Xander Mitchell

Exclusive: Carbon Direct acquires Pachama in major climate deal Ben Geman writes: Demand for credits from rainforest preservation and other projects is rising, driven partly by tech giants trying to juggle climate goals with the data center boom. Also rising: buyers' interest in ensuring voluntary market credits actually offset or suck up CO2 and don't just suck. It's a need both Carbon Direct and Pachama help the market meet. Read more in Axios ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/gMWU83pj

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Dominion's regulators approved in November a rate increase, but not by the requested amount. Changes include how data centers will pay for their needs, potentially reducing speculative projections. Those projections are what are used justify building knew projects for the grid, like a polluting gas plant. The changes include minimum demand charges so data centers pay for more of what they say they need, even if they use less. But some want more residential customer protections, like changes to cost allocation methodologies that determine how much each customer class must pay for grid services. More details here: https://lnkd.in/gbHyiSMK

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Low-cost alternatives to solar-stalling "direct transfer trip" requirements: The Coalition for Community Solar Access reports that a utility requirement to use “direct transfer trip” often makes solar projects uneconomical, while both CCSA and research group IREC find that the hazards targeted by direct transfer trip can be met effectively with far less costly options. (My latest story for PV Magazine USA) Shay Banton, M.S. Samantha Weaver Gwendolyn Brown Coalition for Community Solar Access Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)

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While headlines about the energy bill (H.4744) reported by the House out of the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee may focus on the changes to the Massachusetts' climate targets, I want to highlight one provision that could lift a major barrier to new gas pipeline infrastructure into the state. The bill appears to authorize the state's electric utilities to enter long-term contracts for gas transportation. Notably, the state supreme court ruled in 2016 that state law does not authorize the electric companies to enter into these ratepayer-backed pipeline contracts. Members of the electric and gas industries, along with climate advocates working closely on these issues, have repeatedly emphasized that challenges associated with financing pipelines, not direct environmental opposition, are the main reason major pipeline expansion efforts into the region have failed in recent years. Take this recent quote from Rick Smead, managing director at RBN Energy, an oil and gas market advisory company: “The reason stuff didn’t get built in New England was because people didn’t want to pay for it, not because environmentalists lay down in the right of way." The crux of the issue is: gas utilities have been reluctant to sign long-term contracts to support major projects; electric utilities are not allowed to use ratepayer funds for pipeline contracts; and gas generators typically do not sign long-term firm supply contracts. This bill could change that equation. The legislation has a long way to go to becoming law — it would need to gain support on the House floor, pass the Senate (which is generally more hawkish on climate issues), and be signed by Gov. Maura Healey, who, as AG, took a strong stance against funding pipelines through electric rates. Meanwhile, climate groups are organizing a major opposition effort against the bill. We'll see where this goes, but it's worth watching. There's a lot more in this bill, including significant rollbacks of the state programs promoting a managed transition away from natural gas. See links below to my coverage of the full bill, along with a story I wrote in October about some of the main barriers to pipeline expansion in New England: https://lnkd.in/edvM2t6v https://lnkd.in/eEJiP_fc

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My latest newsletter has the exclusive on new siting report data from Clean Tomorrow. At least 31 states are considering reforms to siting renewable energy after upward of 15% of U.S. counties passed local ordinances restricting wind and solar development. Click through to read the story and considering subscribing at kaufman.substack.com to get this reporting straight in your inbox.

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Next Tuesday, March 17th, at noon, REV will hold a virtual update on the state of climate and energy topics under consideration in the 2026 Legislative session. Key topics include: Protecting net metering for Vermont households: The 2025 federal reconciliation bill abruptly terminated a 30% tax credit for residential solar purchases, previously scheduled to run through 2032. Multiple bills (S.170, H.716) sought to offset the loss of this vital financial support for Vermont families who want to go solar, but these bills have run into stiff opposition from the Scott Administration's Public Service Department and the Public Utility Commission. Passing a net metering protection bill over a potential gubernatorial veto would be a challenge, but there are also opportunities to work with the Public Utility Commission during its 2026 update to net metering rates, which will include a window for public input the first two weeks of April. Supporting Solar Smart Growth: Vermont law currently makes it more difficult to build renewable projects next to one another than to build in a greenfield. REV strongly supports H.710, which would implement statutory changes to make it more predictable and cost-effective to build solar projects near one another. The bill will help keep renewable energy costs low and passed the House with tri-partisan support on a 108-30 vote. Solar and Land use: REV members support thoughtful siting requirements that protect Vermont's environment but strongly oppose efforts to impose restrictions on renewable energy that do not apply to big box stores and other forms of development. S.323 would drastically curtail Vermonters' ability to build the lowest-cost solar projects by creating new barriers to development that apply exclusively to solar projects. The bill would increase the cost of meeting our state's renewable energy needs and fail to address the forms of development that are putting actual pressure on Vermont land preservation goals. Register to learn how these crucial issues are faring in the 2026 Legislative session: https://lnkd.in/ekQpZn6E

