Maine regulators waive Iberdrola review

UTILITIES: Maine utility regulators vote to waive review of Iberdrola’s $2.5 billion purchase of the remaining shares of Avangrid, the parent company of utility Central Maine Power, referencing an earlier approval of the corporate structure. (Portland Press Herald)

POLITICS: Even though both blue and red states are taking advantage of a slew of clean energy investment dollars coming via the Inflation Reduction Act, states like Pennsylvania could see their big plans upended if former President Trump is re-elected and rescinds unspent funds. (Stateline)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Pennsylvania transportation officials will use $14 million in federal funds to install public electric vehicle chargers around Philadelphia. (Billy Penn)
• General Motors and EVgo partner to install hundreds of 350 kW electric vehicle fast charging stations across major cities in seven states, including New York. (Utility Dive)
• An environmental group schedules a solar and electric vehicle expo for Sept. 28 at a western Maine high school, where attendees can test drive different vehicle models. (Sun Journal)

WIND: A news outlet explains how the math pencils out after Massachusetts’ governor says that more offshore wind, even at a higher price point, will result in lower power costs. (CommonWealth Beacon)

WORKFORCE:

• A new clean energy jobs report finds that Pennsylvania increased its clean energy jobs by 4.6% in 2023, equivalent to 6% of all new jobs in the state that year. (Pittsburgh Business Times)
• A group of University of Massachusetts Dartmouth students complete a publicly funded, 10-week offshore wind industry training program that was launched last year. (news release)

SOLAR: In Maine, a land trust donates a solar array to a school district that will completely cover the power demands of a classroom building. (Advertiser Democrat)

GRID: New York’s grid operator presents a final interim staff recommendation for its 2025-2029 demand curve reset that mostly adhered to an earlier draft version but adjusted some metrics, like net energy and ancillary services revenues. (RTO Insider, subscription)

COMMENTARY: The president of the Massachusetts of the Conservation Law Foundation writes that the state legislature ought to reconvene this fall to ​“pass a comprehensive climate bill that moves our state beyond gas” instead of relying on ​“quick fixes.” (CommonWealth Beacon)