Philadelphia wants more green power

RENEWABLE POWER: Philadelphia announces a new request for renewable energy projects to help it achieve its goal of 100% renewable power for municipal buildings by 2030; bids are due in July. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

WIND:

• In Maryland, several Republican lawmakers want the state’s governor to veto legislation they say would increase the ways offshore wind developers can tap into subsidies and raise costs on ratepayers. (Salisbury Daily Times)
• In Connecticut, New London’s State Pier receives the first components needed to assemble wind turbines for the Revolution Wind project. (The Day)
• A panel of government officials and offshore wind industry reps convenes to discuss prediction and mitigation of projects’ impact on fisheries and how to relieve tension between the sectors. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• The first deep-water berth for offshore wind vessels at the Foss Marine Terminal in New Bedford, Massachusetts, should wrap up construction next month, although much of the terminal construction won’t be complete until around 2029. (CAI)
• A public forum on offshore wind projects in Delaware draws only a handful of supporters but an onslaught of local opposition. (WBOC)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Massachusetts transit officials plan to spend $63 million over five years to install charging stations in no more than 50-mile increments. (Mass Live)

POLICY: Connecticut’s House passes a major climate bill that would declare a climate crisis and incentivize heat pumps, solar energy and other renewable energy infrastructure, among other measures. (CT Mirror, Hartford Courant)

SOLAR:

• Connecticut plans to use some of its federal Solar for All funds to offer incentives for landlords to make the upgrades necessary to convert multi-family properties to run on solar energy. (Connecticut Public Radio)
• Four small solar projects in Pennsylvania’s Lebanon County will receive roughly $1 million in federal Solar for All funds. (LebTown)
• Community solar advocates and installers in Massachusetts say the billing framework is so complicated it limits subscriptions from the low-income households the projects are supposed to support. (Bay State Banner)
• In Maryland’s Howard County, two energy developers work to build a solar project at a church that will cover its power demand while also opening up community power subscriptions for a nearby university and community. (news release)

GRID: Four U.S. senators ask New England’s grid operator to update its transparency and governance guidelines, specifically asking for all meetings to be public. (Mass Live)

UTILITIES: A Pennsylvania Senate committee advances a bill to allow public utilities to seek waivers from laws under the purview of state utility commissioners if the utility proves exemption will lead to ratepayer cost reductions and more efficient operations. (Bedford Gazette)

PIPELINES: The developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, slated to carry Pennsylvania and West Virginia shale gas, are aiming to get federal approval to commission the line by the end of the month. (Pittsburgh Business Times)

BUILDINGS: A Pennsylvania House committee advances a bill to set energy efficiency standards for household and commercial appliances, a policy change that the bill’s sponsor says could save residents almost $250 million every year by 2030. (news release)