Happy Energy News Friday.
Let’s start with a nod to Yogi Berra’s quote that “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” We have several stories this week where various people are questioning whether several energy projects are dead, or are just on a rain-delay of sorts.
We’ll start on the Cape where residents of Falmouth aren’t sure they should be celebrating about the shutdown of the turbines at the waste treatment facility (Cape Cod Times). Why? Because as the Falmouth Enterprise reports, there are still lawsuits up in the air (their pun, not mine). Moving to central Mass, opponents of the West Boylston Lateral, which was part of the Access Northeast project, tell the Telegram “they are thrilled that the proposal has been put on hold. But they fear the controversial project will be revived.”
After we sent last week’s Energy News, utilities in MA jointly issued their first solicitation for offshore wind power (MassLive). And this week, as is reported on BostonGlobe.com, several environmental groups are “imploring the Baker administration to accelerate the state’s nearly 10-year timeline to establish a pioneering clean energy industry in Massachusetts.” All kinds of allegations are bandied about in the article, including an “unholy alliance” between Governor Charlie Baker’s regulators and the utility companies.
When you have some time give a listen to Greentech Media’s Guide to Blockchain and Energy. They explain how blockchain is already being applied to utility operations and energy markets, and where the long-term potential lies. Another unrelated but interesting story comes from Vox.com, which reports that states and cities are forming a kind of parallel national government around climate change.
Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
Rehoboth officials hail end to compressor station saga, The Sun Chronicle
Pipeline foes fear renewed effort to build West Boylston Lateral, Worcester Telegram
Access Denied: Mounting opposition buries pipeline plans, Worcester Sun
Weymouth compressor station opponents say battle is not over, Wicked Local Weymouth
EcoRI’s Carini on Raimondo’s “Regret” Over Putting “Thumb on the Scale” in Invenergy Debate, GoLocalProv
Some Pipeline Protestors In Otis State Forest Face Fines, WAMC
Native Americans Sue Frackers Over Manmade Earthquakes, National Geographic
UK gets first big shipment of US liquefied natural gas, Financial Times
Climate Change
Blue America reaches out to the world, ignoring Trump, Vox.com
Renewable Energy
Massachusetts utilities release first offshore wind RFP under new state energy law, MassLive.com
Environmental groups push to shorten offshore wind timeline, Boston Globe
New Haven commits to using only renewable energy for city operations, New Haven Register
Falmouth neighbors worried celebration premature in fight against wind turbines, Cape Cod Times
Multiple Wind Turbine Lawsuits Remain Up In The Air, Falmouth Enterprise
Newport Harbor Home to Floating Microgrid Platform for Charging Electric Marine Vessels, ecoRI news
Connecticut Chooses New Sites For Statewide Solar Plan, WSHU
Second Circuit Upholds Conn. Renewable Procurement Law, RTO Insider
Fledgling Berkshire Communities Green Network seeks to rally ‘green communities,’ Berkshire Eagle
Connecticut DEEP picks Shelton for shared-solar project, New Haven Register
State approves Brattleboro landfill solar array, vtdigger.org
Massachusetts landfill gets solar panels, Waste Today Magazine
Marine Conservationist On New England’s Potential To Harness Energy From Ocean Tides, Rhode Island Public Radio
Mass Solar Connect Program Helps Massachusetts Consumers Shop Around, Solar Industry Magazine
The Energy Secretary Is Wrong: The Grid is Ready for Renewables, Yale Environment 360
Offshore needs the big players, Windpower Monthly
Expediting a Renewable Energy Future With High-Voltage DC Transmission, Greentech Media
Connecticut Utility Regulator Issues Decision on SHF Systems, Energy Central
Project may double MDI’s solar output, Mount Desert Islander
Energy Efficiency
Energy Department to reconsider Obama energy efficiency rule, The Hill
How Much Of A Stretch To Become A Green Community?, Cape Cod Chronicle
It’s Good to be Green: State Provides $250K in Energy Saving Grants, The Belmontonian
Buying into a low-energy subdivision may be too costly for some, Press Herald
Nuclear
NRC: Vermont Yankee can send tainted water to Idaho, Commons
14 environmental, energy, consumer groups oppose Millstone bill, theday.com
NRC to determine C-10 status as nuke plant interveners, Seacoastonline.com
Hackers Are Targeting Nuclear Facilities, Homeland Security Dept. and F.B.I. Say, New York Times
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Electricity market: Pricing change can mean free power, The Union Leader
A Guide to Blockchain and Energy, Greentech Media
Massachusetts Energy Storage Target Comes with Less Clout but More Money, Microgrid Knowledge
Power Plant Project Wins Key Approval, Sandwich Enterprise
Look out, your town may switch you to a ‘greener’ energy plan, The Boston Globe
MBTA withholds portions of power line agreement with Eversource, MetroWest Daily News
National Grid, IBEW to build Granite State Power Link project, Union Leader
Group to protest Seacoast Reliability Project, Foster’s Daily Democrat
Distributed energy resources pose biggest disruption to utility business model, Electric Light & Power
Public Power Skeptical of ISO-NE Two-Tier Capacity Auction, RTO Insider
AG finds no open meetings violations concerning special January meeting, Johnston Sun Rise
Rick Perry says he had nothing to do with Trump’s energy budget, Business Insider
Editorial/Opinion
Around New England: Ignoring boom in solar energy, The Westerly Sun
Columnist Marty Nathan: Citizens must stand against environmental assaults, GazetteNET
HINGHAM COMMENTARY: Any benefit from compressor station?, Wicked Local Hingham
Letter: Shannon Reynolds: Even on temporary basis, natural gas is not the answer, The Providence Journal
Nancy Martland: DOT Should Follow NH Law For Norther Pass Burial Route, Caledonian Record
Eversource ever untrustworthy, Foster’s Daily Democrat
Reviewing the Legislature’s energy accomplishments, New Hampshire Business Review
Northeast Energy News 