Massachusetts curbs gas company spending

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Northeast Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

FOSSIL FUELS

• Massachusetts regulators lower the amount gas utilities can spend to replace aging pipes as the state implements policies to transition away from natural gas use. (WCVB)

• Pennsylvania coal plants called on to stay online to help meet growing power demand are making lots of money in the current market, but remain among the dirtiest ways to generate electricity. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• Construction on a controversial natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania into New York is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year and be completed by the end of 2027. (SIlive.com)

IRAN WAR

• Rhode Island drivers have paid $36.6 million in increased gas prices since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, according to Brown University researchers. (Rhode Island Current)

UTILITIES

• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sends a letter to 24 gas, electric, and water utilities, telling them that they need to focus more on their customers than on boosting earnings: ​“We can no longer simply prioritize corporate profitability.” (WHYY)

DATA CENTERS

• Residents of Lowell, Massachusetts, sue the owners of a data center and state environmental regulators, claiming officials improperly approved an air quality permit for the facility. (CommonWealth Beacon)

• Pennsylvania public utility regulators advance regulations intended to protect consumers from the cost of building new infrastructure to support energy-hungry data centers. (WHYY)

CLIMATE

• Climate advocates in New Jersey plan to march in support of a bill that would collect money from fossil fuel companies to pay for infrastructure improvements and climate resiliency measures. (New Jersey Globe)

SOLAR

• Connecticut state lawmakers advance a bill extending solar incentives, though Republicans argue that the program has become too costly. (CT Mirror)

• The New York state legislature considers a bill that would make it easier for affordable housing developers to install solar panels on the roofs of their buildings. (City Limits)

EFFICIENCY

• Lawmakers and advocates object to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to redirect $40 million from weatherization programs to immediate bill assistance for low-income households. (E&E News)

ELECTRIFICATION

• A Maine commercial fishing cooperative launches an all-electric workboat purpose-built to help serve lobstering operations. (National Fisherman)

TRANSMISSION

• Officials in New York’s Nassau County want answers about the costs, safety, and health impacts of a planned transmission line, though the project developers say they’ve been transparent from the beginning. (Long Island Press)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Top US nuclear regulator is rewriting its rules for new era of reactors — Alexander C. Kaufman

• For cheaper power, Virginia’s local utilities build small grid batteries — Elizabeth Ouzts

• SoCalGas customers spared paying $266M for hydrogen pipeline project — Jeff St. John

• Hydropower is in hot water. Will Trump’s DOE release funding to help? — Kathryn Krawczyk