Sprawl threatens farmland, but Maine proposal singles out solar

SOLAR: Critics say newly drafted rules by Maine’s agriculture agency that add a premium for solar development on ​“high-value agricultural soils” unfairly single out clean energy based on anecdotes, not data, on its impact. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:

• A Washington, D.C., university begins operating the city’s largest solar project: a 7.5 MW array that is expected to support community solar subscriptions from up to 1,200 households. (WTOP)
• A global materials science company strikes a deal with utility Constellation to buy 55 MW of zero-emission electricity for its Delaware and Maryland facilities’ annual power needs. (news release)

TRANSPORTATION: New York’s governor is reportedly now ​“quietly maneuvering” to delay the implementation of Manhattan’s traffic congestion tolling plan over fear of its impact on New York City’s economy in an election year, despite her repeated and public extollations of the plan’s benefits. (New York Times, Politico, Streetsblog)

WIND:

• Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind, respectively planned for 810 MW and 924 MW of wind energy output, finalize new contracts with New York via the state’s fourth offshore wind solicitation. (news release)
• Public records show a US Wind representative tried to keep early discussions with coastal Delaware mayors private as the firm worked to tamp down misinformation. (WBOC)
• A new Sierra Club report suggests New England ratepayers could see $630 million in average year savings through the switch to offshore wind energy, even after construction costs. (RTO Insider, subscription)

POLICY:

• Maryland’s governor signs an executive order mandating state agencies submit climate action and emissions reduction plans by the start of November that show how they will help meet the state’s 2031 emissions reduction goal. (Associated Press)
• The new Maryland executive order also instructs officials to draft a zero-emission heat standard and form a Sub-Cabinet on Climate. (Baltimore Sun; RTO Insider, subscription)
• Connecticut’s senate leader says he doesn’t want to keep pushing climate legislation during this year’s regular session but would bring it back up in a special session after this fall’s elections. (CT Mirror)

GRID: PJM Interconnection’s market monitor tells federal energy regulators they shouldn’t give energy efficiency subsidies to several utilities and energy companies until they are able to prove they’ve earned the $128 million. (Utility Dive)

AFFORDABILITY:

• A judge decides the wholesale power prices secured for Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore in PJM Interconnection’s December 2022 auction — reportedly $100 million more than utilities would’ve paid — will stand despite concern they was based on ​“flawed” projections. (Spotlight Delaware)
• Maine regulators says it will audit Versant Power, the state’s second-largest utility, not publicly detailing their concerns but noting multiple recent rate hike requests from the utility. (Portland Press Herald)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• A student transport fleet operator has so far received $58 million from the U.S. EPA to transition to electric school buses in the school districts it works in, including in Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania. (Daily Record)
• Amid a spate of fires tied to lithium-ion e-bike batteries, families of victims are struggling to achieve justice or compensation because of companies’ murky business structures. (Gothamist)

FOSSIL FUELS: With new clean heat fees not slated to go into effect until 2026, Vermont heating fuel dealers say customers can still enter pre-buy contracts through 2025 but that they ​“don’t know what the next winter after that will bring.” (WCAX)