Bill could bar offshore wind in some Maine waters

WIND: A Maine Congress member introduces a bill to prevent commercial offshore wind in a nearshore lobster management area along the state’s coast. (Portland Press Herald)

ALSO:
• As economic headwinds threaten the viability of two offshore Massachusetts wind farms, observers question how long it will take until the industry sees its predicted success. (Boston Globe)
• New York legislators pass a contentious bill opening up offshore wind development off the coast of Jones Beach State Park, a plan facing opposition over aesthetic and power line placement concerns. (NYDN)
• The National Guard warns that a planned Pennsylvania onshore wind farm could compromise safe training operations around Fort Indiantown Gap. (Times Observer)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• After several lethal fires linked to malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries, New York City will use $25 million in federal funds to create 173 e-bike charging stations at dozens of city public housing complexes. (NYDN)
• Massachusetts is removing six charging stations along the state turnpike, with plans to replace them underway after years of malfunction. (Boston Globe)
• NJ Transit receives a $47 million federal grant to reconfigure a Maplewood bus garage to house and charge electric buses; converting the agency’s whole bus garage network will cost over $1 billion. (NorthJersey.com)
• Starting this week, eligible Connecticut residents can apply for up to $1,500 in state vouchers to purchase e-bikes. (CT Mirror/​New Haven Independent)
• Rhode Island is poised to become one of the last states to allow low-speed electric vehicles on certain roadways. (WJAR)

CLIMATE:
• To reduce emissions and extend the life of current landfills, new law in New Hampshire requires entities that create over a ton of food waste per week to compost it or send it to an anaerobic digester if there’s a facility to do so within 20 miles. (Boston Globe)
• Maine officials warn of the potentially dangerous combination of a growing number of wildfires coupled with many residents living in rural, highly forested areas. (Bangor Daily News)
• Some New York winemakers try adapting to the shifting temperatures and changing migratory bird paths associated with climate change. (Spectrum News)

SOLAR: Maine utility regulators begin a new renewable energy procurement process — seeking 375 MW through projects of under 5 MW each — that is expected to bolster solar development. (Mainebiz)

TRANSIT:
• In Maine, a disused rail line from Augusta to Brunswick stirs up debate over whether it should be restored for future passenger or freight service or completely converted to a recreational path. (Kennebec Journal)
• A new poll finds that most surveyed New Jersey residents would prefer NJ Transit receive more state funds rather than raise fares or cut services, a sentiment that holds across demographic categories. (NorthJersey.com, subscription)

NUCLEAR: New York’s legislature advances a bill to ban dumping radioactive waste during decommissioning activities in the Hudson River, a measure spurred by Holtec International’s plan to do so at the Indian Point plant. (Gothamist)

COMMENTARY: Maryland’s outgoing top energy regulator writes that the state needs to think about ratepayers while forming its clean energy policies. (Baltimore Sun)