Hydrogen hub plans raise environmental justice concerns

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Northeast Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

HYDROGEN

Environmental justice advocates worry that plans for a hydrogen hub including sites in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware could create unsafe conditions for residents without doing much to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Philadelphia)

FUNDING FREEZE

• Massachusetts on Friday remained locked out of $316 million in EPA funding for climate programs, including incentives for low-income solar and the purchase of electric school buses, a move U.S. Sen. Ed Markey calls unconstitutional. (Boston Globe)

• At least $138 million in federal funding committed to low-income weatherization and solar, grid modernization, and home electrification is being held up by President Trump’s attempts to freeze federal spending. (Vermont Public)

• Rhode Island is unable to access $125 million in federal funds intended for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. (Rhode Island Current)

• Progress stalled on a geothermal installation at a Connecticut train station as officials were locked out of an account holding $16.5 million in federal funding for a few days. (CT Mirror)

CLIMATE

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s energy plan draws objections from climate advocates who object to its ​“all of the above” approach that embraces fossil fuel energy generation. (Inside Climate News)

NATURAL GAS

• New York state regulators approve the construction of two new compressor stations, a key step toward enabling an additional 125 million cubic feet of natural gas to flow along a pipeline from Canada to New York. (Times Union)

• A group of neighbors in Baltimore band together to stop a gas utility from replacing 100-year-old pipes on their street, saying the cost is too high and it is unclear there are any safety or climate benefits. (Baltimore Sun, subscription)

GRID

Some stakeholders in the PJM territory object to an agreement between the grid operator and the state of Pennsylvania to cap prices on the capacity market, arguing it could increase prices in the long term and compromise resource adequacy. (RTO Insider, subscription)

POLITICS

Five candidates for mayor of New York City promote their climate plans, promising to shut down a Brooklyn gas plant, strengthen building emissions reduction mandates, and advance city pensions’ divestment from fossil fuel interests. (Inside Climate News)

LEGISLATION

Maine state legislators consider multiple energy bills, including one that would allow nuclear power to count toward the state’s clean energy goals and one that would allow utilities to charge less for electricity at times of lower demand. (Maine Monitor)

AFFORDABILITY

Maine’s new consumer advocate says she’ll focus on finding new ways to help residents save money on their electricity bills, as state funding for low-income energy assistance is set to run out in June. (Portland Press Herald, subscription)