Northeast states pledge to boost heat pumps sales by 2040

BUILDINGS: Environmental agencies in nine Northeast and Western states pledge to have heat pumps make up 90% of residential heating, air conditioning and water heating sales in their states by 2040. (Energy News Network)

ALSO: New Hampshire lawmakers want schools to keep track of how hot their classrooms are to help address how increasingly warm temperatures impact students in classrooms without air conditioning. (WMUR)

FOSSIL FUELS:

• A working group sends recommendations to Massachusetts legislators regarding what to do with the state’s gas system infrastructure, including a focus toward pipeline repair and retirement over replacement. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• Pennsylvania environmentalists criticize the state’s governor for veering away from his promises to more heavily regulate the natural gas and fracking industries since elected. (Inside Climate News)
• Pennsylvania environmental officials undertake an ​“emergency project” to plug two leaking, abandoned gas wells in Scott Township. (Trib Live)
• In Pennsylvania, a natural gas trade group and a local environmental organization disagree on whether a new state mandate to report fracking chemicals furthers transparency. (Trib Live)

GRID: New York issues new recommendations for fire prevention and project reviews of large-scale battery energy storage facilities as some municipalities consider or have already passed project moratoriums. (Newsday)

POLICY: New Hampshire publishes its draft climate change plan ahead of a formal filing with federal officials in March. (NHPR)

CLEAN ENERGY:

• A New Jersey legislative committee supports multiple clean energy bills, including ones that would provide tax credits to help install electric vehicle charging infrastructure and make warehouses ready for rooftop solar development. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• A Vermont legislator sponsors a bill to prevent aesthetic concerns from blocking renewable energy facilities. (WCAX)

GEOTHERMAL: As geothermal pilot projects get underway in Massachusetts, the utilities behind them work to overcome the energy resource’s challenges, such as high upfront costs and disruptive development. (CommonWealth Beacon)

SOLAR: In Maine, developers say the time it’s taking to review proposed solar projects is threatening their ability to receive ratepayer subsidies. (Portland Press Herald)

HYDROPOWER: Almost $11 million in federal funds will help upstate New York hydroelectric facilities make upgrades, part of a nearly $72 million aid package for facilities across the country. (Spectrum News 1, news release)

UTILITIES: In Maine, a new bill would have state utility regulators essentially lay the groundwork for performance-based ratemaking, a proposal not supported by utilities but that supporters say will improve efficiency and reliability. (Maine Public)

NUCLEAR: A Maine state senator introduces a bill to redefine ​‘air pollution control facilities,’ a change that would see the decommissioned Maine Yankee nuclear plant pay property taxes to its host town. (News Center Maine)

COMMENTARY: A utility executive explains why a geothermal network pilot in Framingham, Massachusetts, could prove to be a nationwide model for decarbonization. (CommonWealth Beacon)