PA gas explosion follows construction work that may have ignored policies

GAS: A Tuesday explosion at an empty Pennsylvania town building reportedly stemmed from contractors hitting a gas line; no permits were issued for the work, and no one followed a critical pre-construction gas line law. (WTAE)

ALSO: The mayor of Washington, D.C., signs a law banning gas use in most new construction and setting a new-zero construction code by 2026, among other policies. (DCist)

GRID: A recent ISO New England report suggests its reserve grid margin may need to rise to 300% by 2040 under certain decarbonization plans, meaning the grid will need to add wind and solar whose capacity outweighs demand. (Utility Dive)

CLIMATE:
• Industry opposition, misinformation and a lack of technical education among lawmakers are some of the reasons the predominantly liberal New York legislature sees delays in passing major climate bills, Democratic legislators say. (Gothamist)
• Research commissioned by a national nonprofit shows thousands of previously flooded New York homes were sold to new homeowners who may face potentially tens of thousands of dollars of future repairs. (City Limits)
• New federal estimates predict high tide flooding frequency along the New Jersey Shore will dramatically rise by midcentury. (Asbury Park Press)
• A New Hampshire community program will host a leadership academy to train residents to execute climate resilience projects. (New Hampshire Public Radio)

SOLAR:
• New York officials determine a 100 MW solar array’s permit application is complete, meaning work is now underway to issue a draft permit for public comment within about two months. (Lockport Union-Sun & Journal)
• A solar developer brought two solar projects online earlier this summer respectively notching 5.7 MW and 4.9 MW. (news release)

EFFICIENCY:
• New York City’s public housing agency will receive $70 million in state funding to make efficiency upgrades to its residential buildings’ heating and cooling systems. (NY Daily News)
• A Pennsylvania borough decides to take out a $1.2 million loan to purchase efficiency equipment and make related upgrades at municipal buildings. (Indiana Gazette)

EQUITY: In Vermont, training programs, mentorship and representation help usher more female workers into the solar industry. (NBC 5)

AFFORDABILITY: Three of New Hampshire’s four utilities have rate hikes going into effect this month. (New Hampshire Public Radio)