Study: Maine leads on climate preparation

CLIMATE: A new study shows Maine is a leader in preparing for and mitigating climate change among its New England peers, which on the whole are failing to include vulnerable residents in decision making. (Energy News Network)

ALSO: As a changing climate makes conditions harder for Vermont dairy farmers, some are bringing innovative agricultural industries to the state. (Washington Post)

GRID:
• The former coal-fired power plant imploded last week in New Jersey is poised to become a $1 billion battery storage development. (Associated Press)
• A New Jersey utility board’s report suggests the state enter into a regional, voluntary clean energy market and exit its current energy market. (NJ Spotlight)
• As New York City considers allowing developers to install 15 lithium-ion batteries on a residential building roof, residents are worried about the risk of fire. (BKReader)
• A Connecticut community pushes back on an Eversource power outage prevention plan they say will cut down too many large, leafy trees. (New Haven Register)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• New York’s climate action council will soon meet to approve a final plan to meet state targets over the next 20 years; recommendations include disallowing new homes from using natural gas. (Buffalo News)
• In Massachusetts, three Springfield officials intend to introduce legislation today allowing the city to start forming a community choice energy aggregation program. (Mass Live)

BUILDINGS:
• Maryland environmentalists cheer a new all-electric building code passed in Montgomery County, but lament a pushed back timeline and exceptions for fireplaces and grills. (Inside Climate News)
• A Philadelphia suburb’s community center plans to use a state grant to fund a new building that may become the township’s first to be LEED certified. (Daily Times)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Massachusetts’ expanded electric vehicle rebates are now available, providing $3,500 for new or used electric vehicles in addition to federal funds. (WBUR)

TRANSIT:
• Massachusetts transportation officials request $108 million in federal funding for an expanded, faster east-west rail service. (Boston Herald)
• Pennsylvania kicks off a $12.7 million state grant program to help entities transition from diesel trucks to electric vehicles. (WHYY)

OFFSHORE WIND:
• Local opposition has waned against a wind farm off New York’s Long Island, clearing the way for the project to come to fruition. (E&E News)
• A New England news outlet describes the process to develop the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm, as well as the life of those on board the installation ships. (NHPR)

AFFORDABILITY:
• An Avangrid utility in New York suspends late payment penalties through April 15 amid spiking energy supply costs. (Daily Star)
• Central Hudson Gas & Electric’s gas supply prices have shot up by almost 20% this month after two months of decreases. (Daily Freeman)
• A University of New Hampshire poll finds that the vast majority of state residents across income brackets are worried about home heating costs this winter. (Concord Monitor)