Good Friday afternoon.
The big news this week was President Trump pulling the US out of the Paris climate agreement. We’ve devoted a whole section to it below that contains stories and analysis from near and far. Close to home, Boston Magazine reports on Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s tough-talk tweets going viral. And, in the home of the Paris accord, Vox.com reports on French President Macron responding to Trump with a twist on his favorite phrase, “Make our planet great again.”
Eversource found its way into a number of articles this week. The Berkshire Eagle reports that Eversource still wants a $96 million rate increase next year, but it expects to reduce the share that would be paid by customers in Western Massachusetts. That made those folks happy, but according to CommonWealth Magazine, the rate case has had an opposite effect in seven metro suburbs. Bruce Mohl writes the “massive $96 million rate request filed by Eversource in January, would cut the so-called net metering rate from 22 cents a kilowatt hour to 13 cents a kilowatt hour, a 41 percent decrease. The details were included in a letter sent by the seven communities to the state Department of Public Utilities on Wednesday. The letter said Lexington stands to lose $372,000 in annual revenue under the proposal. Newton would lose nearly $365,000, Natick $300,000, and Weston nearly $284,000. Wayland, Westwood, and Arlington would lose lesser amounts.”
On a more positive note for solar, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy blogs about the wonderful opportunity for solar to help pollinators – especially bees. They say, “Swapping out gravel and turf grass, often located underneath solar panels, for native flowers and grasses, is a great way to provide pollen and nectar (2 main food sources) for nearby bees and other pollinators.” They even provide a link to lists of the best plants for your growing region. To help you out, here’s a link to the northeast plant list.
Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend.
Climate Change/Paris Climate Accord
The 5 biggest deceptions in Trump’s Paris climate speech, Vox.com
Marty Walsh’s Viral Climate Moment, Boston Magazine
The Paris Climate Deal: How to Understand Trump’s Decision, New York Times
Read Obama’s statement on the Paris climate agreement, The Boston Globe
RI is vulnerable if US pulls out of Paris Accord, says scientist, The Providence Journal
Analysts: Leaving climate deal likely wouldn’t add US jobs, CT Post
Mass. critics slam Trump ditching climate accord, Milford Daily News
Three Coal Plants Close the Same Day Trump Said to Exit the Paris Agreement, Greentech Media
Energy Companies Urge Trump To Remain In Paris Climate Agreement, New England Public Radio
Defiant US Mayors Vow To Uphold Paris Climate Accord, Fast Company
Blumenthal: A Trump decision to exit Paris climate accord would cost CT jobs, The CT Mirror
French President Emmanuel Macron responds to Trump: “Make our planet great again,” Vox.com
Natural Gas/Pipeline
Vermont Gas introduces mobile home plan to save homeowners money, Vermont Biz
Weymouth to appeal DEP approval of Algonquin waterways permit, Wicked Local Weymouth
Toxins detected in air near Fore River Basin, doctor says, The Patriot Ledger
Report: Military-style tactics used against Dakota Access Pipeline Protestors, Des Moines Register
Appeal Filed over 2nd Pipeline Expansion Project, Patch.com
Renewable Energy
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Auction Prices Lowest Since 2014, Power Engineering Magazine
Borrego Solar Completes 5 MW Solar Array on Decommissioned Landfill in Palmer, Mass, PV Solar Report
Scottish Power Wins Right to Build Two U.S. Offshore Wind Projects, Power Engineering
SouthCoast suppliers vie for piece of the offshore wind pie, SouthCoastToday.com
Seven suburbs blast Eversource solar proposal, CommonWealth Magazine
Low carbon prices hang over RGGI as June auction approaches, Utility Dive
Six Things You Didn’t Know About the Offshore Wind Power Sector, POWER magazine
Wind projects a possible turning point for 18 ports, Boston Herald
Factcheck: Whale Strandings and Offshore Wind Farms, EcoWatch
What are the connections between solar power and honeybees?, Clean Energy News
Energy Efficiency
Report: Clean Energy Growing in States and Cities Nationwide, Natural Resources Defense Council
Energy Efficiency: The Foundation of Our Clean Energy Future, Natural Resources Defense Council
Predictions About Global Energy Efficiency Since the 1980s Have Been Wildly Conservative, Greentech Media
Residential Energy Efficiency: Taking It To The Next Level, CleanTechnica
Release—Finally—of Appliance Efficiency Standards Applauded, Bloomberg BNA
Nuclear
Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Shut Down In 2019, NPR
NRC holding public meeting on Seabrook nuclear plant, Seacoastonline.com
Vermont Yankee fuel move into more-secure storage is delayed, vtdigger.org
Millstone nuclear power and police accountability, CT Post
Connecticut Seeks to Support Nuclear Energy, Energy Collective
New Law Could Declare Nuclear Reactors To Be ‘Green Energy’ To Save Them, The Daily Caller
Fragile future for US nuclear power, BBC News
Feds face questions about redevelopment at Vermont Yankee, Brattleboro Reformer
Gas May Be Killing the Nuclear Option, Bloomberg
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Utility plans jolt Sudbury, Hopkinton, and Needham, The Boston Globe
Study: New Resources Could ‘Crowd Out’ Old in ISO-NE, RTO Insider
Vermont utility offers $1,200 electric vehicle rebate, Utility DIVE
Cambridge ditches standard electric service to embrace green power, WickedLocal Cambridge
Eversource to cut rate increase in Western Massachusetts. Berkshire Eagle
New sewer concept would make energy, fertilizer from wastewater, MetroWest Daily News
State backs herbicide plan for 13 towns, Cape Cod Times
Medway: Grid operator would not allow Exelon postponement, Milford Daily News
Brayton Point powers down, Fall River Herald News
Northern Pass trek leads to $124 fines for 2 in Millsfield, NewHampshire.com
Northern Pass predicts financial windfall for towns, The Union Leader
National Grid, GE, 3M make power grid greener with gas-insulated switchgear, Electric Light & Power
Former power plant manager sentenced for emissions fraud, Penn Energy
Editorial/Opinion
Pass SB 129, save 900 jobs in New Hampshire, Energy Central
Offshore wind moving too slowly, CommonWealth Magazine
Brayton Pt closing ups need for gas, CommonWealth Magazine
Tom Perry: Energy Efficient Building and Retrofitting, Shelburne News
Facts show Millstone bill would fleece ratepayers, theday.com
Stay the course on climate, for the planet, Boston Globe
MICAHEL LANG, Braintree: Despite governmental layers, we’re not protected from compressor station, Patriot Ledger
Maine’s solar industry can employ the next generation, Bangor Daily News
Baker all talk on regional carbon limits, CommonWealth Magazine
Northeast Energy News 