Pennsylvania’s new data center rules

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.

DATA CENTERS

• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issues an executive order requiring that data center developers meet energy affordability, community engagement, economic development, and environmental protection standards before the state will grant them necessary permits. (NBC News, news release)

• Advocates say Shapiro’s protections don’t go far enough to protect Pennsylvanians, while a data center industry group alleges it’ll ​“stifle investment and job creation.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

NUCLEAR

• A transformer arrives in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, part of Constellation Energy’s plans to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

• Five New England governors and other state officials look to intervene in federal regulators’ review of the merger of NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy, as the deal would consolidate control over the region’s two nuclear power plants. (Maine Public, CT Mirror)

TRANSPORTATION

• The Maryland Transportation Department announces conditional funding for five new fast-charging stations across the state, marking the state’s third and final round of awards from the federal NEVI program. (Baltimore Fishbowl)

• The Boston-area transit agency pushes ahead with plans to deploy battery-powered vehicles on one commuter line, though plans to switch other trains off diesel fuel remain stalled. (CommonWealth Beacon)

SOLAR

• Clean energy developer Dimension Energy raises $857 million to expand its solar farm buildout across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other states. (Renewables Now)

• Norway, Maine, denies an application for a community solar array over concerns it will mar the area’s historic character. (Maine Monitor)

GRID

• ISO New England asks FERC to allow it to increase oversight of ​“asset condition” transmission projects that developers are building to replace aging infrastructure, while Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) requests that FERC step up its oversight of those projects. (Utility Dive)

• Two Long Island villages ask New York utility regulators to reject or dismiss the Propel NY transmission line, arguing the collapse of regional offshore wind plans renders the line unnecessary. (Long Island Press)