Why Maine energy costs are spiking

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Northeast Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

NATURAL GAS

• Volatile natural gas prices are the main driver behind rising energy costs in Maine, despite local and national efforts to scapegoat renewables, a new report finds. (Canary Media)
• Critics say utilities are using a Massachusetts program aimed at addressing gas leaks to boost profits with unnecessary pipe replacements. (Canary Media)

OFFSHORE WIND

• Massachusetts and Nova Scotia sign an agreement to share offshore wind knowledge, workforce, ports, and power. (New Bedford Light)
• Offshore wind could have cut the risk of demand-driven power outages in New England by more than half last winter, according to a new study. (E&E News)
• Empire Wind developer Equinor is optimistic it will be able to complete the project on schedule, though its legal fight against the Trump administration is ongoing. (RTO Insider)

FEDERAL ACTION

• Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, one of two House Republicans to vote against the repeal of clean-energy tax credits last year, prepares to introduce legislation to restore those incentives amid soaring energy costs. (E&E News)

ELECTRIFICATION

• The number of Maine households using heat pumps grows by 4% in 2020 to 2024, compared to previous years, though heating oil remains, by a wide margin, the most common way to warm homes in the state. (Bangor Daily News)

DATA CENTERS

• A proposed data center in Delaware hits a roadblock as environmental regulators say the project would be the largest polluter in the state and that its planned use of backup generation isn’t allowed in its intended location. (WHYY)
• A small town in Pennsylvania issues initial zoning approvals for a sprawling data center campus to be built next to a former coal-burning power plant that is being converted to use natural gas. (TribLive)

UTILITIES

• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) wants to increase scrutiny of utilities’ rate requests and fees, saying the companies make too much money ​“on the backs of hardworking Pennsylvanians.” (WHYY)

CLIMATE

• A group of environmental lawyers in Pennsylvania demands the state create a program that caps and imposes fees on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, coal mines, factories, and transportation fuels. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Rhode Island lawmakers consider a ​“climate superfund” bill that would require fossil fuel companies to repay the state for its spending on the impacts of climate change. (Providence Journal)

GRID

• As another cold front looms, the New England grid should be well prepared to deal with forecast demand as long as power generators are able to adequately replenish their fuel supplies, grid operator ISO New England reports. (WWLP)
• A Maryland lawmaker proposes a bill to study the possibility of the state withdrawing from the PJM grid and either banding together with other states to form a new grid or joining a different, existing regional transmission organization. (Maryland Matters)

NEW FROM CANARY

• Chart: Surprise — batteries got cheaper again last year — Dan McCarthy
• In U-turn, Trump approves low-income energy-assistance funds — Alison F. Takemura
• Are faked public comments about to tank an Ohio solar farm? — Kathiann M. Kowalski
• Missouri Senate considers bills to halt solar development on farmland — Rudi Keller
• Lunar Energy lands $232M to boost smart home batteries — Jeff St. John