Uncertain future for New Hampshire biomass plant

BIOMASS: New Hampshire’s House fails to override the governor’s veto of a subsidy package for the wood-burning Burgess Biopower facility that had received over $200 million in subsidies since 2014. (New Hampshire Bulletin)

ALSO: Without more funding, the future of Burgess Biopower has been thrown into question, with some observers saying the facility will likely close. (Boston Globe, InDepth NH)

COURTS: A New Jersey judge refuses to dismiss a climate liability lawsuit brought by the city of Hoboken, New Jersey, against the oil and gas industry, which asserted the case should be dropped since the state of New Jersey has similar pending litigation. (E&E News, subscription)

OFFSHORE WIND:

• Equinor takes a $300 million impairment charge on its American offshore wind portfolio after New York says it won’t renegotiate power contracts for its three in-state projects. (Reuters)
• Avangrid’s top executive says the company ended its offshore wind power purchase agreements in Massachusetts and Connecticut ​“at minimum cost” but wasn’t definitive about the company’s ability to sign agreeable new deals. (CommonWealth Magazine)
• Demolition of a disused New Jersey coal plant is underway to make room for an onshore connection point for offshore wind projects and other developments. (Associated Press)
• Maryland will provide over $6 million in funds to help link state businesses and workers with the offshore wind industry. (news release)

TRANSIT:

• New York City’s transit agency is expected to receive $3.4 billion from federal officials to help complete another phase of a postponed project that would bring subway service to underserved neighborhoods. (NYDN)
• Rhode Island’s transit agency forms a new pilot program for fare-free bus travel after the prior program was required to close, essentially extending the policy another six months. (Rhode Island Current)

FOSSIL FUELS:

• A company decides not to develop a data center in Frederick, Maryland, after receiving permission to only install 70 MW of backup diesel-fueled generators instead of the 504 MW it wanted. (Frederick Post)
• Gas industry advocates want Pennsylvania to allow drilling wastewater to be dumped on roadways to suppress dust and snow, even though studies show the practice is harmful to human health. (Inside Climate News)

GRID: A Massachusetts town’s zoning board lets a power cable manufacturer build a facility to support the offshore wind industry but requires it to use only electric-capable vessels to minimize diesel pollution. (CommonWealth Magazine)

BUILDINGS: A New York City co-op building’s lack of gas for cooking for two years due to a high repair bill underscores how difficult it is for low-income co-ops experience to maintain gas systems. (The City)

BATTERIES: University of Maryland researchers say they’ve created a new way to develop lithium-ion batteries to make them less prone to combust while increasing energy storage. (news release)

SOLAR: A Massachusetts supermarket plans to build three solar-powered greenhouses on its roof to grow fresh produce year-round. (MassLive)