Trump’s anti-wind push threatens New York climate goals

WIND: President-elect Trump’s ambitions to shut down the offshore wind industry would push New York’s climate goals further out of reach, but it remains unclear whether his administration will be able to pull it off. (New York Focus)

ALSO:

• GE Vernova confirms that an undisclosed number of employees were fired or suspended following its investigation of quality-control issues related to a turbine blade failure at the Vineyard Wind project. (Recharge News)
• A Massachusetts climate bill awaiting signature from the governor would allow the state to negotiate offshore wind contracts of up to 30 years, instead of 20. (Utility Dive)
• New Bedford, Massachusetts begins work on a $3 million ​“crash pad” office space for companies working on local offshore wind projects. (New Bedford Light)

CLEAN ENERGY: A Cornell University researcher says New York will need 40 GW of dispatchable power to meet its climate goals, exceeding a NYISO forecast that some groups dismissed as ​“alarmist.” (Syracuse.com, subscription)

UTILITIES: Facing conditions more familiar to the West Coast, utilities in New Jersey are taking precautions to avoid sparking wildfires amid a persistent drought. (WPVI)

TRANSPORTATION: New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority approves a revamped congestion pricing plan, which still needs federal approval and faces challenges from New Jersey officials. (Bloomberg)

GRID:

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announces $22 million in new funding to modernize the state’s power grid. (Finger Lakes 1)
• Developers plan to install a 5 MW storage battery at an existing solar array in southern Vermont. (Bennington Banner)
• National Grid will begin installing smart meters in its territory in western New York starting in January. (Power Grid International)

TRANSMISSION: A study from Cornell University researchers says making beneficiaries pay for new power lines is consistent with decades of legal precedent. (news release)

HYDROPOWER:

• The Maine agency that oversees dam safety is chronically understaffed and underfunded, and has not updated regulations to account for extreme weather events as the climate warms. (Maine Monitor)
• A small Maine town hopes to attract businesses with its unusually low electricity rates, which are attributable to a large proportion of hydropower and ​“older” equipment and power lines. (Bangor Daily News) 

CLIMATE: Portland, Maine’s city council votes to establish a dedicated climate fund for projects to reduce the city’s emissions. (Portland Press Herald)

COMMENTARY: Two scientists say Maryland has an opportunity to become a national leader on reducing emissions during the Trump administration. (Baltimore Sun)