How will Massachusetts know when it’s reached 100% clean energy?

CLEAN ENERGY: Questions over just what qualifies as clean energy will make it hard for Massachusetts to determine when it has fully decarbonized, experts say. (Boston Globe)

OFFSHORE WIND:
• Federal ocean energy officials open up public comment periods on the draft environmental impact statements for the Atlantic Shores 1 and 2 offshore wind projects. (news release)
• General Electric forms an agreement with two unions that it will ​“remain neutral during the labor organizing process” at future offshore wind part manufacturing sites at New York’s Port of Coeymans. (Times Union)
• Workers on the South Fork Wind project have completed onshore cable route work and related restoration projects. (news release)

GRID:
• A developer ends its plans to build a 20 MW battery storage site in Ulster, New York, citing interconnection costs. (Daily Freeman)
• PJM Interconnection asks federal regulators to allow it to include wind, solar and energy storage projects in its definition of ​“black start” generators and offer such facilities incentives to maintain assured fuel supplies. (Utility Dive)

MINING: A Maine legislative committee tables a bill recommended by state officials and a nonprofit that would shift mining policies after a massive lithium deposit was discovered. (Maine Monitor)

CLIMATE:
• Hoboken, New Jersey’s climate lawsuit against oil majors will stay in state court after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal. (Jersey Journal)
• A Maine farm implements regenerative agriculture techniques to improve the food system’s climate resilience and reduce emissions. (Maine Public Radio)

TRANSIT: New Jersey’s governor and U.S. senators say they’ll ask the federal government not to approve New York City’s congestion pricing plan. (Reuters)

AFFORDABILITY:
• Maine’s consumer advocate and Central Maine Power work to negotiate a settlement agreement for a lengthy rate case, potentially to avoid the utility having bad publicity before the public utility voter referendum. (Portland Press Herald)
• Rising rates are behind why 13% of Maine’s residential ratepayers recently received a disconnection notice, according to the state consumer advocate. (Bangor Daily News)

NUCLEAR: As decommissioning continues at Vermont Yankee, the town of Vernon considers the site’s future. (WCAX)