Pennsylvania blast raises questions about future of steel

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Northeast Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

INDUSTRY

• The deadly explosion at a Pennsylvania plant that turns coal into coke raises questions about whether the steelmaking industry will move in a greener, safer direction or continue to embrace fossil fuels with the Trump administration’s support. (Canary Media)

• The coking plant where the blast occurred experienced several previous explosions over the past 15 years, and was described by one official as ​“one of the most decrepit facilities I’ve ever seen.” (Inside Climate News)

LITIGATION

• In a new lawsuit in a federal court in Massachusetts, environmental groups allege the Trump administration handpicked five climate change skeptics to write the report underpinning the plan to repeal the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. (New York Times)

• A group of 18 states — including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, and New York — sues the U.S. Department of Energy, challenging a rule that puts a cap on the amount of grant money state-run clean energy and energy efficiency programs can use for administrative and staffing costs. (MoCo Show)

OFFSHORE WIND

• New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte signs a law removing the development of ​“speculative and intrusive offshore wind projects” from the mission of the state energy innovation office. (NHPR)

• A convention center hosting a gathering of Maryland county leaders displays anti-wind messages on its electronic signs until pro-wind groups ask for their removal; inside the event, the mayor of Ocean City rails against turbines, calling offshore wind an existential threat to the community. (Maryland Matters)

STORAGE

• U.S. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin is set to appear on Long Island in New York where he is expected to discuss new federal guidance for communities considering hosting battery energy storage projects. (New York Post)

GRID

• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signs a law calling for utility regulators to investigate grid operator PJM’s role in soaring electricity bills and slow connection of new resources to the grid. (NJ.com)

SOLAR

• A group of southern Delaware residents will soon be able to install solar panels at their homes, thanks to a new battery facility planned for the area; without the storage capacity, the grid would be unable to accommodate the extra flow of power from residential solar. (Spotlight Delaware)

NUCLEAR

• Nearly half of New Yorkers support the development of new nuclear power generation facilities in the state, according to a new poll. (Field Notes)

• Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declares he is committed to including nuclear power in strategies to meet the state’s energy needs. (Baltimore Sun)

NEW FROM CANARY 

• Trump admin tightens vise on wind and solar with new tax rules — Jeff St. John

• A universal adapter for solar, batteries, EVs, and microgrids is here — Jeff St. John

• As hurricane season returns, Puerto Rico’s grid still struggles — Kathryn Krawczyk