News from Around the Region and Washington, DC -

December 2021

Senator Collins and her Colleagues Urge Energy Department to Release Funding to H elp States Improve Energy Efficiency, Foster Job Creation
EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Standards for Passenger Vehicles, Paving Way for a Zero-Emissions Future (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Billions in Amtrak Funding Could Modernize Aging Rail System – Amtrak hopes can fix crumbling bridges and tunnels along the Northeast Corridor (New York Times)
EPA Announces $1.3 Million to Fund 13 Environmental Justice Grants in New England (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
DOE Announces $18.6 Million to Expand the Weatherization Assistance Program (U.S. Department of Energy)
Canada’s 2030 emissions reduction plan delayed – Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault will introduce the plan end of March (Global News)
U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation signed a memorandum of understanding to create a Joint Office of Energy and Transportation focused on deploying EV infrastructure (U.S. Department of Energy)
President Biden signs Executive Order requiring net-zero federal government emissions by 2050 (The White House)
EIA expects short-term crude oil prices to remain lower than the highs of 2021 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Harsh weather conditions could pose challenges to New England’s power system this winter (ISO-NE)
The Edison Electric Institute announces the formation of the National Electric Highway Coalition (Edison Electric Institute)
Secretary Granholm Traveled Across Northeast Highlighting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (U.S. Department of Energy)
EPA Administrator Regan sends letter to Governors with the Fiscal Year 2022 allocation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) water infrastructure funding through the State Revolving Funds (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

November 2021

Education about Electric Vehicles Increases Likelihood Buyers Will Consider Purchasing Them (U.S. Department of Energy)
EPA Report: U.S. Cars Achieve Record High Fuel Economy and Low Emission Levels as Companies Fully Comply with Standards (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Vineyard Wind: The nation’s first utility-scale wind farm is being built off Cape Cod (Cape Cod Times)
USDOT Releases State by State Fact Sheets Highlighting Benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (U.S. Department of Transportation)
EIA expects volatile natural gas prices this winter because of uncertainty about weather (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
New England electricity use will grow more than 1% annually amid electrification push, says ISO (Utility Dive)
Amtrak CEO outlines plans for spending $66 billion from infrastructure funding (NBC News)
DOE Announces Nearly $200 Million to Reduce Emissions From Cars and Trucks (U.S. Department of Energy)
After Maine voters approved a ballot measure to block the Central Maine Power’s transmission line, Business leaders wonder if New England can build the energy infrastructure needed to meet its climate goals (Commonwealth Magazine)
U.S., Canada among 20 countries to commit to stop financing fossil fuels abroad (Reuters)

October 2021

UN: Greenhouse gas concentrations hits new records despite temporary reduction during pandemic (APNews)
Inside Clean Energy: Electric Vehicles Are Having a Banner Year. Here Are the Numbers (Inside Climate News)
The National Climate Task Force has launched a website to serve as a messaging resource that demonstrates the impact of whole-of-government approach to tackling the climate crisis (The White House)
EPA Announces Key Step to Advance Science, Better Protect Communities from PFAS Pollution (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
FERC’s Glick urges power plant owners to line up fuel supplies as gas prices soar – which could have major effect on New England’s energy market (Utility Dive)
Secretary Haaland Outlines Ambitious Offshore Wind Leasing Strategy (U.S. Department of the Interior)
DOE Announces $13.5 Million for Sustainable Development of Offshore Wind (U.S. Department of Energy)
Over two dozen organizations sent a letter to FERC Commissioners expressing their support for large-scale transmission (American Council on Renewable Energy)
DOE Invests $61 Million for Smart Buildings that Accelerate Renewable Energy Adoption and Grid Resilience (U.S. Department of Energy)
EPA Publishes its 2021 Climate Adaptation Action Plan (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
EPA head says he’ll act on climate even if Congress doesn’t (Washington Post)
EIA projects accelerating renewable consumption and steady liquid fuels growth to 2050 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
EFI’s Melanie Kenderdine Presents at NASEO Event on Building the Battery Supply Chain (Energy Futures Initiative)

September 2021

U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Has Electrifying Future (Clean Technica)
Vermont, 26 states recognize National Clean Energy Week (Vermont Biz)
RGGI States Preparing for CO2 Budget Source 2021 Interim Control Period Compliance (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative)
August 2021 was Earth’s sixth-warmest August on record (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Northeast Corridor Commission has a $117 billion plan to modernize the Northeast Corridor (Washington Post)
CO₂ Allowances Sold for $9.30 in 53rd RGGI Auction: $213 Million Raised for Reinvestment in Third Auction of 2021 (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative)
President Biden taps D.C. utility regulator Willie Phillips to fill Neil Chatterjee’s old seat at FERC (Politico)
House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed its provisions of the Build Back Better Act
DOE Releases Solar Futures Study Providing the Blueprint for a Zero-Carbon Grid (U.S. Department of Energy)
Studies Agree 80 Percent Clean Electricity By 2030 Would Save Lives And Create Jobs At Minimal Cost (Energy Innovation LLC)

