5 percent chance | 53 percent increase | 100 percent renewable
Happy Friday afternoon everyone.
Today’s focus is on the numbers.
According to an article in the Washington Post reasons for climate optimism seem to have all but disappeared. According to a number of studies, when looking at limiting the warming of the globe to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial temperatures, there’s only a 5 percent chance of success and a mere 1 percent chance that it can be limited below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). One idea to turn this around is that negative emissions, based on technologies that don’t exist yet at the relevant scale, would probably be required at some point in the future.
In Rhode Island, many politicians are lamenting National Grid’s proposed 53 percent increase in electric rates for residents in the Ocean State. However, the editorial board at the Providence Journal has a clear understanding of the root of the increase, “They are the consequences of public policy decisions and they cannot be wished away.” The editorial points to retiring generation units, lack of new generating capacity and limited natural gas pipeline capacity. They write, “This should concern us all. High energy prices are tough on households. Should the rate hike go through, the average home-owning family would see its monthly power bill jump from less than $90 a month to more than $106. And high power costs are (yet another) disincentive for businesses to grow jobs in our area.”
The last number for the week is 100 percent – as in the goal to get to 100 percent renewable energy. On this topic, we bring you a few stories. Utility Dive tells us what’s missing from the 100 percent renewable energy debate. Forbes has a piece on California’s bid to be 100 percent by 2045. And, because Massachusetts’ 100 percent renewable proposal includes transportation, we have an article from Penn Energy on whether bans on gas and diesel cars are realistic.
Be sure to check out the events page at New England Energy News. Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
22 arrested by Massachusetts State Police at protest of Kinder Morgan pipeline in Sandisfield, MassLive.com
More arrests in anti-pipeline action: Standing Rock Sioux now part of resistance, Berkshire Eagle
Natural gas building boom fuels climate worries, enrages landowners, Salon
Pipeline Payday: How Builders Win Big, Whether More Gas Is Needed or Not, Inside Climate News
After damaging historic property and wetlands, pipeline CEO is ‘baffled’ by criticism, ThinkProgres
Proposed bill sets sights on compressor plans, Wicked Local Weymouth
Truck Exhaust Might Be Causing Health Problems Around Fracking Sites, WBUR
Groups Oppose Pipeline to New Power Plant, Public News Service
State review of proposed compressor station pushed back six months, Patriot Ledger
Renewable Energy
What’s missing from the 100% renewable energy debate, Utility Dive
Opponents continue fight against beleaguered Cape Wind, Cape Cod Times
Super-Colossal Wind Turbines May Be on the Horizon, ABC News
Charlemont to map renewable energy resources, Going Green
The two choices Maine lawmakers face on solar power, Energy Central
California Goes All In — 100% Renewable Energy By 2045, Forbes.com
Deepwater, Tesla to pair offshore wind farm with 40 MWh battery storage system, Utility Dive
Maine lawmakers pull plug on bill to maintain solar incentives, Portland Press Herald
Feds set to release Cape Wind impact statement, The Recorder
Invenergy, GE Renewable Energy to build largest wind farm in the US, Daily Energy Insider
Maine lawmakers fail to override governor’s veto of solar bill, Utility Dive
AWEA: Wind energy development rose 40% in Q2, Utility Dive
Tighter Pollution Cap Could Get RGGI States $3.2B Extra, Natural Resources Defense Council
Why small solar threatens the companies that deliver electricity in Maine, Bangor Daily News
Energy giant Con Ed proposes to deliver Maine wind energy to Boston, Press Herald
Vineyard Wind crews will begin survey for cable sites, Martha’s Vineyard Times
The Booming Wind Energy Industry Might Finally Break Its Massachusetts Hex, HuffPost
Maine-based Solar Company Ranked #1 in New England, #14 in US, Bangor Daily News
Cape Wind’s Gordon vows to ‘move it forward’ as BOEM weighs lease, Cape & Plymouth Business News
Wind power charging up, Boston Herald
Clean Energy RFP
5 companies propose transmission projects for Massachusetts clean energy RFP, Utility Dive
Deepwater Wind taking 2 shots at Massachusetts energy procurement, Cape Cod Times
Emera announces plans to construct 1GW Atlantic Link project, Energy Business Review
Bidders want to bring Canadian Hydro to Massachusetts, Wicked Local Waltham
Northern Pass competes for Mass. energy deal, Concord Monitor
State offers new momentum for offshore wind power, Cape Cod Times
Offshore wind farm bids against hydro, onshore wind firms, CommonWealth Magazine
Energy Efficiency
UMass, Eversource partner on campus energy efficiency, WLNE-TV (ABC6
CLF helps support clean energy and energy efficiency, Ricentral.com
US House Would Take Hacksaw to Energy Efficiency Budget, Energy Manager Today
Storing clean energy in salt isn’t as crazy as it sounds, Grist
Nuclear
Energy Department Scientists Barred From Attending Nuclear Power Conference, EcoWatch
NRC reviews Seabrook nuclear power plant, Seacoastonline.com
NorthStar already working at Vermont Yankee, Brattleboro Reformer
Proposed Vermont Yankee cleanup company changes hands, Commons
Pilgrim owner submits improvement plan, Cape Cod Times
Advanced Nuclear Is a Winning Issue in a Tri-Partisan Washington, Greentech Media
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
New England ISO targets 2018 for full DR integration into wholesale power market, Utility Dive
We only have a 5 percent chance of avoiding ‘dangerous’ global warming, a study finds, Washington Post
Utility Helps Wean Vermonters From the Electric Grid, NY Times
Eversource rate request pilloried at Department of Public Utilities hearing, Berkshire Eagle
Lt. Governor McKee to Intervene in Case Against National Grid’s 53-percent Rate Increase, (Press Release) RI.gov
9 States Deciding Whether to Tighten Power Plant Emissions Rules in RGGI, Inside Climate News
Connecticut energy, climate change goals open to public comment, Greenwich Time
Senator Morgan Opposes National Grid’s 53% Rate Increase, GoLocalProv
Study: Energy plays large role in Connecticut’s economy, New Haven Register
Berkshires Stands Against Proposed Eversource Rate Hike, iBerkshires.com
EIA: US residential power sales in decline since 2010, Utility Dive
The Future of Microgrids & Cleaner Locally Managed Power, Freepress Online
Public counsel grills Northern Pass expert on property value impact, New Hampshire Business Review
Credibility of Northern Pass contractor questioned, The Union Leader
National Grid, Swampscott discuss ‘smart-grid’ programs, Wicked Local Swampscott
How realistic are plans to ban new gas and diesel cars?, Penn Energy
Editorial/Opinion
Editorial: National Grid’s 53-percent hike, The Providence Journal
Cities and states must take lead on climate change, CommonWealth Magazine
Ingredients for climate success, CommonWealth Magazine
McQuiston: Power And The Lake, Vermont Public Radio
John McClaughry: Climate Action 4.0., vtdigger.org
Opinion: Vermont’s drive to energy independence, Burlington Free Press
Gov. Phil Scott: Scott’s Climate Action Commission, Caledonian Record
Our view: Offshore wind energy’s future is major farms, not failed AC project, Press of Atlantic City
Commentary: Let solar energy empower ratepayers, not utility, Press Herald
Why we shouldn’t bail out big nuclear, Washington Examiner
STEPHEN DODGE: Weymouth compressor safe and necessary, Wicked Local Braintree
Northeast Energy News 