SOLAR: A solar development on a former soybean field in western New York highlights the conflict between those who prefer preservation of rural landscapes and farmers needing extra income from their land. (New York Times)

ALSO:
• A developer says four of its solar projects totaling 180 MW are selected by New York in its latest clean energy procurement. (Renewable Energy Magazine)
• A researcher analyzes how adding solar energy affects operations of the electric grid near its location and farther away. (Penn State News)

CLIMATE:
• A federal judge rules that a Massachusetts consumer protection lawsuit against oil companies for climate-related damages should return to state court. (Bloomberg)
• A Pittsburgh-area school district becomes the first in Pennsylvania to adopt a climate curriculum developed by a non-profit to promote youth awareness and activism. (Allegheny Front) 

GRID: A new report says retail markets in 14 states where consumers can buy clean energy do not offer adequate incentives as grid operators rely on the capacity market to acquire energy supplies. (Utility Dive) 

WIND: A renewable energy company acquires the rights to a 15.3 MW wind farm in Maine that is expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2021. (reNews)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The New Jersey Turnpike Authority signs a deal with Tesla for 56 fast chargers for electric vehicles bringing the total on the highway to 76. (Clean Technica)

UTILITIES:
• Maine regulators approve the sale of the major utility in the eastern and northern areas of the state to a Canadian company for $1.3 billion. (Portland Press Herald)
• Pennsylvania regulators rule utilities can’t shut off service during the state’s COVID-19 disaster declaration. (StateImpact Pennsylvania)

COMMENTARY:
• An environmental advocate on Cape Cod says clear-cutting forests to develop solar energy is the wrong approach to combat climate change. (Cape Cod Times)
• A Vermont mayor says joining the Transportation Climate Initiative gives the state the opportunity to update its transportation infrastructure while keeping more of its residents’ money in-state. (VT Digger) 

Bill is a freelance journalist based outside Albany, New York. As a former New England correspondent for RTO Insider, he has written about energy for newspapers, magazines and other publications for more than 20 years. He has an extensive career in trade publications and newspapers, mostly focused on the utility sector, covering such issues as restructuring, renewable energy and consumer affairs. Bill covers Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire and also compiles the Northeast Energy News daily email digest.