EMISSIONS: The owner of the Beaver Valley nuclear plant in Pennsylvania cancels its plan to shut down the two reactors due to the state’s plan to join a regional cap-and-trade emissions compact. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ALSO:
• New Jersey takes part in its first auction of carbon credits in the compact since dropping out in 2012 and rejoining last year and will receive proceeds for clean energy programs. (NJ Spotlight)
• A new report says Vermonters could save $800 million over the next 15 years by reducing emissions, but it would include no longer buying gas or diesel vehicles. (VT Digger)

TRANSMISSION:
• Maine environmental officials issue a draft permit for a $1 billion power line through the western part of the state to import Canadian hydropower. (Portland Press Herald)
• Supporters of the power line sue to prevent a fall referendum on the project, saying project opponents violated state law on signature gathering. (Bangor Daily News)

OFFSHORE WIND: State officials say that while international offshore wind leader Orsted chose Rhode Island for its U.S. innovation hub, New York remains the state with the best chance to land most of the industry jobs. (Newsday)

TRANSPORTATION: A coalition of investors, trade groups and non-profit organizations write to 12 governors in support of their states joining a regional effort to curb transportation emissions. (NJ Spotlight)

SOLAR: Northeastern states are starting to face solar market saturation in places and high land costs discourage distributed projects in others. (E&E News, subscription required)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• New York awards 21 wind, solar and energy storage projects with 1,278 MW of capacity in its latest solicitation for clean energy. (news release)
• More than 100 local officials from western New York want more state help to support clean energy projects. (WAER)
• Officials at a Cape Cod town devise plans to build an energy park that includes solar, battery storage and an anaerobic digester to create natural gas serving surrounding communities. (Cape Cod Times)

EFFICIENCY:
• Advocates say requiring new homes to be net-zero energy is an effective way to reduce emissions and combat climate change, while opponents say the added costs will price out new first-time buyers. (Boston Globe)
• The new solar powered Harvard ArtLab, built to serve students and the surrounding community, is a net-zero energy building. (Inhabitat)

COMMENTARY:
• A business organization that supports methane regulations urges Pennsylvania to adopt protective but cost-effective standards during its current regulatory process. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• A former Navy secretary and member of the 9/11 Commission says community solar in Pennsylvania is another way to promote domestically produced energy. (PennLive)
• Advocates for a price on carbon say 18 of 22 town meetings support its standard petition with many others to vote on it through May. (Concord Monitor)

Bill is a freelance journalist based outside Albany, New York. As a former New England correspondent for RTO Insider, he has written about energy for newspapers, magazines and other publications for more than 20 years. He has an extensive career in trade publications and newspapers, mostly focused on the utility sector, covering such issues as restructuring, renewable energy and consumer affairs. Bill covers Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire and also compiles the Northeast Energy News daily email digest.