August 2021

The State of the Climate in 2020: International report confirms record-high greenhouse gases, sea levels (NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information)
Georgetown Climate Center and M.J. Bradley & Associates release Regional Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Location Identification Toolkit (Georgetown Climate Center)
New analysis: US needs 1 million EV charging stations to meet demand (Third Way)
U.S. large-scale battery storage power capacity increased 35% in 2020 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Statement from NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad on new IPCC report (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
It’s official: July was Earth’s hottest month on record (NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information)
EIA forecasts energy-related CO₂emissions will increase this year about 7% from the 2020 level (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
A Hotter Future Is Certain, Climate Panel Warns. But How Hot Is Up to Us. (New York Times)
EPA to Overhaul Pollution Standards for Passenger Vehicles and Heavy-Duty Trucks, Paving Way for Zero-Emission Future (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Advances President Biden’s Climate Agenda
President Biden Announces Steps to Drive American Leadership Forward on Clean Cars and Truck

July 2021

Democrats Call Infrastructure Bill a Down Payment on Climate (New York Times)
NOAA Fisheries’ FY2021 Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants Recommended for Funding
DOE Announces $42.3 Million and New Industry Partnerships to Decarbonize American Manufacturing (U.S. Department of Energy)
Renewables became the second-most prevalent U.S. electricity source in 2020 (Energy Information Administration)
Climate-Driven Changes in Clouds are Likely to Amplify Global Warming (Inside Climate News)
New England’s air quality is worse than anywhere in US besides California (Boston Globe)
Schools in the Northeast states rank among some of the best with Massachusetts and Connecticut finishing first and second, respectively in new survey (Wallet Hub)
Electric cars to outsell combustion vehicles by 2036: analysis (The Hill)
Vineyard Wind strikes labor union pact for U.S. offshore wind farm (Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announces $3 Billion Investment in America’s Communities
Regional Wildlife Science Entity to focus on research and monitoring for wildlife and offshore wind energy (Northeast Regional Ocean Council)
Canada to open its border to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens on Aug. 9 (Washington Post)
A new report calls on the Biden administration to establish a National Electric Transmission Authority to fight the climate threat (Energy Wire)
House Appropriations Committee Releases Reports for Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bills
Secretary Granholm Announces New Goal to Cut Costs of Long Duration Energy Storage by 90 Percent (US Department of Energy)
The Northeast Corridor Commission releases a 15-Year Service Development Plan and Infrastructure Planning Process for the Northeast Corridor (NEC Commission)
FERC, NERC, Regional Entity Staff Make Recommendations For Grid Operating Assessments (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says Electricity demand rebound will require more fossil fuel generation (Reuters)
High-Speed Rail Gets Boost From New Coalition – Business and labor groups want high-speed rail projects included in budget reconciliation (Wall Street Journal)
EIA expects growth in electricity sales and generation from renewables through 2022 (Energy Information Administration)

June 2021

House passes roughly $700 billion transportation and water bill, making its pitch on infrastructure (Washington Post)
BOEM Announces Environmental Review of Wind Energy Project Proposed for Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts
2019 RGGI Investments Generate Environmental and Economic Benefits – $217 Million Invested in Strategic Energy and Consumer Benefit Programs (RGGI)
Green groups shift energy to reconciliation package (The Hill)
Infrastructure package scales down Biden climate investments but includes money for EV, clean water, grid investments (The Hill)
The Northeast is seeing an expansion of dryness and drought according to the latest US Drought Monitor
Canada opens its borders for some fully vaccinated individuals starting July 5 (St. Albans Messenger)
Funding secured for the New England dredging projects (Dredging Today)
States, Transmission Providers May Enter Into Voluntary Agreements, FERC Says (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
Drought is currently covering 38.9% of the US land area, affecting 92.9 million people according to the NOAA Bi-Weekly Congressional Drought Update (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Electric Vehicle Sales Set to Rise Faster Than Ever, but More Policy Action Needed to Get on Track for Net Zero (BloombergNEF)
Environmental Protection Agency Names 2021 Top Cities for ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings – New York ranks #5 and Boston takes the #9 spot (EPA)
The US East Coast is set to become a green energy job powerhouse (Quartz)
Six R&D Projects Aim to Decrease Cost Barriers to Deploying the Clean Energy Technology Needed to Eliminate Greenhouse Emissions (US DOE)
Environmental Protection Agency Continues to Take Action on PFAS to Protect the Public (EPA)
New England states push for governance changes in ISO-NE, ahead of anticipated MOPR reform (Utility Dive)
Power Prices Surge Amid Air-Conditioning Binge in U.S. Northeast (Bloomberg)
Car pollution killed hundreds in Mass. and thousands across 12 states, researchers say (Boston Globe)

