New England lawmakers: Senate budget bill a ​“catastrophe”

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FEDERAL ACTION

• The U.S. Senate passes the sprawling and controversial budget bill that includes cuts to clean energy tax credits and provisions that many expect to increase consumers’ energy costs. Lawmakers from around New England call the measures ​“destructive,” a ​“giveaway for the wealthy,” and ​“a catastrophe.” (ABC 6, CT Mirror)

• “Everything is getting dirtier”: Rollbacks in EPA funding and enforcement will cost climate programs in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County millions of dollars and compromise progress on air quality in the region, advocates say.(PublicSource)

OFFSHORE WIND

• Offshore wind developers and utilities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island delay finalizing contracts for a fourth time, citing ongoing uncertainty about the impact of federal policy. (WWLP, Rhode Island Current)

• Republican state lawmakers in Delaware agree to pass a billion-dollar bond bill in exchange for a delay in implementing a bill that allows a substation for offshore wind power to be built despite a previous rejection by county officials. (Spotlight Delaware)

NUCLEAR

• Experts say New York could meet its goal of 1 GW of new nuclear generation with a ​“fleet-style approach,” deploying multiple, smaller reactors to reach the target. (Utility Dive)

• The New York Power Authority may seek a federal loan to help fund the state’s planned nuclear development. (Axios)

• Communities throughout New York lobby to be the location for the state’s planned new nuclear generation, though some lawmakers and advocates still have concerns about safety and affordability. (WXXI)

NATURAL GAS

• Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signs a bill pledging to aim for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, then quickly hints that he is open to expanding gas pipeline capacity in the state. (CT Mirror)

HEATING

• Vermont’s plan to create incentives to transition home heating off of fossil fuels is ​“dead” in the face of Republican opposition and concerns about the cost of the program, raising questions about the state’s path to its goal of cutting emissions 80% by 2050. (VTDigger)

SOLAR

• Maine Gov. Janet Mills signs into law a bill that aims to save consumers money by restructuring the state’s solar incentives, but which developers say could slow or stall the growth of solar in the state. (PV Magazine)

• New Jersey lawmakers unanimously approve a bill calling for the creation of an automated solar permitting process that will expedite development. (PV Magazine)

COAL

• Environmental advocates appeal regulators’ decision to let a coal mine expand its operation in southwestern Pennsylvania, saying the plan could cause water pollution and damage to the land. (TribLive)

CLEAN ENERGY

• New Jersey’s newly signed budget diverts $190 million from the state’s clean energy fund to help make ends meet in the general and transit budgets, the 17th year in a row lawmakers have ​“raided” the fund. (Inside Climate News)

NEW FROM CANARY MEDIA

• Senate’s​‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ would be a disaster for clean energy — Kathryn Krawczyk

• Redwood Materials built record grid-storage project using old EV batteries — Julian Spector

• Dominion Energy’s latest plan sidesteps Virginia’s 2045 clean power goal — Elizabeth Ouzts

• New Senate GOP bill would kill clean power and spike energy costs — Jeff St. John