Grid struggles to keep up in winter storm

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.

GRID

• The ongoing major winter storm causes a surge in natural gas power plant outages and restricted gas supplies in the mid-Atlantic, and has New England leaning heavily on oil-fired power plants to meet higher-than-forecast demand. (Reuters)

• Federal regulators say they see progress in PJM’s plans to ensure adequate power supply and protect consumers from escalating energy costs as more data centers are planned for the region. (Utility Dive)

OFFSHORE WIND

• If Vineyard Wind isn’t allowed to resume construction, 10 partially installed turbines would be at risk of catching fire, dumping debris into the ocean, or injuring workers, according to court filings from the developer. (Nantucket Current)

• Vineyard Wind has employed more than 3,700 people over the past 10 years, and exceeded its local hiring goals, according to a new report from the developer. (New Bedford Light)

CLIMATE

• Though New York mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned on affordability, climate will likely be a defining issue of his term, with questions about expanding renewable energy, protecting vulnerable communities from flooding, and decarbonizing the city’s buildings looming large. (Inside Climate News)

• Vermont lawmakers consider a bill that would require the collection of emissions data from fuel suppliers to help lay the groundwork for future policy. (VTDigger)

• A Massachusetts university matches students of sustainability with local municipalities to help cities and towns make progress toward their decarbonization goals while giving students hands-on experience. (Lowell Sun)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• The Pennsylvania Turnpike lays plans to install experimental parking pads that provide wireless charging to EVs at its headquarters, part of the turnpike’s electrification strategy. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

AFFORDABILITY

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes a fiscal year 2027 budget including several provisions aimed at lowering energy costs, such as bill credits for customers using smart thermostats and more funding for energy efficiency incentives. (News 10)

COMMENTARY

• Streams in Pennsylvania and West Virginia contaminated with coal mine discharge could be a valuable source of rare earth elements, though questions remain about who owns the waters and the extracted materials, say university researchers. (The Conversation)

NEW FROM CANARY

• New EU carbon tariff pushes India toward green steel — Alexander C. Kaufman

• Is Trump’s assault on climate and clean energy reversible? — Zoya Teirstein

• A rare step forward for a US pumped hydro project — Julian Spector

• States are getting serious about energy affordability — Kathryn Krawczyk