Pennsylvania hasn’t acted on fracking health studies, advocates say

FOSSIL FUELS: Pennsylvania health officials published studies linking fracking to numerous detrimental health effects over a year ago, but advocates say the state has done nothing to make relevant changes. (Daily Climate)

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ALSO: In New Jersey, a public pressure campaign mounted against a planned gas-fired plant in an environmental justice community results in hundreds of calls and emails to the commission behind it. (NJ Spotlight)

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GRID:

• Developers of the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line have a local permit reapproved in Jay, Maine; numerous delays pushed the project off so long that its original permit was set to soon expire. (Sun Journal)
• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology issues a report finding that advanced transmission technologies, like advanced power flow control devices, can help meet grid-stressing power demand. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• A new report suggests that while Massachusetts’ energy storage incentives are strong, they have failed to equitably reach environmental justice communities. (RTO Insider, subscription)

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WIND: The announcement that the Gulf of Maine will soon see its first offshore wind lease auction has renewed calls from the New England fishing community for more environmental review to understand potential impacts on their business. (Boston Herald, subscription)

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MINING: Environmental advocates suggest that a Pennsylvania company’s faltering plans to extract lithium from wastewater raise questions about the industry’s viability. (Inside Climate News)

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BUILDINGS:

• At an appearance in Maine, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announces a $36 million grant to help low-income residents install heat pumps. (Maine Morning Star)
• Rhode Island kicks off a $31 million energy efficiency program for low- to middle-income households for home electrification projects. (PBN)

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SOLAR: A northeastern Maine town extends a temporary moratorium on new medium-to-large-scale solar projects by 180 days past its initial Oct. 5 expiration date. (Bar Harbor Story)

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UTILITIES: Maryland utility regulation staff say the commission should revise the multi-year rate plan framework to better suit ratepayers, but several Exelon utilities claim the current format benefits customers and state policy. (Utility Dive)

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RENEWABLE ENERGY:

• A nearly $2 million federal grant will help Pennsylvania environmental protection officials form an outreach and education program to teach communities about renewable energy projects. (news release)
• A potential reduction in federal Rural Energy for America Program grants worries New Hampshire clean energy leaders, who say such funds have been vital for renewable energy development on farms and small businesses. (NH Business Review)

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GEOENGINEERING: The rise and fall of an aquaculture-turned-carbon removal startup with offices in Maine underscores the promise and problems with trying to geoengineer our way out of climate change. (Canary Media)

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TRANSPORTATION: Maine officials pause plans to expand a turnpike in the Portland suburbs because of public feedback, which included a desire to add more public transit options and prevent taking land from a historic farm. (WGME, WGME, Portland Press Herald)

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