Vermont defends its climate superfund law

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CLIMATE

• Vermont urges a judge to throw out two lawsuits challenging its climate ​“superfund” law that aims to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate damages. (Associated Press)

• In the face of the ongoing affordability crisis, the council that develops Maine’s climate plans grapples with how to convince residents that energy efficiency and climate resilience measures will actually lead to savings. (Portland Press-Herald)

WIND

• Bank of America analysts upgrade their outlook on offshore wind developer Ørsted, saying the risk of adverse impacts from the Trump administration ​“has eased.” (Utility Dive)

NUCLEAR

• The owners of the nuclear plant at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania ask federal regulators to help ensure the facility can restart by the end of 2027 after grid operator PJM says the operation may not be able to connect to the electrical system until 2031. (Reuters)

• The governors of all six New England states announce an agreement to explore the possible use of advanced nuclear facilities to generate more electricity to meet the region’s growing demand. (Maine Morning Star)

GRID

• Federal regulators approve a plan by grid operator ISO New England to hold forward capacity auctions a month ahead of when the capacity is needed, rather than its current system of securing capacity three years in advance. (InDepthNH)

UTILITIES

• New Hampshire lawmakers advance a pair of bills that would allow utilities to own power generation facilities for the first time since they were barred from doing so in 1996. (New Hampshire Bulletin)

FEDERAL ACTION

• Nine northeastern states and New York City join a coalition challenging the Trump administration’s repeal of toxic air pollutants limits for coal- and oil-burning power plants. (Rhode Island Current)

AFFORDABILITY

• As the Maryland state legislature attempts to pass a wide-ranging energy affordability bill, differences emerge between the House and Senate versions on utility rate-setting rules and how to manage cutting costs for the state energy efficiency program. (Maryland Matters)

SOLAR

• Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont tours a Connecticut town that produces about one-third of the solar energy in the state to hear residents’ concerns about plans to add yet more solar capacity. (NBC Connecticut)

• At the same time, the town prepares to file a lawsuit challenging a state siting board’s approval of a widely opposed 30-acre solar farm expansion. (Hartford Courant)

GEOTHERMAL

• In Vermont, two affordable housing developers and the local natural gas utility are working together to heat and cool a new 44-unit project entirely with ground-source heat pumps, which would be the first neighborhood-scale geothermal system in the state. (Vermont Public)

STORAGE

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to delay key climate deadlines will not slow development of battery storage systems on Staten Island, where a flurry of planned installations has raised concerns among residents. (SILive)