Good Friday afternoon.
This week’s energy news brings us more of the ongoing debate about natural gas pipelines. According to the Berkshire Eagle, 18 of about 50 protesters were arrested in Sandisfield, MA at the Otis State Forest. They are opposed to the FERC-approved Connecticut Expansion Project that adds 4 miles of new underground pipeline in Massachusetts. The State Police noted they wanted to be arrested.
On the flip side, another regional utility has sounded the alarm that new gas resources are needed. According to Utility DIVE, Unitil’s CEO and President Robert Schoenberger said during an earning’s call that the region, “cannot afford to allow all the shale gas to be going someplace else as opposed to taking advantage of it.”
One last note on natural gas, MarketWatch reports that the Energy Information Administration showed that domestic supplies of natural gas rose by 67 billion cubic feet for the week ended April 28 and that June natural gas fell 3.2 cents, or 1%, from Wednesday’s settlement.
On the renewables side, CommonWealth Magazine reports that this past Monday Massachusetts utilities set in motion a first-of-its-kind procurement for 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind power. They asked Massachusetts regulators to approve a bid process that gives companies some flexibility in setting the size of their projects while requiring them to price out two very different approaches to delivering the electricity to the mainland. Further, the RFP also raises the possibility that Massachusetts could invite a Rhode Island utility and the state of Connecticut to participate in the solicitation.
Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
18 pipeline protesters arrested after blocking access to Otis State Forest, Berkshire Eagle
Unitil latest to sound alarm over Northeast pipeline capacity, Utility DIVE
Committee Kills Fracking Bill, Freepress Online
Weymouth urges DEP to deny air permit for Algonguin, Wicked Local Weymouth
Group opposing gas pipeline in Shrewsbury seeking public support, Wicked Local Shrewsbury
One year after Pa. quakes, geologists claim fracking is to blame, WYTV
Study: Oil companies should reuse wastewater produced by fracking, HPPR
Tenn. Gas Pipeline responds to protester arrests, The Recorder
Natural-gas prices extend declines on bigger-than-expected rise in U.S. supplies, MarketWatch
FERC still silent as Otis State Forest tree cutting begins for pipeline, but questions remain, Berkshire Eagle
Renewable Energy
Utilities unveil RFP for offshore wind power, CommonWealth magazine
First U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Shutters Diesel Power Plant, Climate Central
America’s First Offshore Wind Energy Makes Landfall in Rhode Island, Inside Climate News
Delaware weighs joining RGGI states in deeper emissions cuts, Delaware First Media
Corps of Engineers Proposes to Lease Government Land in Bourne to Construct Solar Energy Project: Public Meeting Set for May 23 in Sandwich, Energy Central
Deer Island’s odd-looking turbine is a testament to failure, Boston Globe
Sen. Lynch Prata’s statewide municipal solar permit bill passes Senate, Warwick Post
Solar power advocates take fight over credits to Maine’s top court, Bangor Daily News
Talks Continue On Offshore Wind Project, WABI
Danish offshore wind firm Dong Energy opens Boston headquarters at One International Place, MassLive.com
SouthCoast leaders begin UK wind energy visit, SouthCoastToday.com
GRID Alternatives, Connecticut Green Bank Kick Off Low-Income Solar Program, Solar Industry
The US is using so much solar power that it will have to prepare for the August eclipse, Quartz
The SEC is reportedly investigating Tesla’s solar business, Business Insider
Energy Efficiency
Coal is Big. Solar’s Bigger. But Energy Efficiency is the Biggest, Energy Collective
Mass Save rebates offer big savings for energy efficiency, wwlp.com
New lights, HVAC save Greenwich Boys, Girls Club $3400 a month, Greenwich Time
Vermont ranks No. 2 in US for renewable energy, BurlingtonFreePress.com
Maine AG Mills joins fight against Trump environmental proposals, Bangor Daily News
Efficiency Vermont earns award for Sustained Excellence in Energy Efficiency Program Delivery, Vermont Biz
Storage
Using sulfur to store solar energy, Phys.Org
Startup Voltus Unstealths With 400 Megawatts of Demand Response, Greentech Media
GMP ranked high for energy storage, Mountaintimes
Nuclear
Host town backs Vermont Yankee sale, Brattleboro Reformer
Refueling at New Hampshire’s Seabrook-1 reactor ends: NextEra, Platts
Millstone bill headed to Senate, but legislators divided, Journal Inquirer
Legacy of Seabrook nuclear protest debated, The Boston Globe
Plymouth: Pilgrim Decommissioning Panel Established, 95.9 WATD-FM
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
EPA Asks What Rules to Cut, Gets Earful About Dirty Water, New York Times
Is NH getting hoodwinked on health and safety by Northern Pass?, NH1 News
Eversource tentatively agrees to move cormorant-friendly lines, Cape Cod Times
Slight Rate Increase Coming for Eversource Customers, NBC Connecticut
Northern Pass officials describe Plymouth impacts, The Union Leader
Northern Pass exec: Project would tap NH construction businesses, The Union Leader
Gov. Raimondo Not Joining Opposition to Power Plant, ecoRI news
FERC seeks new directions at intersection of state policy, wholesale markets, Daily Energy Insider
FERC hears an earful about grid tensions in eastern RTOs, E&E News
Green Mountain Power seeks 5 percent rate increase, PennEnergy
US Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey push bill to ban offshore drilling in Atlantic Ocean, MassLive
Editorial/Opinion
Energy-saving programs that help Earth and economy need defending, Press Herald
To the editor: Pipelines under pressure in Massachusetts, Worcester Sun
Pols should back renewable energy, Lowell Sun
Mary Sullivan: Carbon pricing plan is needed, vtdigger.org
Want to protect the climate? Time for carbon pricing, Boston Globe
Northeast Energy News 