Trump administration admits pulling blue state clean energy grants

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.

FEDERAL ACTION

• The Trump administration admits in court documents that it canceled $7.6 billion in clean energy for 16 states — including eight in the Northeast — solely because those states voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. (Associated Press)

TRANSMISSION

• Repairs are complete on the new 339-mile Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line, which carries hydropower from Canada into New York City, after a damaged cable knocked it offline for some three weeks. (Gothamist)

NATURAL GAS

• Connecticut officials agree to reopen the application process for a natural gas pipeline expansion project that has sparked strong opposition from local residents and environmental groups. (Hartford Courant)

SOLAR

• About 1,800 Maine community solar customers lose expected bill credits after solar project owners fail to pay fees mandated by a new state law. (PV Magazine)

BUILDINGS

• A Maine retirement community is building 37 all-electric, solar-powered units in response to growing demand for housing that can lower energy bills. (Bangor Daily News)

OFFSHORE WIND

• The Trump administration’s continued campaign against offshore wind has the city of New Bedford and the entire state of Massachusetts facing lost jobs, economic setbacks, and possible energy shortages. (MassLive)

GRID

• If embattled grid operator PJM doesn’t agree to governance and stakeholder reforms by the end of September, federal regulators will impose their own changes. (Utility Dive)

MATERIALS

• At a U.S. Steel facility in Pennsylvania, the company debuts a new hot strip mill it says will use far less energy than its previous system. (Allegheny Front)

• A New York company uses 3D printing to fabricate lightweight components for marine energy applications, such as wave power and floating solar. (The Batavian)

DATA CENTERS

• Grid operator ISO New England plans to require data centers and other large loads to bring their own power generation. (RTO Insider)

• The Massachusetts Senate failed to include a measure imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers in a wide-ranging economic development bill passed last week. (CommonWealth Beacon)

NEW FROM CANARY

• US factories are struggling to get cleaner heat. These ideas may help. — Maria Gallucci

• California to offer a novel $3,500 rebate for first-time EV buyers — Jeff St. John

• Duh, solar power doesn’t work at night — but it excels during the day — Dan McCarthy

• Data center demand is soaring, and off-grid gas won’t fix the problem — Kathryn Krawczyk

• Energy Department disappears website’s energy-saving tips as costs soar — Jake Bittle