force more coal plants to stay open — Jeff St. John

• Can Australia power its big aluminum smelters with clean energy? — Maria Gallucci