RGGI Agreement | DOE Grid Study | Chelsea’s Burden
Happy Friday everyone. First, let me say let’s all keep the good folks from the State of Texas in our thoughts and prayers. Harvey looks to be unrelenting for days. One forecast from Dave Epstein writing for the Boston Globe called the expected rainfall potential to be “biblical in proportion.” We have one story below from Fox4KC about what Hurricane Harvey may mean for the oil and gas sectors given its expected landfall in the Corpus Christi area. We may be seeing more of these stories over the next weeks; we’ll keep you posted.
Two other stories led the headlines this week and we have sections for each below. First, the RGGI agreement where nine participating states agreed to reduce power plant emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Second was the release of the DOE Grid reliability report. There are so many different perspectives on what each of these mean that I’m not even going to try to create a synopsis. I’ll leave that to each of you to decide. I must say though the Mother Jones piece on Chris Christie is pretty scathing.
We also call your attention to a somber story from New England Public Radio about how Chelsea, Massachusetts bears many of the environmental burdens for the region. From heating fuel to jet fuel and road salt – many of the area’s energy and safety needs are placed on that one community and they say there are resulting negative health effects.
Lastly, there’s this article from the Herald News about how some energy developers came to Somerset with proposals, but no real plans for reusing the closed Montaup and Brayton Point power plants. As the headline notes they created more questions than answers. And, as one attendee stated, “they were all over the place.” After reading the article, I have to agree. One has to wonder what the heck these companies were thinking with this approach.
Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
All state reviews of Weymouth compressor plan now on hold, Patriot Ledger
Federal court upholds state’s right to stop natural gas pipeline under the Clean Water Act, MassLive.com
Kinder Morgan’s Pipeline Expansion Is A Likely Topic At Connecticut DEEP’s Public Hearing, WAMC
US Court of Appeals upholds New York rejection of Constitution pipeline permit, Utility Dive
Whitehouse facing multiple attacks over Burrillville plant stance, The Providence Journal
Kinder Morgan paying Massachusetts State Police hundreds of thousands to quell Berkshire pipeline protests, MassLive.com
Kinder Morgan has ponied up $115K to state police for Sandisfield pipeline security detail, Berkshire Eagle
Nonprofits, pols, utility companies work to plug Cambridge’s 250-plus gas leaks, Wicked Local Cambridge
In 5 months Vermont Gas signs up over 500 in Addison County, Vermont Biz
Hurricane Harvey has strengthened to a Category 3 storm, Fox4KC
DOE Grid Study
The Energy 202: Here’s the bottom line on the Energy Department’s grid study, Washington Post
Energy Dept: Government should ease rules on power plants, CT Post
DOE’s Grid Reliability Study Is a Rorschach Test for the Future of Electricity, Greentech Media
U.S. Energy Department study says more coal, nuclear needed to secure grid, Reuters
Do coal and nuclear need a helping hand? 5 essential reads, The Conversation
DOE Releases Much-Awaited Grid Study to Mixed Reviews, Microgrid Knowledge
Breaking: The US power market is cracking, Bloomberg
Oops: Rick Perry may have stumbled upon the solution to going 100 percent renewable, Think Progress
RGGI Agreement
RGGI Agrees to Cut Power Plant Pollution by Another 30%, Natural Resources Defense Council
Maine agrees to deeper cuts in carbon emissions, Press Herald
Group of nine states announces aggressive plan to cut emissions, Boston Globe
NE states propose 30% cut in power plant emissions, CommonWealth Magazine
Environmentalists React To Regional Proposal To Cut Carbon Emissions, RIPR
Scott agrees to carbon dioxide emission reductions, VT Digger
Chris Christie Has Plenty to Be Embarrassed About, But This One Really Matters, Mother Jones
Northeastern States Vow to Cut Carbon Emissions 30% by 2030, Governing
