Hydrogen hub development overlooks environmental justice concerns

HYDROGEN: Advocates say developers are not listening to their environmental justice concerns as the process of building federally supported hydrogen hubs ramps up in Pennsylvania and other targeted areas.  (The Daily Climate)

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CLIMATE: As a second Trump term threatens climate action, Democrat-led state governments like Maryland’s are expected to be essential to progress on climate and energy issues. (Inside Climate News)

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SOLAR:

• In western Massachusetts, lawmakers worry that a pending climate bill could unleash a torrent of solar development that would damage the region’s rural, agrarian character. (Berkshire Eagle)
• A Pennsylvania utility agrees to add 25 MW of solar power to its energy mix, a plan that will prompt the development of the state’s largest-ever utility-owned solar project. (WHYY)
• New York’s solar industry worries that momentum might be slowing due to local restrictions, interconnection delays, and regulatory issues. (RTO Insider, subscription)

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RENEWABLES: As one of 67 federal sites receiving a total of $150 million in federal funding for clean energy and energy conservation projects, a U.S. Coast Guard yard in Baltimore will install a geothermal heat pump and a solar-powered microgrid. (Utility Dive)

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STORAGE: The University of New Hampshire introduces a 1.4-million-gallon water tank “battery” that stores chilled liquid at off-peak hours for use in the campus cooling systems during periods of higher demand. (Concord Monitor)

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UTILITIES: A Maine utility comes under scrutiny for the way it accounts for costs shared with affiliates as advocates suggest the practices might inflate costs for ratepayers. (Portland Press-Herald, subscription)

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GRID: ISO New England uses a new tool to predict that, even in the case of extreme weather events, the grid would likely only experience limited, manageable shortfalls this winter. (RTO Insider, subscription)

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EMISSIONS: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul considers reviving a plan for congestion pricing in New York City before a new Trump administration can block the program. (Associated Press)

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OFFSHORE WIND: A coalition of East Coast states moves ahead with plans for a compensation fund to mitigate the financial impact offshore wind could have on commercial fishermen. (SeafoodSource)

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TRANSIT: A New York ferry company announces plans to use renewable diesel in its fleet, complementing its ongoing plans to move to hybrid vessels. (Hudson County View)

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COMMENTARY: Maryland conservatives should rise above politics and support adoption of electric school buses for environmental and fiscal reasons, former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele says. (Maryland Matters)

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