PA balances costly mine cleanup with economic boost

COAL: Pennsylvania officials eye a potentially massive bill for cleaning up former mine lands in the northeast area of the state, but note the economic growth that could come with reclamation. (Center Square)

GRID:
• A district court judge sets a tentative April date for the start of the trial to determine whether New England Clean Energy Connect established vested rights in its controversial power corridor before a voter referendum was held to block it. (Portland Press Herald)
• Green Mountain Power looks to almost double its battery storage capacity in Vermont through projects in six separate towns. (WCAX)

AFFORDABILITY:
• New England’s governors want Congress to add at least $500 million in emergency aid to a federal low-income heating assistance program to help offset energy bills expected to be unaffordable for many this winter. (NBC Boston)
• Maine regulators approve a gas supply cost hike that will roughly double the cost for the average household serviced by Summit Natural Gas, which is separately seeking a distribution rate increase. (Portland Press Herald)

SOLAR:
• In New York City, developers discuss the hurdles of building Manhattan’s largest rooftop solar project: a just-under-1 MW array coupled with a 3.5 MW battery system on top of a major convention center. (Canary Media)
• A Japanese clothing company completes a 3.4 MW rooftop solar array on top of its New Jersey distribution center. (news release)

CLIMATE:
• As New England ocean temperatures have risen, so too has the wintertime survival odds of an invasive crab that could destroy local ecosystems. (WCVB)
• Pennsylvania announces its first sustainability summit, which will focus on topics including energy conservation, climate change impacts, electric vehicle incentives and building performance. (news release)

PIPELINES: Pennsylvania notifies a gas company constructing a pipeline under a Lycoming County creek that they have violated erosion and sediment regulations at the site. (Penn Live Patriot-News)

OFFSHORE WIND: Amid a regional energy crisis, New Hampshire officials say they’re carefully evaluating the state’s offshore wind power generation potential. (Portsmouth Herald)

CLEAN ENERGY: A Massachusetts’ town’s municipal power utility signs a contract that increases residents’ green power option from 11% to 30% renewable energy. (Patch)

BIOFUEL: Years after becoming fully operational, a western Massachusetts biodiesel plant secures enough funding to actually begin fuel production this week. (New England Public Media)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• New Jersey environmental officials announce a plan to construct new electric vehicle charging stations at six state parks and forests. (NJ Spotlight)
• In Baltimore, a local newspaper details how to safely store and charge an electric battery after an electric bike caught fire in an apartment building garage. (Baltimore Sun)