The bids are in | The saga continues | New wires and pipes
Happy Friday afternoon!
The news topic getting the most “ink” this week was the Clean Energy RFP and the bids that came in response. We’ve dedicated a whole section to it below. It seems the biggest surprise (AP via Energy Central) was the entrance of Central Maine Power into the mix.
Here’s one that makes us say, “Wut?” It seems members of the Citizens Against the Rehoboth Compressor Station (CARCS) have complained they were not given proper notification by the town of Spectra’s decision to withdraw plans for the station. According to a story in The Sun Chronicle, Rehoboth selectmen say they are baffled at the criticisms lodged against them by CARCS. (Um yeah, the story was all over the news and you’d think the CARCS would be celebrating…) Nonetheless, the board has invited them to air their grievances on August 7th. We’ll look for the follow-up story so we can share with you the reasons for CARCS’ unhappiness. A saga indeed.
Lastly, on projects that as far as we can tell didn’t have many detractors, the Telegram brings us details on a number of energy improvement projects in Central MA. The article notes, “The work coincides with a national effort by utilities to update aging infrastructure and make natural gas and electricity services more reliable for customers at a time when energy technology is advancing and consumers are demanding better options.”
Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
Compressor station saga continues in Rehoboth, The Sun Chronicle
Hingham may form compressor station task force, The Patriot Ledger
State Rep. Lynch calls for stronger pipeline safety provisions, Wicked Local Westwood
ETP’s $4 billion Rover line hits another snag, this time in West Virginia, Reuters
The conflicts of interest hiding behind pro-pipeline op-eds around the country, Media Matters for America
Dakota Access developer’s new pipeline rankling regulators, The Boston Globe
State Sen. Adam Hinds visits anti-pipeline activists in Sandisfield, Berkshire Eagle
Acushnet selectmen confirm pipeline plan is ‘dead’, SouthCoastToday.com
Clean Energy RFP
5 major transmission, hydro and wind partners bid into Massachusetts Clean Energy RFP, Masslive
Hydro-Quebec partners up, CommonWealth Magazine
Central Maine Power joins green energy competition, Foster’s Daily Democrat
Maine utility a late surprise in green energy competition, Energy Central
CMP unveils plan that could quench LePage’s thirst for Quebec hydropower, Bangor Daily News
Governor Scott supports underwater Power Link from Canada, Vermont Biz
National Grid’s Plan To Run Power Line Through MA, NY Towns, WAMC
Eversource and Hydro-Québec Offer Two Proposals to Clean Energy Solicitation, (press release) Business Wire
Renewable Energy
State rule squeezes green energy producers, including Newburyport company, Newburyport Daily News
Impending eclipse underscores solar’s contribution to grid, Press Herald
Lights dim for cleantech funding under Trump’s budget, (subscriber content) Boston Business Journal
50% Rise in Renewable Energy Needed to Meet Ambitious State Standards, Inside Climate News
Renewables on the Rise, (report) Environment Maine
NE Environmentalists Want More Ambitious Carbon Emissions Cap For Power Plants, Rhode Island Public Radio
New Hampshire temporarily suspends solar rebate programs, Daily Energy Insider
The Top 5 Emerging Markets for Offshore Wind, Greentech Media
Report: Renewables Capable Of Being ‘America’s Energy Choice’, North American Windpower
LIPA declines to back 210MW Deepwater Wind project: report, Recharge
Seize the Day: RGGI Leadership More Important Than Ever, Union of Concerned Scientists
State energy plan calls for more renewables, Hartford Business
Massachusetts Town Saves $101,000 in 12 Months with Solar, Energy Manager Today
Analysis: Ratepayers Foot the Bill for Utilities’ Push Against Rooftop Solar, Renewable Energy World
New York will rebuild 78 miles of transmission to meet 50% renewables standard, Utility Dive
Solar farm covering 57 acres in Pittsfield (ME) wins regulators’ OK, Energy Central
Scientist: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, Cape Cod Times
Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency’s Existential Crisis Is Also an Opportunity, Greentech Media
Litchfield High School recognized for energy efficiency, Litchfield County Times
Ultra-Efficient, Economical Apartments Now In South Boston Are Part Of ‘Big Wave’, WBUR
Needham-Newton Businesses Net $2.7M Through Energy Savers Program, Patch.com
Nuclear
Connecticut Gov. Malloy orders financial review of Millstone nuke, Utility Dive
Can Millstone Survive Natural Gas? Malloy Orders State Review, Hartford Courant
Rowley activist: Public hearing needed on Seabrook evacuation plan, Wicked Local Ipswich
Vermont Yankee concerns ‘unfounded,’ companies say, Brattleboro Reformer
VT Yankee closing leads New England colleges to form a green hub training program, NH1 News
Connecticut’s latest energy roadmap likely to raise debate over Millstone, alternative sources, New Haven Register
Report: Advanced Nuclear Tech Could Be Lifeline for Industry, Power
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Virtual Power Plants & Transactive Energy: How Will They Change the Energy Business?, Microgrid Knowledge
Medway: State approves Exelon water plan, MetroWest Daily News
Monthly Wholesale Electricity Prices and Demand in New England, June 2017, Energy Central
Connecticut updates goals for energy, climate change, CT Mirror
Why We Need More Microgrids for Resilience, but Aren’t Getting Them, Microgrid Knowledge
Healey to DPU: Cut Eversource rates, CommonWealth Magazine
Providence Looks to Switch Sides in Power-Plant Case, ecoRI news
Vermont gov. creates climate commission to reach energy goal, Penn Energy
Utilities spend millions to replace old pipes, lay new wires and update infrastructure in Central Massachusetts, Worcester Telegram
Updated Energy Strategy Hampered By New England’s Congested Grid, WNPR News
National Grid seeking 53-percent rate hike, The Providence Journal
EIA: US residential power sales in decline since 2010, Utility Dive
National Grid talks energy, safety, and efficiency, Daily Item
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey takes aim at proposed Eversource rate hike, MassLive.com
Would Eversource’s power line reduce property values?, Wicked Local Hudson
Hudson selectmen, residents fear environmental impacts of proposed powerline, Community Advocate
Hiding in plain sight: Aggregated DERs in wholesale power markets, Utility Dive
Northern Pass site visits begin in the North Country, The Union Leader
Northern Pass to withdraw purchase power agreement, The Union Leader
Editorial/Opinion
10 Years After Launch of its Wind Turbine, Jiminy Peak Now Reducing Carbon Footprint, Renewable Energy World
3 takeaways on the offshore wind RFP, CommonWealth Magazine
Expanding energy efficiency, Rutland Herald
Karen Glitman: Efficiency Vermont — yesterday, today and tomorrow, vtdigger.org
Our View: Regional climate compact victim of its own success, Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
Your View: Let’s make New Bedford the US center for offshore wind, SouthCoastToday.com
Susan Schibanoff: Franconia Area Residents Take Northern Pass Concerns To Concord, Caledonian Record
Columnist Kathryn R. Eiseman: Berkshire Gas must update business model, Greenfield Recorder
Northeast Energy News 