Trump relents on Empire Wind stoppage

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OFFSHORE WIND

• The Trump administration reverses course, lifting the stop-work order on the Empire Wind project following intensive lobbying by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Norwegian wind developer Equinor, though a social media post from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum suggests Hochul may now be expected to make concessions on a gas pipeline project. (Washington Post)

TRANSMISSION

• Power company PSEG and a group of more than 100 Maryland residents face off in court over whether landowners must allow environmental surveyors onto their properties as part of the development of a controversial transmission line. (Maryland Matters)

GEOTHERMAL

• Neighbors of Massachusetts’ Mount Holyoke College raise concerns that one part of a $180 million campus geothermal system under development will lead to excessive noise and the release of gasoline fumes from contaminated soil. (Daily Hampshire Gazette)

TIDAL ENERGY

• New Jersey lawmakers consider a measure that would require the state to study the potential of technology that uses the power of waves and tides to generate electricity. (Press of Atlantic City)

GRID

• Renewable energy advocates testify that Pennsylvania needs to develop more solar, wind, and nuclear power resources to meet a predicted surge in demand over the next 15 years. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

• Under a new law, public electric utilities in Maryland must disclose how they vote at PJM Interconnection stakeholder meetings to improve transparency as the state deals with high power bills; lawmakers are considering similar rules in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. (Utility Dive)

• Maryland Gov. Wes Moore prepares to sign more bills into law today, but it is not yet known if he will approve measures requiring the state to request proposals for more energy generation, providing rebates to utility customers, and setting statewide standards for solar and battery projects. (Baltimore Sun)

• Moore is expected to veto a bill calling for a data center feasibility study amid concerns about the impact the power-hungry facilities could have on the grid and the economy. (WBFF)

BATTERIES

• Battery recycling company Li-Cycle files for bankruptcy, but a bid by a Swiss-based conglomerate might save a facility under construction near Rochester, New York, that was expected to create 270 jobs. (Rochester Business Journal)

• A new research center in upstate New York aims to develop the next generation of lithium-ion batteries for use in warehouse equipment. (Democrat and Chronicle)

AFFORDABILITY

• Connecticut state lawmakers advance a bill that aims to rein in soaring electricity bills, though members of both parties acknowledge the legislation needs more work to gain bipartisan support. (CT News Junkie)

NEW FROM CANARY

• A new American Clean Power reports clean energy manufacturing supports 122,000 jobs and creates $33 billion of economic activity annually, largely in Trump-voting states, Julian Spector reports.

• State funding and strong educational partnerships with employers has helped South Dakota build a pipeline of clean energy manufacturing, operation, and maintenance workers in the wind-heavy state, Bart Pfankuch reports.

• The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejects grid operator MISO’s plan to fast-track new gas power plants to address its predicted power shortfall, Jeff St. John reports.