OIL & GAS: Federal and state regulators propose a $1.9 million fine of Chesapeake Energy for wetlands violations at 76 Pennsylvania drilling sites. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ALSO: Opponents of a proposed liquified natural gas export terminal in New Jersey say they are encouraged by federal regulators ruling they have jurisdiction over a similar proposed facility in Puerto Rico. (Daily Review)

***SPONSORED LINK: 2021 IPF Registration is now open! This year, IPF will be both in-person and virtual. IPF Together will be held August 24-26 in Richmond, VA (space is limited due to COVID guidelines). IPF Virtual will be taking place April 22, May 13, and June 17. Learn more and register today!*** 

HEATING: A majority of voters in Burlington, Vermont want the city council to regulate thermal energy systems in homes and businesses, but the state legislature and governor need to approve the measure. (Energy News Network)

OFFSHORE WIND:
• Maine officials ask lobstermen to voluntarily move their traps and buoys away from the route of a proposed undersea cable for a floating wind turbine to avoid further conflicts with a survey vessel. (Portland Press Herald)
• The state’s Marine Patrol will remove the gear if the fishermen don’t. (Maine Public)

SOLAR: Advocates say Rhode Island needs to find a balance between large-scale solar development and preserving forests as trees are valuable in the climate change fight for carbon sequestration. (ecoRI)

DIVESTMENT: Climate activists have renewed calls for New Jersey to fully divest its state pension fund of any fossil fuel investments. (NJ Spotlight)

UTILITIES:
• The electric utility in Washington, D.C. is the first in the Mid-Atlantic region to use a renewable energy supply contract as part of the process to procure electricity for retail customers who do not choose their own supplier. (Utility Dive)
• In New York, as ratepayer arrearages total over $1 billion, lawmakers are trying to extend a utility shut-off moratorium. (Newsday)

HYDROPOWER: Maine Gov. Janet Mills insists that owners of four dams along the Kennebec River comply with proposed standards for fish passage that the owner says would force their removal. (Associated Press)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A Connecticut bill that would allow electric vehicle manufacturers to bypass the traditional franchised dealership model and sell their automobiles straight to customers has been voted out of committee. (CT Post)
• Con Edison orders its first-of-its-kind all-electric heavy duty bucket truck that will be delivered next year. (news release)

COMMENTARY:
• A former chair of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission says it’s time to finish the job of restructuring the electricity markets started 25 years ago and allow the state’s utilities to concentrate on modernizing the grid. (Pennlive)
• Environmental activists say the New England grid must reform the forward capacity auctions that prioritize short-term procurement of energy from dirty fossil fuel plants and slow the transition to clean energy. (Portland Press Herald)
• An editorial board says that although Pennsylvania ought to conduct its own studies, there is “sufficient evidence on the public health costs of hydrofracking” for the governor to enact reform. (York Dispatch)

 

 

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.