Happy Friday the 13th! So what do you think your energy use is equivalent to in toasters? According to an article in GeekWire, Nathan Myhrvold explains, “Each American draws an average of 11 kilowatts of electrical power, which translates to having 11 toasters working all day, every day…In comparison, the global average is 2.5 kilowatts (or 2.5 toasters)…Africa is at 800 watts, which isn’t quite a toaster’s worth, but equivalent to a coffeemaker.” He adds that, “In the decades ahead, the whole world wants to have 11 toasters’ worth of electricity.” Myhrvold uses this interesting illustration to make the case that in order to meet this growing demand we need to invest in “next-generation technologies aimed at making fission-generated power safer and easier to manage” such as TerraPower, which has developed a “new type of nuclear reactor that makes use of depleted uranium and can sustain the fission process indefinitely.”
In other news, Bruce Mohl of CommonWealth Magazine reminds us that renewables aren’t cheap by comparing the cost of renewables-based residential electricity supply options with utilities’ basic-service offerings. And, while you’re on the CommonWealth Magazine site, be sure to read Gordon van Welie’s piece titled, “Grid in the balance.” There’s no sugar coating here – just plain facts about “suboptimal solutions” that may be required without infrastructure development. Speaking of which, we included an article from Utility DIVE in which Dominion has said blackouts will be the norm for a Virginia peninsula later this year because of coal plant closings and opposition to bring electricity to the area via a transmission line from a nearby nuclear plant. Hmmm. Perhaps they could use the TerraPower solution?
One last note for this week, Massachusetts comes in first again in another positive analysis – it’s the most friendly state for rooftop solar (Greentech Media).
Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
National Grid: West Roxbury gas metering and regulating station is operational, Wicked Local West Roxbury
Eversource appeals state’s pipeline ruing to NH Supreme Court, Concord Monitor
Tough Road Seen For Access Northeast, LNG Storage, Too, Natural Gas Intelligence
Gas leak stopped at Spectra Energy Weymouth station, The Boston Globe
Gas leak heightens concerns over proposed Weymouth project, The Patriot Ledger
Spectra says pipeline unaffected by frozen valve in Weymouth, The Patriot Ledger
Weymouth mayor calls for changes at metering station after release, Patriot Ledger
Invenergy Identifies Johnston As Water Supplier For Burrillville Power Plant, Rhode Island Public Radio
Invenergy’s John Niland delivers false information at Woonsocket City Council meeting, RI Future
Local Pipeline Leaks Source of Climate Emissions, ecoRI news
Renewable Energy
Solar farms proposed for two central Maine towns, Press Herald
Vermont’s newly-elected GOP governor backs 90% RPS, Utility DIVE
Renewables not cheap, CommonWealth Magazine
New York sets bar high for offshore wind, UPI.com
Offshore investment ‘up’ 40%, reNews
Deepwater Wind pitches 120 MW Maryland offshore wind project, Electric Light & Power
John Kerry Says Clean Energy Will Yield Job Growth, Survival, Fortune
Eversource gets approval to build more solar plants in Massachusetts, wwlp.com
Cuomo Pledges to Lead on Climate, Cut RGGI Cap 30% by 2030, Natural Resources Defense Council
RGGI Report: Less pollution drives billions in health gains, Natural Resources Defense Council
Planners approve $45M solar farm, Cranston Herald
Connecticut’s Commercial Solar Pipeline Is Huge. But Will It Get Built?, (paywall) Greentech Media
New Milford Town Council approves payment deal for solar project, Danbury News Times
Report: Solar installations eating up Connecticut farmland, New Haven Register
Westerly considering solar partnership to reduce energy costs, The Westerly Sun
Maine regulators approve biomass subsidies split across 4 plants, Biomass Magazine
Solar company gets Athol’s blessing, with contingency, Going Green
Montpelier capital city to vote on ‘net zero’ options, Penn Energy
The States Most Friendly to Rooftop Solar, Ranked, Greentech Media
Sunrun forms strategic partnership with National Grid, PV-Tech
Eversource’s proposed 3.3-megawatt solar array in Lee up for public review, Berkshire Eagle
RGGI to offer 14.4 mln allowances in Mar. 8 auction, Carbon Pulse
Energy Efficiency
Weatherization Efforts Set in 14 Vermont Towns, Valley News
Investigation Indicates Lax Oversite of Quasi-State Energy Program, MainePublic.org
Obama Makes the Case for His Clean Energy Legacy, Scientific American
Nuclear
Millstone’s annual economic impact in state put at $1.3 billion, The Day
NRC starts review process for proposed Vt. Yankee sale, The Recorder
Former state regulator now an Entergy ally, Commons
Nathan Myhrvold explains why the nuclear power option is needed…with toasters, GeekWire
Climate change is fueling a second chance for nuclear power, PRI
Indian Point closing will end Entergy era in Northeast, Rutland Herald
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Eversource plan concerns history advocates, Seacoastonline.com
Busy year for Footprint as project wraps up, Salem News
What’s Next for Energy Storage Policy? Watch Massachusetts, Microgrid Knowledge
Maine Power Company Deploying Drones to Respond to Power Outages, (video) NECN
What electric utilities can learn from the Vermont hacking scare, Utility DIVE
Energy giants, businesses among top Sununu inaugural donors, Eagle-Tribune
Bill requiring municipal approval of transmission lines proposed, The Union Leader
Sununu Sets Sights on Lowering NH’s Electric Bills — But Getting There Won’t Be Easy, New Hampshire Public Radio
Electric costs increasing in Wallingford for next six months, Meriden Record-Journal
Emera Initiates Energy Solicitation for Atlantic Link Transmission Project, Yahoo Finance
Dominion: Lack of transmission, coal shutdowns bring blackouts to Virginia peninsula, Utility DIVE
Death of Brayton Point leaves uncertain tax picture in Somerset, Herald News
Editorial/Opinion
Grid in the balance, CommonWealth magazine
As I See It: Making a case for natural gas, Worcester Telegram
Cummington: Contradance to benefit Pipe Line Awareness Network, Berkshire Eagle
Three Signs Of Hope In The U.S. For Energy Efficiency And Renewables in 2017, Forbes
Northeast Energy News 