Massachusetts announces new gas utility decarbonization strategy

POLICY: Massachusetts utility officials roll out a new strategy to regulate utilities away from using natural gas to meet state decarbonization goals. (WBUR, Boston Globe)

ALSO:

• The Brunswick, Maine, council sets a goal for net-zero emissions by 2050, a measure officials say will unlock state and federal climate mitigation funds. (Times Record)
• A draft economic development package shows Massachusetts’ governor wants her state to focus on climate technology in the near term. (Associated Press)
• Vermont’s auditor kicks off an effort to determine whether the state utility commission is meeting the mark on decision timeliness and data collection. (WCAX)

OFFSHORE WIND:

• The developers of the Vineyard Wind offshore project say the project will begin delivering power before the end of the year. (Offshore Wind Biz)
• South Fork Wind pushing power to the grid is both a milestone for the domestic wind industry and a reminder that the U.S. is decades behind Europe in its clean energy build-out. (Associated Press)

TRANSIT:

• Roughly $144 million in newly announced federal rail grants aim to expand Amtrak passenger service between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, restoring service along the way to cities like Reading. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Reading Eagle)
• New York City’s transit agency approves a Manhattan traffic congestion tolling plan under which tolls could rise significantly on ​“gridlock alert days,” opening up a 60-day public comment period. (NorthJersey.com, Streetsblog)

BUILDINGS: A new zoning amendment passed by New York City’s council will help property owners more easily undertake decarbonization projects, like installing wind turbines and electric vehicle chargers. (New York Daily News)

CARBON CAPTURE: The public face of a major New York carbon capture plan won’t reveal his business and financial partners on the project. (FingerLakes1)

CLIMATE:

• Unhoused people in Philadelphia struggle to overcome the frequent flooding and extreme heat associated with climate change. (WHYY)
• A warming climate is making it difficult to hold wintertime cultural and athletic events on New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee. (CBS Boston)