On clean energy, New York tries to balance speed with land protection

CLEAN ENERGY: New York’s governor proposes a new policy that would speed up clean energy project siting by requiring approval within a year of proposal — but some legislators say there needs to be more guardrails to protect labor and farmlands. (NY Focus)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Pennsylvania lawmakers today begin considering higher annual fees for electric vehicle owners to make up for lost gas tax revenue. (Penn Live, subscription)
• A Maryland bill awaiting the governor’s signature would require state regulators to develop rules for a bidirectional electric vehicle charging program. (Power Grid International)
• New York City’s public advocate says NIMBYism is blocking expansion of outdoor e-bike charging options as batteries have become a top source of indoor fires. (City & State)
• A Reading, Pennsylvania, gas and convenience store receives about $850,000 in state-directed federal funds to install electric vehicle charging stations. (Reading Eagle)

OFFSHORE WIND:

• Developers of SouthCoast Wind say the 2.4 GW project could end up with two substations at the site of the former coal-fired Brayton Point Power Station. (Herald News)
• Maine environmentalists say plans to develop Sears Island into an offshore wind hub ignore wetlands and natural resource protections. (E&E News, subscription)

GRID: A new joint venture intends to develop and manage 200 MWs of microgrid projects in New York. (news release)

BUILDINGS: Maryland environmental groups ​“feel betrayed” over a new budget amendment they say will hurt implementation of clean building provisions of a 2022 climate solutions act. (Maryland Matters)

SOLAR:

• Officials in Pennsylvania’s Kiski Township kick off early discussions as to how to update their zoning ordinance to address solar developments. (Trib Live)
• Turner, Maine, votes to establish requirements around where commercial solar farms can be sited, as well as setback and visual screening regulations. (Sun Journal)

FLOODS: Heavy rain in southwest Pennsylvania this week rose river levels in Pittsburgh to the highest point in almost 20 years, flooding parks. (Trib Live)

WORKFORCE: A Massachusetts public high school will receive millions of dollars from the state to fund a clean energy education pilot project for students. (Daily Hampshire Gazette)