Rhode Island governors promises consumer relief

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.

AFFORDABILITY

• As Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee signs an executive order directing $28 million to offset consumers’ energy bills, he slams those who opposed his earlier efforts to weaken energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. (Rhode Island Current)

POLITICS

• The Trump administration’s continued actions against renewable energy make it increasingly unlikely that Senate Democrats will sign off on a permitting reform bill, says Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D). (E&E News)

EFFICIENCY

• The energy efficiency programs run by New Jersey utility PSE&G surpass $1 billion in annual savings for residential and business customers. (New Jersey Business and Industry Association)

WIND

• A 114-MW wind farm built on former coal mining land enters commercial operation in Pennsylvania. (Renewables Now)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Massachusetts advances its vehicle-to-grid program that pays EV owners for sharing the power stored in their vehicles’ batteries with the grid. (Boston Globe)

• As e-bikes, electric scooters, and other modes of micromobility grow in popularity in Massachusetts, state lawmakers consider regulating where different types of devices will be allowed to operate. (CommonWealth Beacon)

STORAGE

• A coalition of environmental groups push New Jersey regulators to require a gas-fired peaker plant to add at least 65 MW of battery capacity as a condition of its permit renewal. (PV Magazine)

GRID

• The New England grid experienced no reserve deficiencies this past winter, despite unusually cold weather and near-record prices. (RTO Insider)

• Federal energy regulators meet to discuss growing concerns about PJM Interconnection’s transparency and decision-making, while advocates rally outside demanding the grid operator be more responsive to the people’s needs. (Maryland Matters)

SOLAR

• Some New York farmers say leasing land to solar developers can help keep their operations financially viable, even as the Trump administration and some state lawmakers say solar is taking over too much of the state’s valuable agricultural land. (Spectrum News)

DATA CENTERS

• Federal regulators say an early permit application for a controversial tidal-powered underwater data center in far northern Maine failed to include necessary information. (Maine Monitor)