Maine electric vehicle incentives stall out

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Maine has no current plans to bring back its electric vehicle rebate program after it exhausted its $13.5 million in funds, and instead expects to focus more limited funding on low-income households and other groups that are “slower to adopt” EVs. (Maine Morning Star)

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ALSO:

• As Massachusetts pushes the adoption of electric vehicles, the state is also looking for ways to grapple with the decline in gas tax revenues the transition will create. (CommonWealth Beacon)
• An electric vehicle charging company receives a $1.25 billion federal loan guarantee to build 7,500 fast chargers in states including New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. (Electrek)

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STORAGE: In Maine, bipartisan support could help the state reach its ambitious energy storage goals, despite likely federal pressure when President-elect Donald Trump takes office. (Bangor Daily News, subscription)

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EFFICIENCY: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration fails to set a new target for reducing energy use in state buildings, despite a 2022 order that set a goal of going 100% renewable by 2030. (E&E News, subscription)

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GRID:

• A newly elected state representative in Pennsylvania says one of his priorities will be removing the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which he calls a “ball and chain on our energy industry.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• A Maine electric cooperative will build or improve 70 miles of power lines and improve the reliability of some rural infrastructure, thanks to a $14 million federal loan guarantee. (Maine Public)

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UTILITIES: Credit rating agency S&P Global says its downgrading of Eversource’s rating in Connecticut should not increase costs for customers in Massachusetts or New Hampshire, though the utility maintains there will be a “ripple effect.” (Boston Globe)

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SOLAR: A pilot program in southwestern Pennsylvania rolls out solar panel and battery storage leasing options for households making less than $100,000 per year. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

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TRANSIT: New York City plans to expand its bike-share program to more neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, but is still avoiding some car-centric areas that have been less open to bike infrastructure. (Streetsblog NYC)

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COMMENTARY:

• Maine’s lawsuit against big oil companies could yield valuable funds for dealing with the impacts of climate change, as well as force corporations to be held publicly accountable for their climate damages, says an environmental lawyer. (Portland Press Herald, subscription)
• Lawsuits like Connecticut’s action against Exxon Mobil highlight oil companies’ history of using greenwashing to deceptively present themselves as champions of the environment, says a public policy college student. (CT Mirror)

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