Budget bill set to derail two wind farms

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

• Two fully permitted wind farm projects are likely to be derailed by the fast phase-out of tax credits in the newly signed federal budget bill, which will make financing a new offshore wind development exceedingly difficult, analysts say. (Canary Media)

GRID

• During a heatwave in the Northeast last month, solar panels and batteries provided enough power to keep the grid running and likely saved consumers more than $20 million. (Canary Media)

• Demand for electricity on the PJM grid is growing faster than new power generation can keep up with, as AI data centers proliferate and state policies lead to the premature retirement of existing plants. (Reuters)

STATE LEGISLATION

• A new Maine law eliminates much of the state’s existing solar incentive program, retroactively changes compensation rates for existing projects, and imposes new fees on community solar developments — changes some worry will make solar developers wary of working in the state. (Maine Public)

• New Hampshire’s newly adopted budget ​“raids” the state’s renewable energy fund, transferring $15 million to the general fund and slashing incentives for renewables in half. (New Hampshire Bulletin)

• Democratic state lawmakers in New Jersey introduce a bill that would withdraw the state from the electric grid managed by PJM, with supporters saying the regional operator ​“saddles our residents with higher utility bills.” (RTO Insider)

EMISSIONS

• The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a 10-state cap-and-invest program aimed at reducing the climate impact of power plants, announces plans to lower the cap on total carbon emissions by at least 60% by 2037. (E&E News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Vermont transportation officials declined to provide the state attorney general with supporting evidence that losing $17 million in federal funds for EV charging projects would cause ​“irreparable harm,” leading a judge not to include Vermont in a ruling unfreezing the money for 14 other states. (Seven Days)

• The port of Newark, New Jersey, opens an electric truck charging station including four fast chargers as part of ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the port’s operations. (American Journal of Transportation)

TRANSPORTATION

• New data shows air quality has remained steady or improved across New York City’s five boroughs since congestion pricing began in Manhattan, defying predictions that pollution would increase in places like Staten Island and the south Bronx as drivers rerouted to avoid the new fees. (Streetsblog)

TRANSMISSION

• Maine state lawmakers advance a bill clarifying a 2021 law by specifying that the legislature needn’t separately approve the transmission line plans for infrastructure it ordered developed; opponents say the move undermines the citizen referendum process that created the law. (Maine Morning Star)

NUCLEAR

• Environmental advocates in Massachusetts push state lawmakers considering a sprawling energy affordability bill to eliminate provisions that would allow nuclear developments to move ahead without voter approval, which current law requires. (Athol Daily News)

COMMENTARY

• Pennsylvania should increase the amount of renewable energy required in the state’s power supply to realize environmental, economic, and public health benefits, says a pair of environmental advocates. (The Morning Call)