Vineyard Wind hits production milestone

WIND: With 21 of its planned 62 wind turbines completely installed, Vineyard Wind claims to now be the largest operating wind project in the country, pushing 136 MW to the grid. (electrek)

SOLAR:

• The backers of a proposed solar ordinance that essentially bans projects greater than 25 MW in Rotterdam, New York, claim it’s legal but seem to ignore inconvenient aspects of state renewable energy siting law. (Daily Gazette)
• In Pennsylvania, scaled-down solar projects are appeasing landowners and getting approval from state utility regulators but are frustrating utilities that want tighter net metering and merchant generation rules. (Lancaster Farming)

RENEWABLE POWER:

• Massachusetts state senators advance legislation that intends to lower power bills while increasing renewable energy development, ban competitive electric suppliers and ease permitting for energy projects and electric vehicle chargers, among other provisions. (Associated Press)
• Pennsylvania lawmakers advance a bill restructuring a state energy authority to allow it to use federal funds to develop energy projects. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

GRID:

• New York’s grid operator receives four bids to develop up to 8 GW of offshore wind power transmission to New York City, most of which would connect to the Brooklyn Clean Energy Hub. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• With hot temperatures arriving earlier than usual, the Washington, D.C., grid is straining to cope with increased cooling demand — and makes working conditions more strenuous for line workers. (WTOP)
• Several consumer advocates file a complaint with federal energy regulators that claims PJM Interconnection practices stop energy efficiency resources from completely participating in the capacity market. (Utility Dive)
• In New Jersey, the developer of the Atlantic Shores offshore wind project selects a contractor to expand an Egg Harbor Township substation to help carry the project’s anticipated 1.5 GW of electricity. (news release)
• A spinoff startup out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology wants to deploy special power lines that look like any other but can transmit up to ten times the electricity. (news release)

FOSSIL FUELS:

• Pennsylvania environmental protection officials will host a hearing this week on a proposed natural gas pipeline route that local conservation groups say would harm a wetland and several streams in its path. (NorthCentralPA.com)
• Much of the toxic remnants of the Tonawanda Coke Site near Buffalo, New York, have been removed, but some remediation activities remain before it can be redeveloped for commercial purposes. (Buffalo News)
• A top Massachusetts lawmaker says claims that thousands of natural gas workers could lose their jobs due to pending state climate legislation is ​“fundamentally flawed” and ​“misinformation.” (Boston Herald)

CLEAN TECH: For Boston’s clean tech hub dream to become reality, observers say it needs a ​“flagship” firm to attract workers and innovative ideas — but could that kickstarter be GE Vernova? (Boston Globe)

BIOENERGY: A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed in Massachusetts against a home heating oil dealer, which allegedly claimed to be selling them biodiesel when they weren’t. (Law360)

AFFORDABILITY: In a rural Maine county, residents subject to recently rising Versant Power rates discuss their affordability concerns. (The County)