Fracking breaks its promise to Pennsylvania residents

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.

FOSSIL FUELS

• Contrary to promises from state regulators and fossil fuel companies, Pennsylvania’s residents face soaring energy prices even as fracking continues to generate increasing supplies of natural gas. (Inside Climate News)

• The fracking boom and growing political polarization have undermined Pennsylvania’s early-2000s leadership in renewable energy policies. (Inside Climate News)

EFFICIENCY

• Rhode Island’s proposed energy efficiency plan for 2026 would reduce spending by up to 30%, but save customers an average of just $1.87 per month and likely lead to higher electricity prices in the long run, advocates say. (Canary Media)

WIND

• The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management asks a court to let it revoke a key permit for SouthCoast Wind off Massachusetts, arguing the original decision was probably rushed and ​“may not have fully complied” with the law. (WBUR)

• The Trump administration asks a federal court to consolidate Connecticut and Rhode Island’s requests to restart work on Revolution Wind, and requests the case be moved to a court in Washington, D.C. (Rhode Island Current)

SOLAR

• Residents of Maryland’s Carroll County raise objections to 13 proposed industrial solar developments, arguing that the land should be protected for agricultural use and that rules allowing the state to approve projects over county-level objections deprive locals of their right to make decisions about their own community. (Fox Baltimore)

• A New Hampshire town uses a state grant to build a solar array that will power its town offices entirely. (Valley News)

AFFORDABILITY

• Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey urges residents to push back against Eversource’s proposed winter natural gas rate hikes, as she continues to advocate for major energy legislation that would change the way gas is bought and billed for in the state. (Boston Globe)

DATA CENTERS

• New Hampshire lawmakers weigh whether energy-hungry data centers would provide tax revenue and create jobs, or strain the power grid and imperil water supplies. (New Hampshire Bulletin)

REGULATION

• Connecticut’s top utility regulator announces her resignation after months of dealing with accusations from Republican legislators and utilities that she was too controlling and responsible for rising power prices in the state. (NBC CT)

WASTE

• Ikea launches a pilot to convert food waste into renewable natural gas and low-carbon fertilizer, including at a Connecticut and a Massachusetts location. (ESG Dive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• A Vermont town receives four electric school buses purchased using a $1.6-million federal grant. (Bennington Banner)

COMMENTARY

• Solar and offshore wind helped keep the lights on and ACs running while saving consumers millions of dollars during New England heat waves this summer, making the case for the continued transition from fossil fuel-fired power plants to renewable energy sources, say clean energy advocates. (MassLive)

NEW FROM CANARY 

• Utilities are doing even worse on climate than they were five years ago — Jeff St. John

• Solar and batteries had a record-setting, grid-stabilizing summer in Texas — Kathryn Krawczyk