Cold could threaten Northeast gas reliability

NATURAL GAS: A lack of spare pipeline capacity into the region could threaten the reliability of New England and New York’s natural gas system in extreme cold weather, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. says. (Utility Dive)

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ALSO: A Connecticut company signs a $160 million deal to build a 7.4-MW power plant in the state capital using natural gas fuel cells, which officials say will produce no emissions and contribute to state renewable energy goals. (CTpost)

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OFFSHORE WIND: A Maine Congressman introduces legislation to prohibit offshore wind development in certain key fishing areas with the aim of protecting his state’s lobstering industry. (Maine Morning Star)

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TRANSPORTATION: Ongoing projects to improve New York’s infrastructure, including adding solar generation to public transportation facilities, electrifying bus fleets, and improving transit infrastructure, will not be deterred by the Trump administration, officials say. (City & State New York)

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GRID:

• Four more governors join Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s request that grid operator PJM lower its capacity auction price cap after the most recent auction yielded exceptionally high prices. (Utility Dive)
• New York grid operator NYISO begins reviewing the structure of its capacity market to keep up with rising demand and state energy policy goals. (RTO Insider, subscription)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Maine education official asks the EPA for relief as school districts that received problem-plagued electric buses grapple with financial loss, but officials still stand behind the importance of electrifying the state’s school bus fleets. (Kennebec Journal, subscription)

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SOLAR:

• New Jersey reaches 5 GW of installed solar capacity, more than double the total installed in 2017 when clean energy champion Gov. Phil Murphy took office. (NJ Spotlight News)
• The Delaware state Senate considers a resolution that would direct a state sustainable energy organization to investigate whether net metering shifts costs onto ratepayers who do not use solar. (Coast TV)

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CLIMATE: New Jersey environmental advocates lay out a wish list of goals they’d like to see gubernatorial candidates embrace, including reaching 100% clean energy by 2035 and advancing the electrification of public transportation. (New Jersey Monitor)

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HYDROGEN: New York awards $1.2 million to four clean hydrogen research and development projects that show promise in making the production process cleaner and more efficient. (news release)

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