June 2020
- Canada, US and Mexico Extend Border Restrictions to July 21 (AP)
- Fading Winters, Hotter Summers Make the Northeast America’s Fastest Warming Region (Inside Climate News)
- CONEG founders pen Op-Ed on the stake of fiscal policy in the region: ‘Frostbelt’ states shouldn’t be left out in the cold (Newsday, by Tom Cochran & Lewis Kaden)
- Grants aim to develop new markets for Northern Forest wood (Vermont Biz)
- New England Offshore Wind Leaseholders Release Statement on BOEM’S SEIS (Vineyard Wind)
- NY, CT & NJ Will Impose Quarantine on Visitors From States With Big Outbreaks (NY Times)
- Slashing state budgets disproportionately impacts families of color — and could extend the recession (Business Insider)
- The New England Power Generators Association (NEPGA) today released a report that outlines a pathway to meet New England states’ economy-wide decarbonization goals. (NEPGA)
- A prescription for a post-COVID economy: a national climate bank (Grist)
- The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) recently launched the Macro Grid Initiative to build support for expanding and upgrading the nation’s transmission network (ACORE)
- Boston Fed Chief says quick reopening undermines recovery – We are reopening. Can we do it right? (Boston Globe)
- Bank of Canada governor says economic recovery from COVID-19 will be ‘prolonged and bumpy’ (CBC)
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management report points to strict conditions for Atlantic offshore wind projects (BOEM)
- Can the US get to 90 percent clean energy by 2035 and add millions of jobs while reducing energy bills? A new report from the University of California, Berkeley, and GridLab says we can. (UC Berkeley’s Center for Environmental Public Policy)
- P.A. Limits States’ Power to Oppose Pipelines and Other Energy Projects (New York Times)
May 2020
- Multi-user US offshore grid could ‘save $1 billion’ (reNEWS)
- Treasury grants wind and solar developers pandemic relief (Washington Examiner)
- 49 of 50 governors have better coronavirus poll numbers than Trump – CONEG Governors dominate top 10 (Washington Post)
- Amtrak sends letter to Congress seeking additional $1.5 B to maintain minimal service levels for FY21 (Amtrak)
- Northeast states push back timeline to release plans for a transportation emissions compact until fall (Gloucester Times)
- State DOTs Would Get $15B In Phase 4 COVID-19 Bill (AASHTO Journal)
- EPA decides against limits on drinking water pollutant linked to health risks, especially in children (Washington Post)
- AMTRAK to Return Acela Service on the Northeast Corridor (Amtrak)
- Quantitative Easing for Economic Recovery Must Consider Climate Change (World Resources Institute)
- IEA warns coronavirus could impact supply chains for clean energy materials (Axios)
- Nearly 1 Million Job Losses Reported in State and Local Government Sector (Route Fifty)
- Virus problems in Quebec, New England entrench strict border measures in N.B.
- FERC grants extension in New England Ratepayers Association’s net metering proceeding (Daily Energy Insider)
- Coronavirus Has Boosted Unpopular Governors —And Hurt Some Popular Ones (Forbes)
- New York and Massachusetts among national leaders in adopting new policies to encourage energy storage (PV Magazine)
- Coronavirus crisis hits solar and wind energy industry (Washington Post)
- New England Council Outlines Regional Infrastructure Priorities in letter to Congressional Delegation
April 2020
- Tax Fixes We Need NOW to Save Clean Energy Jobs (Third Way)
- Emissions Declines Will Set Records This Year. But It’s Not Good News. (NY Times)
- A stunning energy shock and emissions decline – Annual change in global energy-related CO2 emissions (Axios)
- The permit process remains on track for the 800MW Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm (renews)
- Representative Pappas Leads Bipartisan Group of 83 Lawmakers in Calling for PFAS Action in Upcoming Stimulus Legislation
- Amtrak’s Downeaster Maine-to-Boston service suspended through end of May (Penobscot Bay Pilot)
- New North American trade pact to take effect July 1: USTR (Reuters)
- HHS Awards $1.3 Billion to Health Centers in Historic U.S. Response to COVID-19 – $162.6 million to CONEG states
- Energy efficiency efforts are shutting down due to COVID-19, threatening jobs and savings (Utility Dive)
- EIA releases April’s S. Short-Term Energy Outlook
- Coalition Calls for Carbon Cap-and-Trade Program Across Northeast, Mid-Atlantic (NJ Spotlight)
