Feds want massive offshore wind farms across U.S. Northeast

WIND: The Biden administration announces it will auction off leases in the coming years for seven large-scale offshore wind farms, including off the coasts of Maine, New York and the mid-Atlantic. (Associated Press)

ALSO:
• To usher in dozens of gigawatts of wind power in the next few decades, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker pitches the creation of a $750 million clean energy investment fund and the elimination of an offshore wind price cap.
• Small-scale fishers dread the insurgence of planned offshore wind projects along their traditionally worked coasts, with one New York fisher calling the farms ​“the final nail in the coffin” for their industry. (WBUR/E&E News)
• Vineyard Wind developers strike a deal with 13 Massachusetts municipal utilities to let them purchase about 146,000 mWh from the proposed Commonwealth Wind project, an agreement they call a ​“first-in-the-nation partnership.” (State House News Service)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• A small coastal Maryland town sets a goal to procure 100% renewable energy by 2030, excluding trash and biomass incineration. (Southern Maryland Chronicle)
• A nonprofit’s mapping tool allows developers in Maine to map out both solar and wind hotspots while identifying where other environmental sensitivities preclude renewable energy development. (Treehugger)

TRANSPORTATION:
• For Rhode Island home renters, a lack of charging infrastructure is a barrier to buying an electric vehicle, so state officials are soliciting public comments on a plan that aims to close the charging gap. (Energy News Network)
• Advocates urge New Jersey officials to find the funds to electrify the over 15,000 diesel-fueled school buses shuttling students every day; less than 1% are electric buses. (NJ Spotlight)

UTILITIES:
• Eversource owes millions of dollars in back taxes to Massachusetts communities, but it’s possible that a state tax board will only be able to collect half the amount from the utility. (MassLive)
• Eversource asks Connecticut utility regulators to approve a $103 million settlement over its response to Tropical Storm Isaias; the average ratepayer will see a bill credit of $35 across two bills. (CT Mirror)

PIPELINES: In Pennsylvania, a group of Catholic nuns challenges a federal judge’s dismissal of their lawsuit against a pipeline developer whose project on their property they say infringes on their religious beliefs. (Reuters)

EFFICIENCY:
• A public hearing on energy efficiency legislation in New Hampshire took a confusing turn for attendees this week when the bill’s sponsor amended his proposal just before public comments began. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
• A Connecticut animal shelter raises funds to build a permanent net-zero facility powered by solar and thermal energy. (press release)

GRID:
• A Maine newspaper hosts a virtual forum bringing together both supporters and opponents of New England Clean Energy Connect to debate who should have final say over transmission projects. (Bangor Daily News)
• This past summer, National Grid used an electric school bus with a bidirectional battery in a Boston suburb to meet peak demand. (electrek)

CLIMATE: A Maine library begins hosting a project encouraging residents to talk about or show through pictures and videos how the climate crisis has or will impact them. (Bangor Daily News)