Maine sets 3 GW offshore wind power target by 2040

OFFSHORE WIND: Maine’s governor signs a new law setting the state up to procure at least 3 GW of offshore wind power by 2040 -- equivalent to about half the state’s power demand -- with incentives to smooth out relations with the fishing industry. (Associated Press)

PIPELINES: The amount of gas flowing to Maryland’s Cove Point liquefied natural gas export plant has decreased to ​“at or near zero” after part of the Columbia Gas Transmission Pipeline exploded. (Reuters, Marcellus Drilling News)

SOLAR:
• Residents who live close to an upstate New York solar farm are advised to shelter in place to avoid exposure to toxic fumes from a ​“large battery fire.” (CBS News, SI Live)
• New York’s public service commission chair tells utilities they need to fix solar billing overcharges and late bills before the end of the year or risk large fines. (LoHud)

TRANSPORTATION: Federal highway agency records show that many states, including the majority of the Northeast, have collectively directed $755 million in federal climate funds toward general highway accounts. (Washington Post)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A Portland venture capital firm intends to invest up to $100 million through 2025 on mainly early stage companies working on fleet electrification, electric vehicle infrastructure and related energy transition tech. (WMTW)
• Connecticut’s e-bike rebate program proved more popular than funds could support, resulting in thousands of rejected voucher applications. (CT Public)
• Some delivery bikers are switching to gas-powered mopeds after struggling to charge their e-bikes on the go. (Streetsblog NYC)
• A south-central Pennsylvania county seeks a federal voucher for just under $275,000 to buy eight electric vehicles for its municipal fleet. (The Sentinel)

UTILITIES:
• Nicole LeVine talks about being the first female chief operating officer of PECO Energy, a Philadelphia-area utility, and increasing summertime operations reliability. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders endorses the campaign in Maine to form a statewide public power authority, boosting activists as they are significantly outspent by opposing utilities. (Portland Press Herald, Bangor Daily News)

GRID:
• Heat waves and associated power demand increases lead PJM Interconnection to issue alerts for generators to be ready to come online. (S&P Global)
• Massachusetts ratepayers will likely pay for most of the 50% cost increase for developers to finish the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line. (Boston Globe)
• A northern Maine utility may receive $1.75 million in federal funds to upgrade a four-mile-long, almost-45-year-old transmission line that connects to a manufacturing plant. (The County)
• As the Pittsburgh International Airport’s microgrid hits two years of operation, officials say other airports are sending representatives to learn more for their own resiliency plans. (news release)

CLIMATE: New York City residents are proving essential to climate data collection efforts, noting temperature and humidity measures or observing hyperlocal rainfall totals. (Yes! Magazine)