New England utilities plan ​‘transformational’ data platform

UTILITIES: Several New England utilities plan to seek federal funds for a regional energy data platform to make it easier for consumers and contractors to estimate potential savings from efficiency upgrades or new electric technologies. (Energy News Network)

RENEWABLE ENERGY:

• A New York energy development agency now has tentative contracts for 2.4 GW worth of land-based renewable energy projects, although details won’t be public until contracts are complete. (ReNew Biz; RTO Insider, subscription)
• A New Hampshire town approves more funds for an over-budget and long-delayed project intended to use methane from a local landfill for electricity production. (NBC 5)

SOLAR:

• New Jersey utility officials choose roughly 310 MW of new solar projects and 80 MWh of energy storage capacity through the state’s second competitive solar incentive program. (Renewables Now)
• Even though U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, a Pennsylvania car dealership owned by his family has been granted hundreds of thousands of dollars tied to the law to install solar panels. (Erie Times-News)
• Halfway through its 25-year warranty, a Pennsylvania school district’s solar array continues to reap financial benefits even after an early stumble with defective panels. (The Sentinel)
• A Maine agency uses federal dollars to issue a $2.5 million grant to support a solar- and energy storage-based resiliency project in several northern towns. (news release)
• A Windham, Maine, construction company receives a $12,600 federal agriculture grant to install a rooftop solar system set to annually save them $1,674. (news release)

WIND: Last week’s announcement of up to 12 more federal lease sales across the country by 2028 gives advocates and local officials hope that more work will come to the Port of New Bedford in Connecticut. (New Bedford Light)

VEHICLES: An international student racing competition hosted by the New Hampshire Motor Speedway will include only hybrid and all-electric race cars designed by engineering students. (Boston Globe)

WORKFORCE: The Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University issues a new report finding the state’s solar workforce sees race-based pay discrepancies and a lack of consistent benefits, while many workers said stimulants are a problem on work sites. (news release)

FOSSIL FUELS:

• A Massachusetts home heating oil company’s insurer settles a class action lawsuit with homeowners who allege to have been sold a biodiesel-oil blend they didn’t want that damaged their systems, despite the business’ claim it did nothing wrong. (Boston Globe)
• The owner and operator of the Everett liquefied natural gas import terminal in Massachusetts asks state utility regulators to increase its cost-of-operation charges to keep the facility running, citing insufficient supply contracts. (RTO Insider, subscription)

FINANCE: A new green bank will advance climate-minded projects and renewable energy development in rural Appalachian communities, including in western Maryland, southern New York and Pennsylvania. (PV Magazine)

BUILDINGS:

• New York City pizzerias using coal- and wood-fired ovens will need to install emission control devices to comply with a new rule from the city’s environmental protection agency. (Newsday)
• As a co-ed boarding school in Delaware plans a net-zero revamp, a panel of experts draws up a series of recommendations for school officials to consider. (news release)

TRANSIT:

• New York City’s transit agency will provide a 10% fare discount on trips that start and end within the city as part of a one-year pilot, set to start the day after the Manhattan traffic congestion tolling plan begins. (Gothamist)
• A New York City public transit fund has roughly $45 million that still hasn’t been spent, despite increasing commuter costs and a lengthy wish list of projects. (Streetsblog)