- FERC, NERC Provide Industry Guidance to Ensure Grid Reliability Amid Potential Coronavirus Impacts (NERC)
March 2020
- States Have ‘Immense’ Powers to Fight Coronavirus (PewTrusts)
- Inside Clean Energy: An Energy Snapshot in 5 Charts (Inside Climate News)
- Chairs DeFazio, Lipinski Statements from Hearing on Freight and Passenger Rail (House T&I)
- Trump administration deals another blow to Gateway Tunnel (NJ.com)
- Passenger rail to benefit from $55.8 million in CRISI grants (Mass Transit Magazine)
February 2020
- ISO-NE’s annual report focuses on renewable energy future (Vermont Biz)
- Senate pushes bipartisan energy innovation bill (Axios)
- Senators Murkowski, Manchin Introduce American Energy Innovation Act
- EPA Releases PFAS Action Plan: Program Update – Report highlights EPA’s aggressive and unprecedented efforts to address PFAS in the environment (EPA)
- FERC ruling will limit wind and solar power’s participation in capacity markets – critcs cry bailout by another name (Politico)
- Why electric buses are part of our transportation future (Hartford Courant)
- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao Announces Availability of $1 Billion to Upgrade American Infrastructure (USDOT)
- Raskin’s Oversight Subcommittee Launches Investigation into use of Eminent Domain by Energy Companies (Rep. Raskin)
- A study says snow cover in New England is expected to decline by half, further stressing ski resorts that increasingly rely on energy intensive snowmaking equipment(Boston University News Service)
- While the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Accords, nearly half the states, including most in the Northeast, are acting to uphold the pact (Business Insider)
- Feds launch probe of renewables plan (Energy Wire)
- Two-Way Trade in Green Electrons: Deep Decarbonization of the Northeastern U.S. and the Role of Canadian Hydropower (MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Research)
- The Climate Leadership Council issues a bipartisan climate road map that aims to slash CO2 emissions 50 percent by 2035
- January 2020 was Earth’s hottest January on record (NOAA)
- FERC rejects waiver request re capacity and interconnection (Energy Policy Update)
- Cross-State Air Pollution Causes Significant Premature Deaths in the U.S. – Midwestern states are the biggest exporters of air pollution, while Northeastern states are the leading importers (Inside Climate News)
- ChargePoint commits $1B to expand EV charging as Ocasio-Cortez, others unveil bills for a national network (Utility Dive)
- In latest setback, offshore wind launch pushed beyond 2022: But Baker administration officials remain optimistic (SouthCoast Today)
- EIA releases February’s U.S. Short-Term Energy Outlook
- Feds clear Gateway bridge for funding — but not tunnel (Politico)
- Senators demand Gateway timeline from Trump administration (Politico)
- Lawmakers, Trump administration spar over Vineyard Wind review (Commonwealth Magazine
January 2020
- Trump signs USMCA deal, revamping North American trade rules (Washington Post)
- Many of these US cities prepping workers for a clean energy future are in the Northeast (ACEEE)
- House Democrats call for $760 billion in infrastructure spending over five years (Reuters)
- Democrats’ draft climate bill charts path to carbon neutrality by 2050 (The Hill)
- U.S. States Must Target Building Emissions to Meet Climate Goals (Reuters)
- New York and Massachusetts Selected for Annual Clean Energy States Honor Roll Released by IREC
- New commuter line between Mass. and Conn. exceeds 1 million passengers (Boston Globe)
- Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Outlook Forecasts Continued American Energy Growth
- Power plant emissions down 47% under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (Yale Climate Connections)
- The Senate has approved the USMCA, bringing Trump’s trade deal one step closer to reality (Vox)
- New England Will See More ‘Winter Heat Waves’ As Climate Warms, Scientists Say (NHPR)
- RGGI States Initiate Auction Process for Auction 47
- U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces Availability of More Than $900 Million for Infrastructure Investments Across America
- Trump Moves to Limit Environmental Reviews, Erase Climate Change from NEPA Considerations (Inside Climate News)
- House Energy & Commerce Committee leaders release framework of the CLEAN Future Act, a bold new plan to achieve a 100 percent clean economy by 2050
