Report: Vermont will miss 2025 climate goal

CLIMATE: An environmental group says Vermont will fall short of its 2025 climate targets, and says officials used faulty modeling to determine the state was on track. (VT Digger)

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ALSO: As states prepare to defend climate policy from anticipated Trump administration rollbacks, newly elected Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s reliance on fossil fuel industry campaign donations suggests the state will largely stay on the sidelines. (Capital & Main)

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GRID: Six New England states are teaming up to push the region’s grid operator to advance transmission projects throughout the region, believed to be the first collaboration of its kind in the country. (Boston Globe, subscription)

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CLEAN ENERGY:

• A small, cash-strapped Pennsylvania school district’s adoption of solar power and electric buses is an example of getting the economics right on clean energy, advocates say. (Canary Media)
• Three car dealerships in suburban New York City install solar-powered microgrids, which are expected to reduce their utility bills by up to 90%. (Microgrid Knowledge)

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BUILDINGS:

• Citing a 2023 explosion that killed seven people, Pennsylvania lawmakers consider requiring natural gas detectors in some buildings, with one Republican likening them to now-ubiquitous smoke detectors. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Vermont Republicans seek to repeal the state’s recently passed Clean Heat Standard, apparently citing a report projecting heating oil prices will increase 1 to 2 cents per gallon per year. (Mountain Times)

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UTILITIES: Another credit agency downgrades its rating for Avangrid’s natural gas utilities in Connecticut, citing a “challenged regulatory environment.” (CT News Junkie)

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OVERSIGHT: Some New York lawmakers are seeking more transparency from the state’s Energy Research and Development Authority, in part to help the public better understand how clean energy policies might impact rates. (Spectrum News 1)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Maryland is working toward a goal of having electric vehicle charging stations every 50 miles along major highways, an effort to create “range confidence” for drivers. (Inside Climate News)
• Trucking groups from New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other states urge governors to delay implementation of Advanced Clean Trucks rules, saying the infrastructure is not in place for a transition to electric transportation. (ROI-NJ)

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TRANSPORTATION: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says New Jersey officials are acting in bad faith by refusing to accept transit revenue from New York City’s congestion pricing plan in exchange for dropping a lawsuit. (Streetsblog)

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SOLAR: A 229 MW solar project in western New York has begun operation. (PV Magazine)

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