Judge dismisses NYC lawsuit against fossil fuel companies

CLIMATE: A judge dismisses New York City’s lawsuit claiming that major oil companies misled the public about the climate impacts of their products, saying the city failed to prove its case. (E&E News)

ALSO: New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte inherits an energy policy focused on affordability rather than emissions, though her past positions on climate change suggest she might be open to more assertive action than her predecessor. (NHPR)

TRANSPORTATION: Early numbers suggest congestion pricing in Manhattan is having an impact, with 219,000 fewer cars entering the central business district, faster commute time, and ridership up on public transit. (NJ Spotlight News) 

OFFSHORE WIND:

• An offshore wind trade association releases a report finding the industry has generated $40 billion in investments in the U.S. and created thousands of jobs. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• Belatedly filed finance statements reveal a county official funded an anonymous campaign opposing a pro-wind ballot question on Cape Cod this fall. (Provincetown Independent)

SOLAR: The Rhode Island Supreme Court declines to review a lower court ruling allowing a commercial solar development to go forward despite local opposition. (Boston Globe)

GRID:

• A New Jersey utility is among eight awarded a share of $23 billion in federal loan guarantees to modernize the grid and add renewable energy resources. (New York Times)
• Maryland state legislators hear about the state’s ​“dire” energy outlook as soaring demand and retiring power plants raise concerns about future sustainability, say state officials and PJM representatives. (Fox45)
• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro threatens to leave regional transmission organization PJM if the group doesn’t do more to contain soaring power prices. (E&E News, subscription)

NUCLEAR:

• New York considers using new nuclear technology such as advanced microreactors to keep the state’s electric grid reliable as demand increases. (WGRZ)
• As plans to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island progress, residents of a neighboring county express concerns about the safety of the plant, which was the site of a partial meltdown in 1979. (WHTM)

CONSUMER PROTECTION: Massachusetts’ attorney general plans a renewed push for legislation stopping competitive electricity suppliers from selling directly to residential customers, saying the industry is ​“preying upon” low-income households. (WWLP)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New Haven, Connecticut approves plans to buy an electric garbage truck, but will still be less than 10% of the way to its goal of electrifying the entire municipal fleet by 2030. (New Haven Independent)

COMMENTARY:

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul must take action on the HEAT Act to stop residents from paying to upgrade crumbling gas infrastructure and promote clean energy alternatives, says a building decarbonization advocate. (Times Union)
• Maine’s public employee retirement system is not doing enough to prepare to divest from fossil fuels by 2026, as required by law, says an environmental activist and retirement system member. (Portland Press Herald, subscription)