Ørsted cancels Ocean Wind I and II

OFFSHORE WIND: Ørsted cancels its plans to develop Ocean Wind I and II off the New Jersey coast, a decision the state’s governor throws into question the company’s ​“credibility and competence” after weeks of sunny public statements. (Politico)

ALSO:

• Ørsted says supply chain issues and higher interest rates supported its decision to scrap Ocean Wind I and II. (Associated Press)
• A credit ratings agency downgrades Eversource Energy’s outlook from ​‘stable’ to ​‘negative,’ citing concern over whether the company can sell the three offshore wind projects in its pipeline at a strong price. (Utility Dive)
• Analysts say the next year and a half will be difficult for wind developers working in New York as the state works to identify price points that work for everybody. (Wall Street Journal)
• New York records indicate General Electric lobbyists met with top Port of Albany officials about an onshore wind turbine manufacturing facility, a step beyond its known plans in the area. (Times Union)
• Off the Connecticut coast, construction workers on Ørsted and Eversource’s South Fork wind farm begin assembling and installing turbines. (CT Examiner)

FOSSIL FUELS: While Pittsburgh has made strides toward decarbonizing its pension fund, dozens of other major entities in the city — ranging from the city’s school district to major cultural centers — have hired lobbyists who work with fossil fuel companies. (The Guardian)

UTILITIES:

• With several utility-related citizens initiatives up for a vote next week, Maine has seen the second-highest amount of spending on ballot measure campaigns this year. (Ballotpedia)
• Avangrid will pay a $615,000 fine for seven violations of NERC reliability standards by five of its Northeast subsidiaries. (RTO Insider, subscription)

CLEAN ENERGY: A nonprofit operated by New York City taps a Staten Island rail yard and a Bronx plot for clean energy development, issuing a request for proposals for renewable energy or transmission projects. (SI Live)

SOLAR: Three separate regulatory decisions further set back the Apple Hill solar farms in Bennington, Vermont, but the developer intends to file appeals in all three cases. (Bennington Banner)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• A Maine company builds what it characterizes as the ​“first 100% solar US Coast Guard-inspected passenger vessel.” (electrek)
• A New Jersey county works to earn an over $1 million federal grant to speed up the process of installing 48 electric vehicle charging stations. (NorthJersey.com)

CLIMATE: The warming waters and heavier rains off the coast of Maine threaten the livelihoods and customs of the state’s traditional lobster fishers. (USA Today)

COMMENTARY:

• A Maryland-based energy marketing & communications subject matter expert highlights the benefits of virtual power plants and solar in low-income communities. (Energy News Network)
• A Maine solar developer explains why he isn’t voting in favor of forming a statewide public power company with the assets of the state’s two investor-owned utilities. (Bangor Daily News)