- Amtrak at (nearly) 50: The railroad faces its next chapter (Progressive Railroading)
- Alaska had its warmest year on record; Contiguous U.S. ranked second wettest during 2019
- Trump Rule Would Exclude Climate Change in Infrastructure Planning (New York Times)
- U.S. greenhouse gas emissions drop in 2019 as coal plants close (Rhodium Group)
- Exclusive: Chamber of Commerce CEO to push a more bipartisan agenda (Axios)
November-December 2019
- FERC curbs renewable, nuclear power in largest U.S. power market (Politico Pro)
- US has only one offshore wind energy farm, but a $70 billion market is on the way (CNBC)
- Winter holidays in the Northeast haven’t been as cold as they used to be (Press Herald)
- The bipartisan Northeast and Mid-Atlantic jurisdictions that make up the Transportation and Climate Initiative releases draft memorandum of understanding
- Here’s how other New England states are navigating the highway exit re-numbering mandate (Boston.com)
- ISO New England highlights of the 2019-2020 winter outlook and highlights of ISO’s communications with government officials
- Region’s leaders say offshore wind in Gulf of Maine could provide critical energy source (Press Herald)
- California, 7 other states vow to pursue zero-emission trucks and buses (Politico Pro)
- Dominion Energy Turns to Cow Manure in Gas Pact (Wall Street Journal)
- CO2 Allowances Sold for $5.61 in 46th RGGI Auction $73.6 Million Raised for Reinvestment in Fourth Auction of 2019
- Draft of Northeast States’ Plan To Cut Transportation Emissions Due Out This Month (NHPR)
October-November 2019
- Sanders, Warren join fellow senators in urging New England to speed clean energy transition (Utility Dive)
- Governors would get new selection power under HUBZone rule change (NH Business Review)
- Senate clears spending bill that punts shutdown to December (Politico)
- House moves to avert shutdown, but border wall fight dominates spending talks (Politico)
- Amtrak delivers best operating performance in company history
- America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act: Bipartisan, historic and substantial (Washington Times)
- Chairman Thompson, Ways and Means Democrats Unveil Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now Act
- Seven US Senators from New England sent a letter to ISO NE on Climate and Environmental goals of the region
- Can Northeast transportation plan balance urban and rural concerns? (Energy New Network)
- Cicilline, Kennedy propose regional commission for RI, Mass., Conn. (WPRI)
- Nancy Pelosi says a USMCA trade deal breakthrough could be ‘imminent’ (CNBC)
- Power grid security test to focus on New York cyberattack scenario (PoliticoPro)
- EIA releases the November 2019 U.S. Short-Term Energy Outlook
- Union urges governors to prioritize worker, consumer protections in regional pot efforts (PoliticoPro)
- Department of Energy Announces $128 Million in New Projects to Advance Solar Technologies
- Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force set to meet December 12 (InDepthNH.org)
- General Electric testing blade for world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine in Boston (MassLive.com)
- FRA’s FY19 Partnership Grant Program Webinar Now Available Online
- Global Warming Is Already Destroying New England’s Fisheries (New Republic)
- Defying Trump, governors who represent over half the U.S. population pledge to uphold Paris Climate Agreement (Newsweek)
- Solar (and efficiency) are driving down peak demand in New England (PV-Magazine)
- US wind energy capacity is now more than 100 gigawatts, according to new report (CNBC)
- MA, CT & RI among 11 Attorney’s General urging FERC to respect state energy rights (Utility Dive)
- DOE Awards $28 Million for Wind Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Projects
- Senator Schumer proposes $462 billion car swap – gas for electric (AP)
Sepember – October 2019
- NEG/ECP Resolution on Ecological Connectivity recognized as supporting policy in scientific study: Connecting fractured habitats has long-lasting ecological benefits, study finds (Washington Post)
- The Transportation and Climate Initiative Shares Updates and Draft Framework for Regional Low-carbon Transportation Policy (TCI)
- Details of Vineyard Wind’s offshore wind bid unveiled (The Day)
- California, New England will miss 2050 carbon targets at current pace, reports find (Utility Dive)
- The Center for American Progress has released a new report outlining ten new policy principles that call for 100 percent clean future by 2050 (CAP)