May 2021

US Offshore Wind Critical to New England’s Decarbonized Future Grid (RTO Insider)
New WRI expert notes on aligning green recovery plans and NDCs (World Resources Institute)
Biden Administration Invests $1 Billion To Protect Communities, Families, and Businesses Before Disaster Strikes
Pathway to critical and formidable goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 is narrow but brings huge benefits, according to IEA special report (International Energy Agency)
ISO New England Expects Sufficient Electricity Supplies Under Average, Above-Average Summer Temperatures (ISO-NE), but the North American Electric Reliability Corporation thinks the grid operator is at risk of an energy shortfall (Utility Dive)
All Roads Lead to Net Zero, Not Just the Easy Ones (Bloomberg)
Biden-Harris Administration Approves First Major Offshore Wind Project in U.S. Waters

April 2021

Census releases House apportionment for next decade (Politico)
New Global Partnerships Will Advance Clean Energy Technologies, Help U.S. Achieve Administration’s Net-Zero Emissions Goal, Create Jobs and Opportunities for All Americans (US DOE)
New Report Identifies 22 Shovel Ready Regional and Interregional Transmission Projects (ACEG)
Governors Urge Biden To Order 100% Zero-Emission Car Sales By 2035 (NPR)
White House backs 2030 milestone on path to net zero grid (Reuters)Seacoast Leaders And Commerce Secretary Talk Visa Workers, COVID Funding, Climate Change (NHPR)
Biden Administration Advances Expansion & Modernization of the Electric Grid
Transmission Upgrades Could Hold The Key To New England Clean Energy Goals (NHPR)
New Consortium of Power System Operators and Technical Institutes Commits to Decarbonization Efforts Ahead of President Biden’s Leaders’ Climate Summit (NREL)
EIA expects U.S. motor fuel consumption to increase this summer, but remain below 2019 levels (EIA)
Senators Collins, King want to grow greenhouse gas reduction program (AP)
NOAA Bi-Weekly Congressional Drought Update – April 1st, 2021 (US Drought Monitor)

March 2021

White House Details $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan (Route Fifty)
Biden Infrastructure Plan Targets Electric Cars, Clean Power (Bloomberg)
DOE Awards $110 Million to Small Businesses Pursuing Scientific, Clean Energy, and Climate Solutions (US DOE)
Administrator Regan Directs EPA to Reset Critical Science-Focused Federal Advisory Committees (US EPA)
$255 Million Allocation; Fisheries Disaster Assistance from 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (NOAA)
Governors Rev Up Momentum On Infrastructure (NGA)
Transportation & Climate Initiative Program Public Input Period on Draft Model Rule Extended to May 7 (TCI-P)
White House pushes new offshore wind power expansion (Politico)
Moniz and Kerry Talk Aspirations for Climate & Energy at CERAWeek (Energy Futures Initiative)
CO₂emissions prices in the Northeast states reached record levels in most recent auction (US EIA)
From Amazon To FedEx, The Delivery Truck Is Going Electric (NPR)
EPA finalized a rule to extend the renewable fuel standard (RFS) program’s compliance deadlines for 2019 and 2020 (US EPA)
Infrastructure Plan Seeks to Address Climate and Equality as Well as Roads (New York Times)
The U.S. East Coast is ripe for offshore wind development (Green Biz)
EPA Reboots Climate Change Website (US EPA)
New Report Shows Opportunity for Strategic Federal Investment to Accelerate Nation-wide Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Development (Georgetown Climate Center & M.J. Bradley & Associates)
DOE Announces $24.5 Million for Manufacturing Innovation to Build a Clean, Resilient Electric Grid (US DOE)
EIA releases March’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (US EIA)
New E.P.A. Head Says Agency Has Climate Regulations Underway (New York Times)
ASCE Releases its 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
A Clean Energy Milestone: Renewables Pulled Ahead of Coal in 2020 (Inside Climate News)
Transportation & Climate Initiative shares Draft Model Rule and Updates on Public Engagement Planning (TCI)

February 2021

Atlantic Ocean circulation is the weakest in at least 1,600 years, study finds – here’s what that means for the climate (CBS News)
President Biden met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss The United States-Canada Partnership Roadmap
EIA releases February’s Short-Term Energy Outlook
Democrats propose executive actions on electric vehicle acquisitions (The Hill)
EPA Takes Action to Address PFAS in Drinking Water
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions decreased from 2018 to 2019 by 1.7% according to EPA’s draft annual greenhouse gas inventory
Battery power is becoming part of New England’s electric grid (Concord Monitor)
President Biden’s first 100 days – Vaccine developments, immigration overhaul, budget priorities (Government Executive)
A State-by-State Model of the US Net-Zero-Carbon Future (Greentech Media)
Wind Industry Closes Record 2020 With Strongest Quarter Ever (American Clean Power Association)
NOAA Bi-Weekly Congressional Drought Update
BOEM to Resume Environmental Review of Vineyard Wind’s Proposed Project

