New York defends offshore wind interests

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OFFSHORE WIND

• New York state requests permission to intervene in a lawsuit against the planned Sunrise Wind project, saying the state has a strong economic interest in seeing the development move forward. (E&E News)

• A New York state pension fund considers divesting from TotalEnergies following the company’s deal with the federal government to abandon two offshore wind leases for a payment of nearly $1 billion. (Renews.biz/ Financial Times)

DATA CENTERS

• A plan to build affordable housing in Maine loses $240,000 in federal funding after local officials attempted to use the money to investigate the feasibility of building a data center. (Daily Yonder)

• Massachusetts state lawmakers debate whether they need to start planning for the possibility of data center development or whether the state lacks the necessary infrastructure for major facilities to target growth there. (MassLive)

CARBON PRICING

• Prices for emitting a ton of carbon dioxide in the states belonging to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative dropped last week following an announcement that the program would consider making systemic changes if prices continue to climb. (E&E News)

POLITICS

• Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (D) releases an energy plan that calls for eliminating federal gasoline and diesel taxes, increasing taxes on fossil fuel companies and billionaires, and funding clean energy expansion. (Maine Public)

UTILITIES

• New Jersey regulators consider the potential of a system that pays utilities based on their performance toward set goals, rather than a set return on their infrastructure investments. (New Jersey Monitor)

• In its first quarter earnings call, Eversource’s CEO says the company is ​“not interested” in the development of data centers and the facilities are ​“of no value” to customers. (Utility Dive)

• In the same call, Eversource says it hopes to come to a settlement with consumer advocates regarding the utility’s obligation to refund $880 million to customers and its request to increase its allowed return on equity. (RTO Insider)

FOSSIL FUELS

• Energy company Enbridge plans to expand a natural gas pipeline running from New Jersey into Massachusetts. (E&E News)

• A Delaware refinery will release toxic gases for four weeks as it repairs its pollution-control equipment. (WHYY)

COMMENTARY

• The Trump administration’s decision to pay wind developers to walk away from their offshore leases is a bad deal for taxpayers, who are on the hook for nearly $2 billion for moves that will only drive energy costs higher, says a trio of energy researchers. (The Conversation)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Confusing ballot wording may have tipped Ohio vote on renewables ban — Kathiann M. Kowalski

• 250+ onshore wind projects stalled as Pentagon freezes permitting — Kathryn Krawczyk

• Balcony solar bill dies in Illinois after union voices opposition — Kari Lydersen