Maryland is one of 21 states joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize America’s aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power-generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar, and severe weather.
See the full story at Maryland Matters.
More DMV News
RGGI Officially Removed From Virginia State Budget
The Bay Journal
The Virginia General Assembly and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved the final state budget on May 13. Language that tied Virginia to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, did not make the final cut.
Executive Director Named for Virginia Commission on Electric Utility Regulation
Virginia Mercury
Virginia’s commission, which is tasked with reviewing energy-related legislative proposals, now has an executive director after announcing the hiring of a Virginia Department of Energy member to fill the position.
Maryland Department of Environment to Discuss Offshore Wind Project at Public Meeting
CoastTV
The Maryland Department of the Environment, Air and Radiation Administration (ARA) has scheduled an informational meeting to discuss a significant offshore wind project proposed by US Wind, Inc. The meeting will take place on June 13 at the Ocean City Convention Center.
Don’t Dump On It: Stafford, Fredericksburg Eye Solar Farms on Landfill Sites
Fredericksburg Free Press
After touring the R-Board Regional Landfill for the first time two years ago, Monica Gary couldn’t shake the idea that the site held wasted potential.
National and International News
Increasing Use of Renewable Energy in US Yields Billions of Dollars of Benefits
The Guardian
By increasing its use of renewable energy, the US has not only slashed its planet-warming emissions but also improved its air quality, yielding hundreds of billions of dollars of benefits, a new report has found.
Renewables Provided Almost 30% of US Electrical Generation in March
Electrek
Renewables are now the second-largest source of US electrical generation behind natural gas, which averaged a 40.5% share during Q1 2024 but fell to 39.4% in March.
White House Looks to Bolster Carbon Market Credibility
Utility Dive
The Biden administration released new principles for responsibly participating in voluntary carbon markets in what was called a “pragmatic step” by the CEO of carbon data platform Sylvera.
FTA Publishes Climate Resilience Guidebook for Transit Agencies
Smart Cities Dive
The Federal Transit Administration released its transit resilience guidebook on May 30, providing information and resources for transit agencies, local officials, and others on adapting to and recovering from natural disasters, extreme weather, and climate change-driven events.
Why This Summer Might Bring the Wildest Weather Yet
Grist
Summers keep getting hotter, and the consequences are impossible to miss: In the summer of 2023, the Northern Hemisphere experienced its hottest season in 2,000 years. Canada’s deadliest wildfires on record bathed skylines in smoke from Minnesota to New York. In Texas and Arizona, hundreds of people lost their lives to heat, and in Vermont, flash floods caused damages equivalent to a hurricane.