“No viable path” for Beacon Wind

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.

OFFSHORE WIND

• A joint venture between BP and JERA announces it will not proceed with Beacon Wind, a planned 1.2-gigawatt wind farm off the Massachusetts coast: ​“We see no viable path.” (Maritime Executive)

• U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claims offshore wind is ​“bad for everybody,” repeating baseless claims about the impact of wind turbines on whales and military radar. (E&E News)

• The Trump administration’s attacks on offshore wind could make it more difficult for New England to meet growing energy demand, prevent the creation of thousands of expected jobs, and result in 3 million more tons of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. (WBUR)

STORAGE

• Battery storage company Eos Energy announces plans to invest $353 million to relocate its headquarters from New Jersey to Pittsburgh, and expand its operations in Pennsylvania. (WESA)

DATA CENTERS

• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy vetoes a bill that would require data centers to report their water and electricity use, and asks for a new version that would require regulators to ask whether these facilities are unduly burdening electricity and water ratepayers. (New Jersey Monitor)

SOLAR

• Maryland launches a $25 million program offering grants to local governments and nonprofits completing solar and electrification projects and passing the financial benefits on to low-income residents. (Baltimore Sun)

• A New Jersey shopping center receives approval to host a large community solar array on its roof. (Shorebeat)

AFFORDABILITY

• Though high electricity prices have become the centerpiece of the New Jersey gubernatorial race, experts say neither candidate will be able to do much to stop rates from climbing. (Heatmap)

GRID

• Grid operator ISO New England has launched an interconnection study for a group consisting of 21 battery storage, two solar, and three wind projects, including the proposed 1.2-gigawatt SouthCoast Wind 1 development. (Utility Dive)

• Generation owners, tech companies, and other stakeholders suggest a variety of measures for dealing with data center-driven load growth on the PJM grid, including implementing fast-tracked interconnections processes and requiring ​“bring your own” generation for large users. (RTO Insider)

• New York state legislators consider a bill that would increase regulations and taxes on cryptocurrency mining operations, particularly ones whose energy-intensive operations strain the grid. (News10)

REGULATION

• Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont nominates four new commissioners to the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, expanding the size of the board and replacing recently resigned chair Marissa Gillett. (CT Mirror)

GEOTHERMAL

• A Massachusetts development agency issues a nearly $155 million bond to Mount Holyoke College to support its replacement of fossil fuel heating systems with geothermal, alongside other campus improvements. (WWLP)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Can cargo shipping stay the course toward cleaner fuels? — Maria Gallucci

• Rondo Energy turns on first major thermal battery — at an oil field — Jeff St. John

• Electra announces deals with Meta, Nucor to scale its clean-iron tech — Maria Gallucci

• The startup trying to make​‘DIY’ home batteries happen — Jeff St. John