Trump tries to rescind another offshore wind approval

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.

OFFSHORE WIND

• The Trump administration seeks to rescind federal approval for the Atlantic Shores offshore wind project near New Jersey, though developers had already put the project on hold. (National Fisherman)

• A judge is expected to rule within the month on whether the federal government will be allowed to reconsider its prior, Biden-era approval of the planned 114-turbine US Wind project off Maryland. (Baltimore Sun)

• The University of Maine cancels its annual floating offshore wind conference ​“in recognition of changing federal policies and priorities.” (Maine Public)

• Construction is underway again at Revolution Wind off Rhode Island following a court decision lifting the federal stop-work order, but the Trump administration could still appeal: ​“It doesn’t like losing,” said one expert. (Fast Company)

FOSSIL FUELS

• Environmental advocates object to what they see as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s willingness to support two natural gas pipeline proposals revived in what many say was a deal to end the federal stop-work order on the Empire Wind project. (E&E News)

• Environmental advocates file a legal challenge against the Trump administration’s order keeping the aging oil and gas-fired Eddystone power plant in Pennsylvania open past its planned retirement date. (E&E News)

• New England’s last coal-burning power plant, the Merrimack station in New Hampshire, shuts down after 65 years in operation. (Concord Monitor)

• The share of Maine homes using oil for heating has dropped 20% since 2018, and the number of homes heating with electricity has nearly doubled, according to new federal data. (WMTW)

GRID

• A group of 107 state lawmakers urges grid operator PJM to take steps to support the rapid connection of clean energy resources to the regional grid to meet growing demand and allow developers to take advantage of expiring federal tax credits. (Utility Dive)

• Maryland launches a fast-track permitting process for new large-scale, dispatchable energy generation, but experts say the opportunity is unlikely to attract any significant projects. (Maryland Matters)

SOLAR

• At a gathering of Massachusetts solar industry leaders, participants urge Gov. Maura Healey to find ways to clear the path for more solar development as quickly as possible. (CommonWealth Beacon)

NUCLEAR

• The owner of Connecticut’s Millstone nuclear plant, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, says the company will seek to extend the facility’s federal license beyond its current 2029 expiration date. (CT Insider)

• The deconstruction of the closed Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is almost complete, more than a decade after the facility ceased operation, though questions remain about where to send the spent nuclear waste for permanent storage. (WAMC)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• A Vermont-based electric and hybrid aircraft maker files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission to take the company public. (VTDigger)

NEW FROM CANARY 

• US hydropower is at a make-or-break moment — Alexander C. Kaufman

• Will the Southeast’s booming EV sector survive the end of tax credits? — Elizabeth Ouzts

• Interconnection bottleneck threatens community solar success in Illinois— Kari Lydersen

• XGS Energy says its advanced geothermal tech is ready to scale up — Maria Gallucci