What’s a fair price for Maine offshore wind?

WIND: Stakeholders in Maine, including developers and the state’s public advocate, hammer out a fair cost to ratepayers that will cover financing, building and operating the Pine Tree Offshore Wind research project, meant to jumpstart further development in the state. (Portland Press Herald)

ALSO: Federal and state officials in the Northeast consider the possibility of an offshore transmission line that would serve as an interconnection ​“backbone” for offshore wind projects and reduce the individual cables coming to shore. (The Conversation)

GRID:

• Maryland utility commissioners issue a waiver to utility Potomac Edison Co. to build two transmission lines to carry power to four data centers to a substation without first getting a certificate of public convenience and necessity. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• PJM Interconnection says the record-high prices resulting from its most recent capacity auction should encourage new generation resources and the continued operation of existing ones. (Utility Dive)
• Energy storage developers say they see problems in ISO New England’s modeling methodology for its capacity market accreditation reforms that would undercut new investments. (RTO Insider, subscription)

POLICY: As New York environmental advocates push for the state to quickly implement a cap-and-invest system, business interests say it needs to be clearer what the costs will be and if they’re tenable. (RTO Insider, subscription)

TRANSIT: Some board members of New York City’s transit agency express concern that the governor’s promised transit funding falls short of what the congestion pricing program would’ve provided. (Streetsblog)

HYDROPOWER: A Brookfield Renewable subsidiary files a final license application with federal energy regulators for its nearly 42 MW Beaver River hydropower project in New York’s Herkimer and Lewis counties. (Hydro Review)

SOLAR: Two developers finish construction of 25.5 MW of solar projects across Pennsylvania. (news release)

CLIMATE:

• Federal officials grant $575 million in climate-mitigating coastal projects, with Maine and New Jersey receiving some of the highest individual grant awards at $69 million and $72.5 million, respectively. (Portland Press Herald, Asbury Park Press)
• At least a third of Maine’s coastal marshes — and their carbon reservoir abilities — could sink by midcentury due to rising sea levels and other environmental concerns. (Maine Monitor)
• Officials in a New Hampshire town say they will hold a public meeting later this summer to discuss the catch-22 issues presented by an enrolled woodland ​“carbon credit farm” that is also subject to a state easement for logging and recreation. (In-Depth NH)

WORKFORCE: Maine grants $2 million to organizations in six cities to help train energy efficiency and renewable energy workers, including funds for a heat pump apprenticeship program in Portland. (Mainebiz, Portland Press Herald)