Do natural gas and renewables destabilize the grid?

Operator of nation’s largest power grid reports increased reliance on natural gas and renewables is not adversely affecting sustainability

transmission Tom Johnson reports
for NJ Spotlight: In a rapidly changing energy sector, are there still enough power plants available to provide the electricity everyone needs? The operator of the nation’s largest power grid is answering that question in the affirmative. Its new study finds that with the addition of more natural-gas and renewable resources the system can remain reliable. With the retirement of scores of coal plants and the early closing of some nuclear units, PJM Interconnection sought to determine whether the system is losing too many traditional resources in a new assessment, “PJM’s Evolving Resource Mix and System Reliability.’’ The study highlights some of the issues affecting the energy sector in New Jersey, which will see its two biggest coal units shut down later this year; its oldest-running nuclear plant, Oyster Creek, scheduled to shut down at the end of 2019; and questions raised about the economic viability of nuclear units elsewhere. Read the full story here Like this? Use form in upper right to receive free updates
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Trump budget leaves NY-area transit projects up in the air

Hudson River train tunnel. NY Times photo by Todd Heisler























Emma G. Fitzsimmons writes for The New York Times:

When the new president is a lifelong New Yorker promising a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan, many believed New York would be first in line to benefit from the spending spree.

But only two months into President Trump’s administration, elected leaders in New York and New Jersey are alarmed that some of the most high-profile and crucial transit projects in the region are already on the chopping block.

Mr. Trump’s budget blueprint proposed slashing a major source of federal funding for transit projects, known as New Starts grants. As a result, two long-delayed proposals could now be in jeopardy: building a new train tunnel under the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, and extending the Second Avenue subway in Manhattan north to East Harlem.

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Rule would allow fish breeding in Delaware River section

The Delaware River near Morrisville, Pa.: Could water quality see further gains under a DRBC proposal to boost fish populations?

KIMBERLY PAYNTER/WHYY
The Delaware River near Morrisville, Pa.: Could water quality see further gains under a DRBC proposal to boost fish populations?
Jon Hurdle reports for StateImpact:
Water quality in the Delaware River estuary has improved over the last few decades to the point where regulators are considering adding the breeding of fish to a list of designated “uses” for that section of the river.
The Delaware River Basin Commission will hold a public hearing on April 6 to discuss its proposal to include fish propagation in the official uses of a 38-mile tidal stretch of the river between Philadelphia and Trenton.
The river’s current uses, as defined by the commission in 1967, are limited to the “maintenance” or survival of resident fish, and the passage of migratory fish, both reflecting the low levels of dissolved oxygen and a heavy load of pollution that characterized the river in past decades.
Since then, pollution has declined from industry, sewers, and so-called non-point sources such as lawn runoff, allowing oxygen levels to rise, and helping fish populations recover.
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FBI corruption probe in Pa, had many more targets


The Associated Press reports:

Fresh revelations show how federal authorities tried to use disgraced former state Treasurer Rob McCord to implicate others in a broad pay-to-play investigation of Pennsylvania government, but it leaves the question of whether the FBI probe is effectively finished.

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Pa. OKs semiautomatic rifles for small game hunting


John Hayes reports for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

A surprise decision last week by the Pennsylvania Game Commission will lead to new sights and sounds on the state’s hunting grounds this year.

Commissioners abruptly reversed their preliminary vote in January to permit the use of semiautomatic rifles for general hunting uses, amending the measure to ban the sporting arms for big game but permit their use for small game and furbearers, such as foxes and coyotes.


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Reporters talking Jersey politics at a most appropriate spot

The Record‘s State House reporter Dustin Racioppi and political columnist Charlie Stile get together over coffee to talk about the upcoming New Jersey governor’s race.

Their chat takes place, of course, at a Jersey diner.

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