New Hampshire net metering ruling could imperil solar development

SOLAR: New Hampshire regulators reject a stakeholder agreement to extend net metering to 2044, a decision that will likely slow solar development in the state and be fatal for larger projects now in the planning stages, advocates say. (Concord Monitor)

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ALSO:

• New Jersey regulators launch a yearlong evaluation of the state’s solar net metering program and possible changes to the system as developers say a more well-defined policy is needed to support future growth. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• One of Rhode Island’s largest solar projects comes online, providing Brown University with the majority of its electricity as the school aims to go net-zero by 2040. (news release)

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CLIMATE: The new version of Maine’s climate plan prioritizes renewable energy, energy efficiency measures, climate adaptation, and environmental justice, but scales back previous goals for electric vehicle adoption. (Portland Press Herald, subscription)

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OFFSHORE WIND:

• On Nantucket, attendees at an offshore wind forum speak out against the latest wind farm planned off the island, though town leaders emphasize they have little ability to impact the development. (The Inquirer and Mirror)
• Maryland approves a permit for expansion of a pier to support offshore wind construction, despite objections from opponents who fear the planned wind farm will hurt the economy and the environment. (Maryland Matters)

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TRANSMISSION:

• Environmental groups in Maryland call for a comprehensive assessment of a proposed power line’s cumulative environmental impacts. (Baltimore Sun, subscription)
• In New England, utility spending on local transmission projects grew eightfold from 2016 to 2023, according to a think tank report, part of a national trend that advocates say should be addressed with regulatory reforms. (Utility Dive)

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RENEWABLES: Harvard, MIT, and Massachusetts General Brigham hospital partner to buy up to 1.3 million megawatt-hours of power annually from a Texas solar installation and North Dakota wind facility. (Harvard Magazine)

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GEOTHERMAL: A networked geothermal system in Massachusetts is one of a handful of projects nationwide demonstrating the potential of thermal systems to replace traditional gas utility service. (Utility Dive)

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FOSSIL FUELS: A former coal plant in Connecticut will soon be demolished as the state moves away from fossil fuel power generation. (Connecticut Public Radio)

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COMMENTARY: Energy storage is the “cornerstone of a clean energy grid” and offers important environmental and economic benefits, despite critics’ inflated concerns about upfront costs, say two Northeast clean energy advocates. (CommonWealth Beacon)

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