Murdoch scapegoats clean energy in NJ

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.

AFFORDABILITY

• During New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, Rupert Murdoch’s media companies produced coverage and op-eds that inaccurately blamed the state’s rising power prices on its clean energy policies, a pair of new reports from watchdog organization Media Matters finds. (Inside Climate News)

• Rhode Island’s major utility asks regulators to approve electric and gas rate hikes that would increase bills an average of 5% and 20% respectively, but Gov. Dan McKee opposes the request: ​“This is not the time for a utility rate increase.” (Rhode Island Current)

• Maine state lawmakers of both parties agree that affordability is the most important factor to consider in energy policy, though their ideas about how to lower costs are at odds. (Maine Monitor)

FEDERAL ACTION

• For the third time, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright orders Pennsylvania’s fossil fuel-burning Eddystone power plant, which was slated to retire months ago, to continue operations to ​“strengthen grid reliability.” (RTO Insider)

• Federal policy changes and funding cuts could have ​“devastating and immediate” consequences on Rhode Island’s ability to meet its climate goals, according to a report from a consortium of state agencies. (Rhode Island Current)

FOSSIL FUELS

• A bipartisan pair of U.S. Congressmen propose a bill increasing the fine for liquid fuel pipeline leaks by a factor of nine following a leak in a jet fuel pipeline that contaminated groundwater in Pennsylvania. (E&E News)

CLEAN ENERGY

• Pennsylvania state lawmakers prepare to develop energy policy in the wake of the state’s departure from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, with Democrats supporting clean energy programs and Republicans preferring a more market-based approach. (PennLive)

• The Connecticut Green Bank sells more than $19 million in bonds to fund programs supporting residential solar installations and energy efficiency services. (Hartford Courant)

GRID

• New York’s grid could need to add thousands of megawatts of dispatchable generation over the next 10 years to avoid ​“profound reliability challenges,” according to a new report from grid operator NYISO. (Utility Dive)

• The market monitor for PJM asks federal regulators to tell the grid operator not to allow any data centers to connect to the grid if they cannot be served reliably. (Utility Dive)

BIOMASS

• Burlington, Vermont’s electric company identifies two possible ways to reduce carbon emissions from its wood-burning power plant without significantly raising electricity rates: carbon capture and wood pyrolysis. (Seven Days)

TRANSMISSION

• A judge rules that landowners and surveyors conducting studies for a planned transmission line must coordinate access to private properties during hunting season, after surveyors reported being threatened by residents opposed to the project. (Maryland Matters)

COMMENTARY

• Maryland’s upcoming $150 annual registration fee for commercial EV chargers will likely slow the spread of Level 2 chargers, hampering electric vehicle adoption right when the state needs to accelerate it, says an EV blogger. (Maryland Matters)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Can the war on coal still be won? — Michael Grunwald

• Hundreds of low-income Illinois families are going electric — for free — Kari Lydersen

• Chart: Solar and wind are meeting — and exceeding — new power demand — Dan McCarthy

• Some gas stations are revamping to attract EV drivers with time to kill — Benton Graham