Massachusetts’ sweeping energy bill

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.

CLEAN ENERGY

• The Massachusetts Senate releases a sweeping energy bill that would authorize the use of plug-in solar panels, but omits a major energy-efficiency funding cut proposed by the House. (Canary Media)

EMISSIONS

• Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) vetoes two bills that would’ve required large building owners to report their energy use, with the goal of pushing buildings toward mandatory emissions reduction regulations. (Rhode Island Current)

SOLAR

• Boston unveils a pilot program that will offer up to $25,000 in interest-free financing for low- and moderate-income homeowners to install rooftop solar. (news release)

• A western New York town extends a moratorium on battery storage and solar power construction for another six months. (Springville Journal)

OFFSHORE WIND

• Massachusetts leaders celebrate the completion of Vineyard Wind 1, though the array is sending power to the grid in a reduced capacity as it spars with its turbine maintenance provider. (Rhode Island Current)

BATTERIES

• The Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board votes unanimously to approve a 180-MW storage project in Oakham, despite opposition from residents. (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)

FOSSIL FUELS

• A new report finds Pennsylvania has taxed its gas, coal, and petrochemical industries far less than other fossil fuel-producing states have. (Inside Climate News)

• Two coal plants are getting a boost in Maryland, with one retired facility slated to receive federal funding to restart, and PJM Interconnection requesting that federal regulators keep another plant online. (Baltimore Banner)

DATA CENTERS

• New Jersey Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone unexpectedly calls for a nationwide moratorium on data center development as Congress crafts legislation to protect utility customers from data center-induced increases in power bills. (E&E News)

• The Pennsylvania House passes a suite of bills to strengthen regulation of data center development, including a provision that would require the facilities to meet clean energy use requirements to secure lucrative tax incentives. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Hyundai’s new steel mill sparks hopes and fears in Louisiana — Maria Gallucci

• Heat pumps may soon outsell air conditioners in US — Dan McCarthy

• Washington coal plant produces no power but plenty of costs. Who pays? — Tom Banse

• Base Power brings cheap batteries to residents in power-starved PJM — Julian Spector