Sandisfield, Massachusetts, population 915, has found itself in the news no fewer than five times this week. Why? It’s home to part of the Otis State Forest that is the new home of a natural gas pipeline. Some folks are unhappy about the pipeline so they protested and were arrested (Recorder). Then they built a protest cabin (Berkshire Eagle). And now, they are fighting for their day in court, by asking to be charged with more serious offenses (Berkshire Eagle). After reviewing the situation, DigBoston offers its take on how others can get a pipeline built in four easy steps as they say was done at the Otis State Forest.
Speaking of pipelines, the ProJo offers us a glimpse at how National Grid hunts down gas pipeline leaks in Rhode Island.
There are many renewable stories this week. For the curious, the BBJ asks (and gets answers for) just what is that thing on top of GE’s headquarters? CommonWealth Magazine reports a big international energy player is jumping into the competition for offshore wind power contracts with Massachusetts. Through a company in which it is the major shareholder, Iberdrola S.A., a Spain-based energy giant, is buying a 50 percent stake in Vineyard Wind, one of three companies likely to bid on the Bay State’s offshore wind contracts.
Power Engineering reports that total U.S. electrical generation is set to fall 1.2 percent in 2017 before rebounding by 1.9 percent the next year, according to the latest short-term energy forecast from the Energy Information Administration. Even with the decline, residential electricity prices are expected to increase 2.4 percent in 2017 and another 2.3 percent in 2018.
Lastly, the good news is that for this summer, Utility DIVE reports that the Northeast Power Coordinating Council says the region will have enough power. However, the retirement of one of the largest coal- and oil-fired power plants in New England could put a premium on imports for the region in order to maintain reliability during extreme weather events this summer.
That’s the news for this week. Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
Sandisfield residents upset over backyard pipeline, wwlp.com
Pipeline protests lead to more arrests, The Recorder
Pipeline resistance builds as ‘Thoreau’ protest cabin goes up in Otis State Forest, Berkshire Eagle
Pipeline opponents vow to fight effort to reduce charges in Otis protests, Berkshire Eagle
How to build a natural gas pipeline in Mass in four easy steps, DigBoston
Town Draws Suit for Blocking Energy Firm’s Expansion, Courthouse News Service
Emails Show Spectra Lobbyists Cozy With Top Massachusetts Environmental Officials, DeSmog
Pipeline spill by Dakota Access company could have a ‘deadly effect’, Washington Post
Ohio officials: it will take decades for wetlands to recover after major pipeline fluid spill, ThinkProgress
Rhode Island tribe opposing Massachusetts pipeline claims FERC dropped ball on ceremonial stone landscapes, MassLive.com
Grafton town meeting puts opposition to pipeline on record, Worcester Telegram
Dakota Access pipeline suffers oil leak even before becoming operational, RT
DAPL pipeline owner blocked in Ohio after 18 leaks, 2 million gallon spill, Bismarck Tribune
How National Grid in RI hunts down leaks, The Providence Journal
Senate Defends Climate, Health by Voting Down Methane Resolution, Common Dreams
Renewable Energy
State tour on climate change and clean energy starts on Cape Cod, Cape Cod Times
Committee Kills Anti-Offshore Wind Turbine Bill, Freepress Online
Vineyard Wind brings in a big player, CommonWealth magazine
Richmond approves 23-acre solar installation with nearly 18000 panels, Westerly Sun
Antrim Wind project gets go-ahead again, could be appeal to NH Supreme Court be forthcoming, Keene Sentinel
Avangrid subsidiary gets 50 percent stake in Atlantic wind farm project, New Haven Register
Tesla starts selling solar roof; says savings to cover costs, CT Post
Vermont Renewable Energy Company Bought by St. Louis Firm, U.S. News & World Report
Hanover Becomes First New Hampshire Town to Commit to 100 Percent Renewable Energy, Energy Central
Connecticut Utility Regulator Issues Decision on CT Solar Lease, Energy Central
Massachusetts towns ditch standard electric service to embrace green power, Wicked Local Cambridge
Lawmakers vote against moving UMaine wind project farther from Monhegan, Portland Press Herald
Here’s How Much a Tesla Solar Roof Will Cost You (and How Long It Will Last), Greentech Media
Just what is that thing on top of GE’s headquarters?, Boston Business Journal
Committee Set to Vote on Bill to Preserve Solar Incentives, Freepress Online
How Mainers keep finding new sources of energy, Bangor Daily News
Energy Efficiency
Cambridge, Eversource partner to launch energy pilot, Wicked Local Cambridge
US Air Force Makes A $243 Million Energy Efficiency Pitch, CleanTechnica
Kenyon International Makes Moves to Become More Energy Efficient, Patch.com
Efficiency Vermont proposes 5% rate decrease, Vermont Biz
Nuclear
NRC issues Pilgrim inspection report, Cape Cod Times
US Energy Chief Touts Nuclear Energy, Vows Cleanup Progress, U.S. News & World Report
Why Nuclear Energy Doesn’t Dominate the Globe, Popular Mechanics
Millstone bill clears a committee hurdle, theday.com
Coalition wants state to reject part of Vermont Yankee plan, Brattleboro Reformer
Yankee suitor: Public shouldn’t see ‘highly confidential’ plans, vtdigger.org
How is Vermont Yankee being kept safe?, wwlp.com
DHHS: No common cause in pediatric cancer cluster, Seacoastonline.com
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
In Massachusetts, utilities take a collaborative approach to EV infrastructure, Utility DIVE
Trump FERC Nominees Bring Certainty for Pipeline Development, Less Certainty for Distributed Energy, Greentech Media
Massachusetts Kicks off New Microgrid Effort. Offers Grants for Microgrid Feasibility Studies, Microgrid Knowledge
Eversource Earnings Up, Northern Pass Seen on Schedule, RTO Insider
Eversource plans to lower electricity rates for summer, MassLive.com
Eversource projecting 1.4% increase in electric bills, The Union Leader
Southbury Eversource Customers to Pay More for Power, Patch.com
NH House panel shelves long-term power deal legislation, New Hampshire Business Review
Northern Pass land purchases questioned, The Union Leader
U.S. Electrical Generation to Decline in 2017, Power Engineering
National Grid Taps AutoGrid for Multi-State Demand Response and Distributed Energy Software, Greentech Media
Mary Powell Is Not Your Typical Utility Executive, Greentech Media
NPCC: Northeast has sufficient power supplies to meet demand this summer, Utility DIVE
Editorial/Opinion
An ill wind blows in Augusta, Bangor Daily News
Kathy Sullivan: Hearings reveal true costs of Northern Pass, The Union Leader
Letter: On Northern Pass, a visitor’s perspective, Concord Monitor
Massachusetts should raise its net energy metering caps, pv magazine USA
Robert Thorson: Climate Change And The Nuclear Power Riddle, Hartford Courant
Granite State Debates — Hunter Carbee: Biomass is a foundation of rural NH’s economy, Union Leader
Juliet Cuming: Renewable energy proud, vtdigger.org
Economy can grow under solar industry, Foster’s Daily Democrat
The downside of renewables, CommonWealth Magazine
Wind turbines are neither clean nor green and they provide zero global energy, WindWatch.org
Northeast Energy News 