Vermont advances new renewable energy standard legislation

POLICY: A Vermont legislative committee advances a bill to increase the state’s utility renewable energy standard to 100% by 2030. (VT Digger)

ALSO:

• New Hampshire lawmakers consider new taxation avenues amid a timber tax revenue decline attributed to more trees being preserved for carbon credits than logged. (In-Depth NH)
• There currently aren’t enough existing or contracted renewable energy projects underway in New York to help the state reach its 70% renewable power by 2030 goal, in part because of recently canceled offshore wind projects, increased development costs and reduced subsidies. (E&E News, subscription)

GRID:

• State lawmakers in Maryland, Pennsylvania and other states served by PJM Interconnection file or work on legislation to force utilities to disclose how they vote on grid operator matters. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• FirstEnergy showcases four development scenarios for a proposed transmission line to residents near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, some of whom say they would rather see the project follow an existing transmission route. (Latrobe Bulletin, Trib Live) 

BUILDINGS:

• New York City has fewer than a dozen staffers to handle the climate law compliance reviews for retrofits required in 50,000 buildings by the end of 2024. (Gothamist)
• Buildings across New York City’s low-lying neighborhoods are facing more sewage backups amid increasing rainfall, but the city is years away from implementing engineering solutions. (The City)

OFFSHORE WIND:

• BP says it wrote down the value of its American offshore wind business by $1.1 billion last year. (E&E News)
• Two Maryland lawmakers say they intend to file legislation this week to bolster offshore wind development in the state broadly, and boost developer US Wind in particular. (Maryland Matters)
• Rhode Island officials schedule a public comment hearing later this month related to SouthCoast Wind’s pending dredge permit. (news release)

SOLAR:

• New York energy siting officials for the first time deny an application for a solar farm in Copake because the developer lost the lease for 20% of the proposed project site. (Hudson Valley 360)
• Oxford, Maine, considers a renewable energy project moratorium to figure out how to make up lost revenue after following state law and approving a solar farm’s property tax exemption. (Advertiser Democrat)
• The Connecticut Green Bank raises its funding to $110 million for larger solar projects. (news release)

CLIMATE: Maine snowmobiling clubs detail how shorter, warmer winters are derailing their enjoyment of their pastime. (Bethel Citizen)