- 2017 RGGI Investments Generate Environmental and Economic Benefits – $315.6 Million Invested in Strategic Energy and Consumer Benefit Programs
- According to CBO estimates, the federal budget deficit was $984 billion in fiscal year 2019
- EIA releases October’s U.S. Short-Term Energy Outlook and the Winter Fuels Outlook for 2019-2020 (EIA)
- Coast Guard agrees to long-term fix for Portal Bridge delays (Politico)
- The Northeast US has a carbon-trading system. It is boosting, not hurting, state economies. (Vox)
- New York, New Jersey move to create commission to oversee Gateway projects (Politico)
- Northeast states takes first step in effort to reduce transportation emissions (The Hill)
- Pennsylvania joins Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, taking landmark – and controversial – climate step (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
- EPA announced the availability of $15 million in funding for technical assistance and training providers that work to improve the drinking water and water quality of small communities nationwide
- Northeast heating oil industry looks to biodiesel to reduce carbon emissions (Energy News Network)
- Trump aide offers no guidance on Vineyard Wind (Commonwealth Magazine)
- EPA Says New England Air Quality Improving (NHPR)
- Achieving New England’s Ambitious 2050 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals Will Require Keeping the Foot on the Clean Energy Deployment Accelerator (The Brattle Group)
- New York, Connecticut And New Jersey Governors Will Meet To Discuss Marijuana Legalization (Marijuana Moment)
- Heating Oil Industry Commits to Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 (New England Fuel Institute)
- Governor Lamont Applauds PURA Approval of Millstone Contract Between Dominion, Eversource, and United Illuminating
- The Northeast Gas Association (NGA) and GTI are releasing a report called: “Interconnect Guide for Renewable Natural Gas in New York State.” (Northeast Gas Association)
- Senate eyes EV fees to pay for highway bill (E&E News)
- Former FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur joins ISO-NE Board of Directors; Barney Rush, Vickie VanZandt re-elected (ISO-NE)
- CONEG signs onto an AASHTO coalition letter to make sure $7.6 billion FAST Act rescission of highway contract authority is fully repealed as part of any potential CR
- EIA expects U.S. CO2 emissions in 2019 to decline because the forecast share of electricity generated from natural gas and renewables is increasing while the forecast share generated from coal, which is a more carbon-intensive energy source, is decreasing.
- Northeast Governors sign onto letter urging President Trump to work with Congress to pass sensible gun legislation
- New England aims to ensure electric vehicle rebates aren’t just for wealthy (Energy News Network)
- EIA releases September’s U.S. Short-Term Energy Outlook
- RGGI 2019 Interim Compliance Materials Available
- Vineyard Wind Delays Hold Up Other Offshore Projects (ECO RI News)
August 2019
- Offshore Wind Tax Credits Could Be Included in a Fall Tax Extenders Package (Green Tech Media)
- Trump Administration Announces $1.8 Billion in Funding to States to Continue Combating Opioid Crisis
- Repowering Rural New England Communities with Renewables (Leah Thibault – Energy & Environment)
- Governors write to federal regulators and urge them not to delay offshore wind power
- Governors focus on transportation bottlenecks (Boston Globe)
- Passenger rail projects awarded more than $272 million in federal State of Good Repair grants (Mass Transit)
- Report: $2.2 Billion Needed to Meet U.S. Electric Car Charging Demand Through 2025 (Morning Consult)
- The Northeast is reaching a climate tipping point caused by increasing temperatures as the gulf stream has moved closer to shore. (WGBH)
- Vineyard Wind project gains bipartisan support from federal lawmakers (Cape Cod Times)
- Massachusetts U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey urge federal officials to reverse their course on Vineyard Wind. (North American Windpower)
- Governor Phil Scott, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch Announce $7.9 Million In Northern Border Regional Commission Grants (Vermont Biz)
- Feds’ delay puts crucial tax credit in jeopardy for Vineyard Wind (Boston Globe)
- Extreme Climate Change Impacts the Northeast (Washington Post)
- States Sue Trump Administration Over Rollback of Obama-Era Climate Rule (New York Times)