Happy St. Patrick’s Day! And in Massachusetts – it’s also Evacuation Day. So, instead of a long note today we’re going to get right to the stories so you can evacuate your work premises and enjoy some holiday celebration.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
Maryland House overwhelmingly approves fracking ban, Washington Post
More than 100 gas leaks in Concord; Wicked Local Concord
Government Opposition to Power Plant Increasing, ecoRI news
Newton’s leaky problem: The city has 480 reported gas leaks, Wicked Local Newton
Spectra Access Northeast project presentation slated for March 26, Wicked Local Franklin
Natural gas moratorium continues to hurt Amherst business climate, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Webster selectmen oppose RI power plant, Worcester Telegram
Climate Change
Trump’s Defense secretary calls climate change a national security risk, The Hill
A Spark Of Hope For Climate Change Reality, NPR
New England’s Ski Industry Prepares For A Changing Climate, WBUR
Nearly Half A Million US Doctors Warn That Climate Change Is Making Us Sick, Huffington Post
February record warm for 16 states, 145M Americans, USA TODAY
Renewable Energy
Tuesday’s storm proved ideal for Block Island Wind Farm, Providence Journal
US planning more offshore wind leases off MA coast, CommonWealth magazine
New Hampshire utilities, solar companies file rate design settlement proposals, Utility Dive
Massachusetts Preps for US Offshore Wind Construction Boom, Renewable Energy World
7 rural Maine firms will get green energy grants, Penn Energy
Developers Seek Leases for Offshore Wind Projects in New York, Massachusetts Waters, Renewable Energy World
SMART start? Massachusetts utilities, solar at odds over proposed incentive program, Utility DIVE
Two more wind farms sought off Vineyard, Boston Herald
BOEM Announces Offshore Wind Action In The Northeast, North American Windpower
Large-scale floating offshore wind power is finally here, Treehugger
Solar Experiment Lets Neighbors Trade Energy Among Themselves, New York Times
Bioenergy park considered at closed landfill, Brattleboro Reformer
Local project buoys FuelCell Energy, Danbury News Times
Why solar panels bloom in Southwest’s land of hydropower, Christian Science Monitor
Trump’s Business Council Is a Who’s Who of Renewable Energy Investors and Climate Champions, Greentech Media
Scientists use solar power to produce hydrogen from biomass, CNBC
Should Energy Storage Share The Tax Credits For Renewable Energy?, CleanTechnica
Google: 4 out of 5 US homes have solar power potential, Engadget
With mills struggling, a Maine lumber firm is building a biomass plant, Bangor Daily News
Energy Efficiency
Rhode Island Building Takes Eco-Standards to a New Level, Environmental Leader
7 Rural Maine Firms Will Get Green Energy Grants, U.S. News & World Report
What Counts as Success in Energy Efficiency Programs?, Energy Collective
Nuclear
Legislation That Would Support Connecticut Nuclear Plant Released, Hartford Courant
Entergy Takes Next Steps for Pilgrim Closure, CapeCod.com
Connecticut bill would protect Millstone nuke by classifying it as a renewable resource, Utility DIVE
Bold Visions for the Future of Nuclear Power, WCAI
Vermont Yankee hearing postponed, The Recorder
Connecticut Moves Closer to Equating Nuclear with Renewables, RTO Insider
Nuke bill takes shape, Hartford Business Journal
Nuke agency OKs Entergy Nuclear’s use of trust fund, The Recorder
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Carbon Emissions Fell Again in the U.S. Northeast. So What’s the Next Step for RGGI?, Microgrid Knowledge
IMAPP Pondering 4 Options for Incorporating Clean Energy in NE, RTO Insider
New England power grid’s ample capacity proves dire predictions wrong, Press Herald
Questions Arise Over Who Would Ultimately Pay for Northern Pass, InsideSources
Can New England Keep the Power on? (video), NECN
Future of Cape’s energy compact riles county assembly, Cape Cod Times
Connecticut considers carbon tax on oil, gas, CT Post
Bracing for an Eversource rate hike, the attraction of Editas, and more, The Boston Globe
APCC voices concern over Eversource spray plan, Wicked Local Brewster
Former Eversource CEO gets big payday in final year, Thehour.com
Utilities reiterate backing for Northern Pass, The Union Leader
Despite making it a priority, LePage remains stymied on lowering energy costs, Press Herald
National Grid apologizes for Brockton manhole cover explosions, Enterprise News
ISO-NE Market Changes for Subhourly Settlements, Real-Time Fast-Start Pricing and DARD Pumps Take Effect, Energy Central
Is Hydro-Quebec Having ‘Second Thoughts’ On Northern Pass? Energy Central
EnerNOC Seeks Strategic ‘Alternatives’ Amid Software Slump, Greentech Media
Editorial/Opinion
Our opinion: More proof the world is changing due to greenhouse gases, Brattleboro Reformer
Their advice: Stockpile KI pills, The Daily News of Newburyport
OP-ED | Millstone Bill Really *Is* All About Rates, CT News Junkie
Letter to the editor: LePage needs to lead on locally made solar power, Press Herald
My Turn: We went solar and you can, too, Concord Monitor
Embrace Gas, Hartford Courant
Northeast Energy News 