Hydro-Québec thwarted by its own mistakes, transmission line backers say

TRANSMISSION: While natural gas companies have spent millions to oppose the Clean Energy Connect transmission line, backers of the project say Hydro-Québec’s missteps have not helped. (The Narwhal)

TRANSPORTATION:
• The Portland, Maine, city council asks state transit officials to pause work on a highway project, saying it is incompatible with state and local climate plans. (Portland Press Herald)
• Connecticut’s fare-free bus program has brought its ridership levels up to 90% of pre-COVID levels. (Hartford Courant)

SOLAR:
• New Jersey now has over 4 GW of installed solar projects, according to a state regulatory report. (news release)
• In northern New York, a developer holds a meeting with nearby residents to discuss its proposed 240 MW solar farm, which some farm advocates say would bring less business to the area than tillable acreage. (NNY360)
• Noting that zoning powers reside with the state, officials in a western New York town look to negotiate with a solar developer to tweak a local project. (Lockport Union-Sun & Journal)

CLIMATE:
• New Hampshire’s coastal towns are already seeing climate change exacerbate flooding – impacting homes, municipal property and a regional history museum. (New Hampshire Bulletin)
• As New Hampshire summers get hotter, the likelihood of thriving cyanobacteria blooms in local water bodies increases. (New Hampshire Public Radio)

GAS:
• The Springfield, Massachusetts, city council plans to vote on a resolution today opposing a proposed underground gas pipeline that would go through their jurisdiction. (WAMC)
• A small Pennsylvania college plans to construct a $1.5 million commercial-scale anaerobic digester this fall after years of using a smaller version to make methane gas. (Sentinel)

GRID:
• The developers separately building two large energy storage projects in Massachusetts seek approvals from state regulators despite local moratoriums. (Energy Storage News)
• A 78-mile transmission line upgrade spanning New York’s St. Lawrence and Lewis counties is roughly two-thirds complete and should be done by 2023. (NNY360)

UTILITIES:
• In northern New York, a town board’s subcommittee recommends locking in lower power rates and 100% renewable energy through a community choice aggregation program. (NNY360)
• Retail energy suppliers fight against a Massachusetts proposal to end their ability to sign new or renew existing contracts. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN ENERGY: PNC Bank signs a renewable power purchase agreement accounting for roughly half of its operations in states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia. (WMBD)