Providence considers carbon-neutral municipal building goal

BUILDINGS: The city council of Providence, Rhode Island, considers a requiring all municipal buildings to be carbon neutral by 2050, with earlier milestone goals along the way. (Providence Journal)

ALSO:

• Connecticut receives a $2 million federal grant to support energy efficiency initiatives in the manufacturing sector. (news release)
• In Pennsylvania, Chester County homeowners can now tap into a home repair fund to increase their property’s energy efficiency. (Daily Local News)

GRID:

• A former fossil fuel-fired generating station in West Springfield, Massachusetts, is being considered for a $70 million battery storage facility. (MassLive)
• Maine plans to direct $6.5 million in federal funds for rural electrical grid upgrades that benefit energy-intensive small businesses. (news release)

OFFSHORE WIND:

• Revolution Wind, planned for off Rhode Island’s coast, receives a final air quality permit for its outer continental shelf activities from federal officials. (news release)
• Federal ocean energy officials publish a draft environmental impact statement for a proposed offshore wind power project that could generate up to 2.2 GW off the coast of Maryland. (news release)

PIPELINES: New Jersey officials seek public comment as the state reconsiders if the Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s expansion project should be considered a regulation-exempt routine upgrade. (NJ Advance Media)

FLOODS:

• Heavy rains and flash floods on Friday left New York City residents scrambling as basement apartment homes filled. (NBC News, BBC)
• New storm drains didn’t help one New York City neighborhood much during flash flooding last Friday, among other concerns that indicate the mayor’s team wasn’t prepared for the emergency, according to climate advocates. (Gothamist, The City)

UTILITIES: Observers say the result of Maine’s vote to create a public power utility this November could change the course of climate action — and serve as a harbinger of similar efforts around the country. (Boston Globe)

POLICY: Maine’s climate council meets to revise the state’s climate action plan to ensure the state hits its 2045 carbon neutrality goal. (Maine Morning Star)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New York schools can soon apply for part of a $100 million state fund to purchase zero-emission school buses. (Utility Dive)

CLIMATE:

• As climate change raises concern of impacts to groundwater levels and quality, a new Maine bill seeks to reduce the contract length that water bottling companies can sign. (Maine Morning Star)
• Maine grants $2.4 million to dozens of communities through the state’s community resilience program for projects like climate resiliency, rooftop solar and weatherization. (Portland Press Herald)