Three states announce first-in-nation joint offshore wind procurement

OFFSHORE WIND: Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island intend to jointly procure 6 GW of offshore wind power, a collaboration described as a first-in-the-nation effort that aims to lower clean energy purchase prices. (CT Post, Associated Press)

ALSO:

• The developer of the South Fork wind farm declines to say if the project will finish on schedule, as workers wait for the arrival of a European vessel to finish construction. (Newsday)
• Residents and visitors of New Jersey’s coast continue the debate of whether offshore wind development will save the shore or destroy it. (Philadelphia Magazine)

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GRID: The developers of the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line project have resumed making payments to a fund benefiting Mainers, almost two years after it stopped while residents voted on the project. (Bangor Daily News)

TRANSIT:

• New York City’s transit agency releases a list of its biggest hurdles to combat and adapt to climate change, which will be used to develop modernization plans. (New York Times)
• Philadelphia’s transit agency taps local community groups to help distribute free transit cards as part of a two-year pilot program to reduce barriers to use. (WHYY)

FLOODS: A climate mitigation and recovery plan was drawn up for Vermont communities impacted by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, but few communities have fully adopted its suggestions. (VT Digger)

UTILITIES: A Maine environmental advocacy group comes out in favor of replacing the state’s investor-owned utilities with a statewide public power authority, weeks before a voter referendum is set to decide the matter. (Portland Press Herald)

SOLAR: In New Jersey, a newly operational 5 MW solar farm and 9 MWh battery storage system will also provide habitat for pollinators. (news release)

CLIMATE:

• Experts say insurance companies are more likely to hike rates and edit policies as climate change worsens storms in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, rather than pull out of the market entirely as they have in California and Florida. (WHYY)
• Clinicians at a Pittsburgh hospital work to reduce waste and carbon emissions stemming from their work, which often relies on single-use products and potent greenhouse gasses. (Allegheny Front)
• The waters off of Rhode Island were among the world’s warmest last month. (ecoRI)