January 2021

HHS Announces Marketplace Special Enrollment Period for COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
EIA leaders will discuss Annual Energy Outlook 2021 and long-term impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. energy mix at a virtual public event hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center
President Biden Takes Executive Actions to Tackle the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, Create Jobs, and Restore Scientific Integrity Across Federal Government
The Battle Lines Are Forming in Biden’s Climate Push (New York Times)
Biden plans to replace the US government’s fleet of 650,000 vehicles with electric models in a shift to clean energy (Business Insider)
Permitting for big U.S. offshore wind farm will resume ‘very, very soon’: Avangrid CEO (Reuters)
Biden Infrastructure Plan Pushes Better Roads, EV Chargers, Mass Transit (Forbes)
Offshore wind stagnated under Trump, Biden policies could create a boom for offshore energy (Cape Cod Times)
President Biden selects Commissioner Rich Glick to chair FERC
NOAA Releases 2020 Annual Global Climate Report

December 2020

U.S. Climate Alliance States Outpace Nation in Clean Energy Job Creation While Pushing to Achieve Goals of Paris Agreement (US Climate Alliance)
US Pushes Harder For Electric Vehicle Makeover (Clean Technica)
Mass., other states near historic agreement to curb transportation emissions (Boston Globe)
Offshore wind advocates want better coordination on electric grid upgrades (Energy News Network)
Electric Vehicles and the Power Grid: Roadmaps From California and New York (Greentech Media)
New England states projected to meet 2025 Paris goals on reducing greenhouse gas emissions report from EDF says (Reuters)
For Biden’s Economic Team, an Early Focus on Climate (NY Times)
Trudeau Hikes Carbon Tax in Bid to Reach 2030 Climate Goal (Bloomberg Green)
U.S. just had its 4th-hottest November and year to date on record (NOAA)
World carbon dioxide emissions drop 7% in pandemic-hit 2020 (AP News)
EIA releases December’s U.S. Short-Term Energy Outlook (EIA)
Poll suggests strong support for Northeast cap-and-invest transportation initiative (Energy News Network)
NJ Transit Board authorizes Full Funding Grant Agreement with FTA for Portal North Bridge (Mass Transit)
A recent study on Decarbonizing New England finds that without new technological advances, significant gas capacity would be the most cost effective method to supply peak power as far out as 2050 (E3 & EFI)
CO₂ Allowances Sold for $7.41 in 50th RGGI Auction – $120.3 Million Raised for Reinvestment in Final Auction of 2020 (RGGI)
Top companies call for ambitious U.S. climate policy (C2ES)
Feds Push Vineyard Wind Decision Into 2021 (WBUR)
New Interim Strategy Will Address PFAS Through Certain EPA-Issued Wastewater Permits

November 2020

Amtrak names Stephen Gardner as president (Trains Magazine)
October 2020 was the globe’s fourth-warmest October on record (NOAA)
EIA releases November’s U.S. Short-Term Energy Outlook (EIA)
Declining Snow Cover in U.S. Northeast Will Have Major Impacts on Rivers, Study Finds (YaleE360)
Maine could show the way on overcoming rural obstacles to electric vehicles (Energy News Network)
Rain and snow continues to improve drought conditions in the Northeast (NOAA & The National Drought Mitigation Center)

October 2020

UN-linked plan charts US course to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 (The Hill)
Election 2020: Trump’s FERC may need to shift course on clean energy, though Biden’s road will not be easy (Utility Dive)
Electric vehicles see state-level gains (The Hill)
House Natural Resources Committee Unveils Landmark Oceans Solutions Bill to Tackle Climate Crisis
Targeted Ecosystem Restoration Can Protect Climate, Biodiversity (Inside Climate News)
Earth just had its hottest September on record – With 3 months left, 2020 could rank among three-warmest years on record for globe (NOAA)
International Energy Outlook 2020 focuses on global electricity markets (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Baker, Sununu do not sign GOP governors’ letter supporting Coney Barrett nomination to Supreme Court (Boston Globe)
New England’s Forests Are Sick. They Need More Tree Doctors (New York Times)
National Governors Association Chair Cuomo and Vice Chair Hutchinson Call on Congress to Prioritize State and Local Aid
Amtrak’s new Acela gets speed testing ahead of 2021 rollout: “It’s going to be a game changer” (CBS This Morning)