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New Jersey is stepping up pressure on PJM, the largest grid operator in the United States. Governor Phil Murphy just signed two measures: one ordering a probe into PJM’s capacity market and another forcing utilities to publicly disclose how they vote inside the operator’s opaque system. The state joins Maryland, Delaware and others pushing for more accountability across the power grid that serves over 65 million. My latest for Inside Climate News: https://lnkd.in/eQ6USCDz #EnergyPolicy #GridReform #PJM #NewJersey

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The Clean Energy and Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Initiative is rolling out updates to the CELT Energy Transition Atlas, an interactive mapping tool offering data and information to support municipal decision-making and track sustainability progress. A second online tool for state agencies, cities, and towns, called the Massachusetts Energy Explorer, is in the works for early next year. At Boston University, IGS leads data analysis for CELT, collecting, curating, and visualizing data that helps municipalities and state agencies plan and implement clean energy projects. The BU CELT team reflects BU’s focus on convergent research, bringing together experts across disciplines to solve challenges, including Emily Ryan (Boston University College of Engineering), Cutler Cleveland (Boston University College of Arts & Sciences), and M. Patricia Fabián and Jonathan Buonocore (Boston University School of Public Health). Explore the Atlas and learn about CELT's progress in its first year: http://spr.ly/60417wDwc

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As storm intensity worsens and energy demand continues to rise, upgrading and hardening the electric grid will be essential in the years ahead. Central Maine Power (CMP) has proposed raising $1.4 billion in new revenue to do just that. But the plan recently submitted to the Maine Public Utilities Commission has drawn sharp backlash from Mainers already struggling with rising costs of living. The issue isn’t the need for grid investment, critics say. It’s CMP’s request for a 9.8% return on equity, the profit rate regulators would allow shareholders to earn. “Even if CMP’s plan is perfectly suitable, residents can’t afford an almost 10 percent return that will go straight to shareholders,” said Seth Berry, a former state lawmaker and executive director of Our Power, a utility advocacy group. The concern, he noted, reflects a broader problem with investor-owned utilities nationwide. By the end of the five year plan the average CMP customer could see a $35 monthly increase on their utility bill. Read more about what CMP’s proposal means for ratepayers, state policy, and the future of Maine’s clean energy transition: https://lnkd.in/exFQk54K

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Thanks, Andy! More to come on this, as its a crucial component for NY to hit its Climate Act goals in the coming years.

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Massachusetts has enacted a major expansion of its SMART solar incentive program, strengthening one of the country's most important state-level clean energy policies at a time when the Trump administration is rolling back federal support. The revamped SMART program boosts payments to solar owners and lets them float up every year according to a formula so they keep up with market conditions. It also expands low-income incentives and protects open space. The Bay State isn’t known for its sunshine or physical size, but it gets more than 25% of its electricity from solar — a success driven by good, consistent policy over time. Other states can take notes on how to implement good climate policy and invest in their constituents. More: https://lnkd.in/gHXB2A4r Follow state-level solar developments in Transition Finance Weekly: https://lnkd.in/gQyf_R_k

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🍂 With federal rollbacks sparking concern and new state-level investments fueling progress, October is a pivotal month for New York’s clean energy workforce. The October edition of 𝑳𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒑𝒂𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕 is here! Here’s what’s inside: 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘺 𝘜𝘱𝘥𝘵𝘢𝘦𝘴: EPA proposes to roll back key greenhouse gas regulations — but New York is standing firm with legal challenges and $218M resilience projects. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴: Governor Hochul announces $16𝐌 for workforce training and supportive services, including EV maintenance pathways and Green Jobs for Youth grants. 𝘑𝘰𝘣 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵: Exploring project management pathways in the 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 — from HVAC construction oversight to public-sector program delivery. 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘱𝘢𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬: Highlights from Climate Week NYC, where our CEO Angela N. Son moderated two panels on workforce, equity, and technology — at Green Skills Summit and at the inaugural NextGen CleanTech Workforce Summit. 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 & 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴: Explore the newly launched 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 on The Green Launchpad website — a centralized hub featuring the 𝐍𝐘 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, and other guides to support employers, jobseekers, and workforce providers. 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵: Our partners at Soulful Synergy, LLC are launching a free Electric Vehicle (EV) Training Program for eligible NYS workers. In just 9 hours, participants earn certificates across EV basics, site feasibility, and installation/managed charging—building critical skills for the clean transportation future. ✨ The momentum for an inclusive, future-ready green economy is growing—and it starts with building strong pathways into clean energy careers. 📧 Read the full October edition here: https://lnkd.in/eAz2hbWE #LaunchpadConnect #NYCleanEnergy #GreenWorkforce #WorkforceDevelopment #CleanEnergyCareers

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This is what progress looks like. This week, the New Orleans City Council APPROVED a $30 million investment to strengthen grid resilience through distributed energy resources — including batteries and virtual power plants — with a meaningful commitment to low-income households. Local coverage is starting to roll in, and it’s worth a read if you care about reliability, affordability, and keeping the lights on during the next storm. New Orleans is quietly setting a model other cities should be watching. ⚡️ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gv5u7fUW

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