New Jersey county sues for climate damages

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FOSSIL FUELS

• New Jersey’s Middlesex County sues major oil and gas companies, seeking compensation for damages caused by climate change and accusing the defendants of ​“decades of climate deception.” (Inside Climate News)
• Advocates plan to clean up a Pennsylvania river devoid of life because of coal mining pollution and turn it into a trout-fishing destination. (Capital & Main)

SOLAR

• A Connecticut-based clean energy financing program and the Maryland Clean Energy Center are among the groups suing the federal government for damages related to the Trump administration’s attempts to terminate the $7 billion Solar for All program. (Utility Dive)
• The New York Power Authority announces it will own 51% of a new, 240-MW solar project, a landmark in the state’s effort to use public-private partnerships to advance renewable energy. (Utility Dive)

DATA CENTERS

• Neighbors of a proposed Pennsylvania data center sue the state, claiming parts of its planning code violate residents’ constitutional rights to clean air and water. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• Eastport, Maine, asks federal regulators to reject a preliminary permit application for a plan to build an undersea data center in the waters off the city. (Maine Monitor)
• A Maine town passes a 180-day moratorium on data center development, with plans to develop a more permanent prohibition. (Maine Monitor)

AFFORDABILITY

• Up to 67,000 low-income Mainers will be automatically enrolled in an electricity discount program that could save them more than 80% on their power bills. (Maine Public)

ELECTRIFICATION

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signs legislation establishing a rebate program to support commercial landscape businesses switching to electric equipment. (Post-Journal)