Happy Friday afternoon. A few quick bits this week before heading out for the holiday weekend.
Two power plants in southern Massachusetts mark milestones here at the end of May. For Pilgrim in Plymouth, the Worcester Business Journal reports the plant came back online Monday after its final refueling outage. And, in Somerset, MassLive reports that next Thursday, June 1 is the day that the coal-fired Brayton Point plant is set to retire.
Environmentalists are cheering the loss of Massachusetts’ last coal-fired generating station, but they are crying foul about Spectra’s proposed natural gas compression station. According to the Patriot Ledger, residents against a proposed natural gas compressor station want an independent consultant to conduct a new air quality analysis for the project after what they see as a biased review by state environmental regulators.
Last bit for this week is an article in the MetroWest Daily News where the battle over a new transmission line that goes through Sudbury, MA among other communities, came to a head at a meeting with the Energy Facilities Siting Board. From the article, “Spilling out of a 750-seat auditorium where applause followed nearly every speaker, dozens of residents and elected officials spoke seemingly with one voice Thursday night. Their message: An inactive, wooded railroad corridor abutting residential neighborhoods, wildlife habitats, and conservation lands is no place for a power line.” It appears the best line of the night was this, “First, a poem,” resident Bill Schineller said. “I went into the woods because I wanted to pick a site for a transmission line, wrote Henry David Thoreau never.”
As always, you can find event listings at New England Energy News. Enjoy the long weekend and please take a moment to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
FERC denies efforts to stop pipeline work, The Recorder
FERC denies ‘stop work’ requests for pipeline project in Otis State Forest, Berkshire Eagle
Norfolk TM speaks out against proposed pipeline, Wicked Local Norfolk
Massachusetts Admits to ‘Regularly’ Allowing Companies to Edit Draft Pollution Permits, DeSmog
DEP approves waterways permit for compressor station, Wicked Local Hingham
Fracking ban, compressor stations debated before environmental panel, Wicked Local Braintree
Dakota Access pipeline springs 2 more oil leaks, RT
Another Regional Natural-Gas Pipeline Project Moves Forward Despite Widespread Community Opposition, ecoRI news
US should act against proposed Russian gas pipeline, Democratic senator says, MarketWatch
Natural gas boom, cyberthreats drive FERC’s need for budget boost, Washington Examiner
Opponents of proposed compressor station want independent air quality review, Patriot Ledger
Fore River residents say independent air testing shows hazardous pollutants, Patriot Ledger
Renewable Energy
Meriden power plant uses Archimedes Screw Turbine, Register Citizen
Obama’s Clean Power Plan Might Be Dead In DC, But States Are Rebuilding It Themselves, Fast Company
As solar matures, rate design and incentive debates grow ever more complex, Utility Dive
Massachusetts Community Solar Project Goes Online, Solar Industry
Towns ditch standard electric service to embrace green power, Wicked Local Winchester
Groups Say Billions Needed To Jumpstart Stalled Wind Energy in Maine, Maine Public
America’s first offshore wind farm launched with GE turbines twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty, Business Insider
What’s Up With Wind Power in Vermont?, CleanTechnica
What’s With Burlington’s Solar-Powered Trash Cans?, Seven Days
Proposed Army Corps solar project on Cape Cod Canal first of its kind, Cape Cod Times
Framingham inks 20-year net metering agreement, MetroWest Daily News
Energy Efficiency
Connecticut Green Bank named finalist in national awards, Danbury News Times
Harvard’s building a model for energy efficiency by renovating a decades-old home, Curbed
Energy Efficiency: A Big Loser in Trump’s Proposed Budget, Natural Resources Defense Council
Ellington Home Wins Energy Efficiency Contest, Hartford Courant
Why Don’t Green Buildings Live Up to Hype on Energy Efficiency?, Yale Environment 360
Create Jobs: Revive Energy Efficient Building Tax Policy, Natural Resources Defense Council
Nuclear
Millstone bill heads to full Connecticut legislature, New Haven Register
Nuclear brinksmanship: Does Millstone need help to stay open?, The CT Mirror
Pilgrim fueled for last two years, Worcester Business Journal
Decommissioning in Focus: Pilgrim Panel Holds First Meeting, CapeCod.com
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Sudbury: Residents decry ‘catastrophe’ of Eversource power line, MetroWest Daily News
Why There’s No Such Thing As a Free Market for Electricity, Greentech Media
Last coal plant in Massachusetts to close for good June 1, MassLive.com
NECEC Institute and Mass Energy: An Analysis of the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard, Electric Light & Power
New Network Launches for Vermont Climate Economy Businesses, vtdigger.org
Eversource pulls Agawam solar farm plans, wwlp.com
Eversource presents proposed route for 115-kilovolt transmission lines, Thehour.com
Town of Avon, Connecticut, Issues RFP for Microgrid Project Design, Microgrid Knowledge
‘Leading edge’ restrictions on electricity sellers become Maine law, Bangor Daily News
New electricity aggregation plan offers slightly lower price and more renewable energy, Arlington Advocate
Rhode Island Leapfrogs toward a Grid of the Future and Microgrids, Microgrid Knowledge
A Fuel Cell Microgrid Keeps the Lights on for a Connecticut High School, Microgrid Knowledge
For the first time in years, NOAA predicts an above-average hurricane season, Washington Post
Editorial/Opinion
AWEA 2017: Building on the momentum in the US offshore wind industry, Windpower Monthly
Guest commentary: RI Infrastructure Bank supports economy, clean environment, Westerly Sun
Stop the Northern Pass, The Union Leader
Making best use of Yankee site, Rutland Herald
Why Nuclear Power Subsidies Must End, The Beacon
Northeast Energy News 