Some unfrozen federal funds start to flow

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Northeast Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

FUNDING FREEZE

• The federal government will unfreeze more than $2 billion in funding for Pennsylvania, mostly for environmental projects like plugging abandoned gas wells or making low-income housing more energy-efficient, Gov. Josh Shapiro says. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

• A Massachusetts city regains access to $20 million in EPA funds for environmental and climate projects. (MassLive)

AGGREGATION

• Municipal leaders and environmental advocates in Connecticut push lawmakers to authorize community choice aggregation, allowing cities and towns to negotiate on behalf of their residents for greener electricity at lower prices. (Canary Media)

OFFSHORE WIND

• French energy company EDF withdraws from a planned 1,510-turbine wind farm off New Jersey, citing ​“significant evolutions” in U.S. offshore wind policy. (Workboat)

• Trump’s executive order calling for a halt to wind development puts 43 GW of planned offshore wind projects at risk, creating reliability concerns for New York in particular, according to a new report. (RTO Insider)

EMISSIONS

• Maine legislators consider a bill calling for the state to analyze the environmental benefits and taxpayer costs of any new rule aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but critics say the idea is redundant and wouldn’t accurately capture the benefits of climate action. (Maine Morning Star)

AFFORDABILITY

• In Rhode Island and Maryland, lawmakers want to cut power bills by lowering or removing fees that help pay for clean energy, electrification, and energy efficiency initiatives. (WPRI, WJLA)

• Most Massachusetts natural gas customers will receive a 10% discount in March and April after regulators ordered utilities to temporarily lower bills to address soaring gas costs. (WCVB)

CLIMATETECH

• A Massachusetts clean energy agency launches a plan to make the state a global leader in the climatetech industry over the next 10 years by building markets for emerging technologies, developing workforce training programs, and helping companies scale up. (Renewable Energy Magazine)

COAL

• After nearly 70 years in operation, Delaware’s last coal-fired power plant closes nearly two years ahead of schedule. (WBOC)

ELECTRIFICATION

• A Maine oyster farm begins transitioning to electric boats, hoping to reduce carbon emissions and provide a valuable case study to other aquaculture businesses looking to make the same move. (News Center Maine)