Eclipse
US grid untroubled by total eclipse despite plunge in solar output, Utility Dive
Eclipse Causes Less Power Loss Than Expected for Solar Generation, Power Engineering
Storage Didn’t Play a Primary Role During the Eclipse, but It Helped in Its Own Quiet Way, Greentech Media
New England Power Grid Operations During August 21 Partial Eclipse, (ISO-NE Release) Energy Central
Renewable Energy
Going solar now will save you more, The Recorder
Wind-power opponents dominate comments at Savoy hearing, Berkshire Eagle
In England, new offshore wind farms mean jobs, Boston Globe
Maine Business Park Seeks Partners for Green Microgrid Development, Microgrid Knowledge
Deepwater Wind Could Create 6000 Jobs in New England, GoLocalProv
Wood, Landfill Gas Dominate RI Renewable Energy, ecoRI news
America’s first US-built offshore wind installation vessel, SouthCoastToday.com
In Solar Trade Dispute, Will Proposed Tariffs Cost Industry Jobs?, Rhode Island Public Radio
We really can run the world on renewable energy – here’s how, New Scientist
Community group aims to bring more solar energy systems, education to Bangor area, Bangor Daily News
Killingworth lavender farm one of 1st in nation to get SmartFlower solar energy system, Middletown Press
Massachusetts jail gets $545K grant to install solar panels, CT Post
Dartmouth and Hanover pledge renewable energy goals, The Dartmouth
Emerson Center in Topsfield wins solar array, Wicked Local Topsfield
Ameresco, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and BlueWave Solar Celebrate 6.9 MW Renewable Power and Community Solar Initiative, Energy Central
Nexamp Completes 2.4 MW Community Solar Project in Dudley, MA, Energy Central
Energy Efficiency
Connecticut utilities drop interest rates on energy efficiency improvements, New Haven Register
Orange discussing Green Community designation, The Recorder
Regional energy saving program now open to Kensington, Seacoastonline.com
Energy Efficiency: The Stealth Competitor, T&D World
Nuclear
Vermont Yankee settlement money to be used for wood boiler projects, vtdigger.org
Millstone Owner Digs In On Finances, Possible Shutdown, Hartford Courant
Commenters Seek Broader Response on Millstone, RTO Insider
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Governor Baker is offering Hydro-Quebec another helping hand, The Boston Globe
How One Massachusetts City Came To Bear Environmental Burdens For The Region, New England Public Radio
Proposal for Somerset power plant gets attention, more questions, Herald News
Unmoved by public testimony, PUC approves ‘outrageous’ National Grid rate increase, RI Future
Fung, residents rebuke electricity rate hike, Cranston Herald
Northern Pass transmission project gets DOE environmental nod, Utility Dive
Eversource seeks to conceal Berlin biomass plant fiscal info, New Hampshire Business Review
Green Mountain Power stumping for rate increase, Brattleboro Reformer
Getting the Most Out of Vehicle Electrification for Both Customers and the Grid, Greentech Media
Follow the Patents: New Technologies Address Balancing Peak and Off-Peak Power Demand, Electric Light & Power
Eversource transmission project gets DOE impact statement, needs final OK, Electric Light & Power
MAP: How Much Climate Change Will Cost Each U.S. County, Governing
Mansfield hydrogen to have many safeguards, Sun Chronicle
Editorial/Opinion
Letter: Civil disobedience our only hope at this time, Berkshire Eagle
Your View: Pipelines, compressors, LNG tanks — suspended not canceled, SouthCoastToday.com
Get excited about city’s solar project, Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
To the Editor: Clean energy is good for business, Boston Business Journal
Councilors’ column: Advantages of Community Choice Energy, Wicked Local Roslindale
Bill McKibben: 100% Renewables Needed ‘As Fast as Humanly Possible’, EcoWatch
Toward a climate economy, Rutland Herald
Maine Voices: Aggressive caps on carbon emissions would benefit regional greenhouse gas efforts, Press Herald
Sorting out our perverse electricity markets, CommonWealth Magazine
Northeast Energy News 