Maine EV mandate vote delayed over severe weather

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Maine regulatory board is forced to push back a critical vote to phase out gas-fueled vehicle sales because of severe weather and asks the state legislature to instead review the rule, delaying its implementation. (Associated Press, Portland Press Herald)

ALSO: In New York, Republican lawmakers want the state’s governor to drop an electric school bus purchase mandate unless funding is secured. (NNY360)

BUILDINGS:

• Maine’s heat pump market is already thriving, but new federal subsidies targeting low-income homeowners (and potentially multifamily housing) could further spur its growth. (Portland Press Herald)
• Vermont utility Green Mountain Power has more than doubled its heat pump rebate for customers making at most 80% of the area’s median income. (WCAX)
• Long commuting distances and lengthy periods of cold help drive up Vermont’s per-capita greenhouse gas emissions, but electric vehicle and heat pump subsidies could help turn that around. (Boston Globe)

FOSSIL FUELS:

• A group of citizen activists in Burrillville, Rhode Island, works to defeat Enbridge’s latest local fossil fuel project, a pipeline expansion. (ecoRI)
• A $1 million federal grant will help University of Delaware scientists more accurately measure methane emitted from landfills. (WHYY)

OFFSHORE WIND: Several industry observers say New York needs to build out its port infrastructure if it wants to meet its offshore wind energy goals and compete with neighboring states making big investments. (City Limits)

SOLAR:

• A western Massachusetts panel debates how best to implement widespread solar generation while benefiting marginalized communities without disrupting non-built environments. (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
• In Pennsylvania, a solar field near Gettysburg will soon help Philadelphia get closer to powering all of its municipal buildings with clean energy by 2030. (WHYY)

POLICY:

• Maryland’s utility commission files an analysis with state policymakers evaluating how much utilities can help decarbonize and electrify buildings. (Southern Maryland Chronicle)
• Four newly sworn-in Philadelphia city council members talk about their plans to mitigate climate emissions, including the role of Philadelphia Gas Works and public transit improvement. (WHYY)

RESILIENCY: Although Massachusetts wants more municipalities to undertake climate resiliency projects, securing state funds to do so isn’t easy. (Boston Globe)

UTILITIES: A Massachusetts utility says the state’s rapid transition away from natural gas will eventually lead to rate hikes. (Mass Live)

TRANSIT: New York City saw a record 335 million vehicle crossings at its tolled bridges and tunnels this year, citing a decline in public transportation ridership and cashless tolling. (Gothamist)

BIOFUELS: A Maine biochar company says it will be able to scale up commercial production in the next few months thanks to newly installed equipment and a $5 million investment from an infrastructure development firm. (Mainebiz)

EXTREME WEATHER:

• With this past summer’s damaging floods in mind, a Vermont lawmaker intends to file a bill to require towns to collaborate and plan for river flooding. (VT Digger)
• Mainers have been seeing fewer, less predictable snowy Decembers in recent years, making business difficult for companies reliant on wintery weather. (Portland Press Herald)
• Burlington, Vermont, saw its warmest year on record in 2023, and extreme weather frequently struck throughout the state. (VT Digger)