Renewables keep the power on in New England

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.

GRID

• Two offshore wind projects, hydropower from Quebec, and rooftop solar all helped keep New England’s grid going strong and reduced reliance on fossil-fueled peaker plants during the heat wave that hit the region earlier this month. (Canary Media)
• The new Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line intended to carry hydropower from Quebec into New York City remains offline after it went down on July 4, though line operator Hydro-Québec has pinpointed the stretch of cable causing the problem. (Reuters, RTO Insider)

DATA CENTERS

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) issues a statewide freeze on permitting large-scale data centers for up to one year, citing a need to figure out how to protect the environment, grid, and consumers from the facilities. (The Hill)
• A new law in Pennsylvania will require data centers to submit detailed reports on their energy and water use to the state. (Utility Dive)
• The managers of the PJM Interconnection are set to vote on proposals that would make sure consumers aren’t on the hook for new power plants needed to run data centers. (WYPR)

NUCLEAR

• New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signs legislation directing utility regulators to begin seeking out possible developers to build a new nuclear plant to help meet future energy demand. (New Jersey Monitor)

STORAGE

• Plans are underway to build a 1 GW battery storage facility on the former site of the country’s largest coal ash impoundment in Pennsylvania, a project that would be larger than any other battery system currently on the region’s grid. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Burlington, Vermont, approves plans for the city electric utility to build a 5-MW battery adjacent to a wood-burning power plant. (Seven Days)

SOLAR

• In a case closely watched by the solar industry, Massachusetts’ highest court rules that a town’s decision to block a solar project to avoid cutting down too many trees must be reconsidered with more rigorous analysis. (CommonWealth Beacon)
• A new law goes into effect in Connecticut, setting the local property tax rate for commercial solar arrays at $10,000 per megawatt of capacity. (CT Mirror)

ELECTRIFICATION

• Trash collection fees will increase 9% in a Massachusetts town following the decision to pay extra to have an electric truck serve some routes. (Concord Bridge)