PA utility disconnections didn’t surge as feared after moratorium ended

UTILITIES: Consumer advocates worry about the 116,000 Pennsylvania customers who have had their power disconnected since a utility shutoff moratorium ended in April, but say the state ​“didn’t get a tidal wave” of shut-offs as expected partly due to other relief programs. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

ALSO: A Massachusetts bill with backing from state energy and environment officials would ban competitive electric suppliers from acquiring new individual residential customers in the state. (State House News Service)

NATURAL GAS:
• Pennsylvania’s Transportation Revenue Options Commission concludes its last meeting before releasing a report on replacing its gas tax, which reportedly includes recommendations such as a mileage fee and a package delivery fee. (PennLive Patriot-News)
• In Connecticut, some clean air advocates claim plans to convert a natural gas-fired power plant to hydrogen won’t have any environmental benefit if natural gas is used to make the hydrogen. (New Haven Register)

SOLAR:
• Aiming to double the state’s installed solar capacity, New Jersey regulators approve a solar incentive program that lowers subsidies but discards key components of a developmental cost cap. (NJ Spotlight)
• A planned 100 MW solar farm in upstate New York is sold to a Swedish investment group; recently dozens of nearby residents walked out of an informational meeting on the solar farm in protest. (Lockport Union-Sun & Journal)
• A central New York town council postpones signing a resolution in support of a proposed 160 MW solar farm as residents voice concerns about property values and landscape buffering for neighboring properties. (Ithaca.com)
• A Canadian developer proposes building a 3.5 MW solar farm on a field in a small New York town along Lake Erie. (Buffalo News)
• Two energy developers began construction on four Maine community solar projects totaling 25.5 MW DC in the second quarter of this year. (news release)

CLIMATE: The Vermont Climate Council wants public input as it drafts new policies to address greenhouse gas emissions.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New York Power Authority board members authorize an additional $1.1 million in spending to help municipal and rural power operators decarbonize their vehicle fleets. (news release)

RENEWABLE ENERGY: A southeastern Pennsylvania group funds three local sustainability projects: an off-the-grid childrens’ education center, new efficiency measures at a history museum, and a demonstration anaerobic digester. (Reading Eagle)