Cost Recovery for baseload | Brain Research for Storage |Power from Evaporation
Happy Friday afternoon everyone.
The big news this week actually broke today with the announcement, carried by Utility Dive, that the “DOE filed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking under the Federal Power Act to enhance grid resilience, directing FERC to ‘accurately price generation resources necessary to maintain reliability and resiliency.’ The rule would provide for ‘recovery of costs of fuel-secure generation units frequently relied upon to make our grid reliable and resilient.’” If passed, it could be good news for coal and nuclear plants that keep fuel on site. As an aside, I got it from a very good source today that FERC is interested in receiving comments – so send them in.
Sticking with national news, we have an interesting story from Microgrid Knowledge about how some “Duke University brain science researchers are hoping to use electronics they developed for non-invasive brain stimulation to revolutionize energy storage technology, making batteries safer, more efficient and less expensive.”
Last tidbit for this week comes from Science Daily which reports that “In the first evaluation of evaporation as a renewable energy source, researchers at Columbia University find that U.S. lakes and reservoirs could generate 325 gigawatts of power, nearly 70 percent of what the United States currently produces.” They add, “Though still limited to experiments in the lab, evaporation-harvested power could in principle be made on demand, day or night, overcoming the intermittency problems plaguing solar and wind energy.” Cool stuff.
Be sure to check out the events page at New England Energy News. Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Pipeline
As Perry slams state pipeline decisions, lawyers say DOE has little authority to intervene, Utility Dive
EIA Says US Electric Rates Up This Year on Higher NatGas Prices, Natural Gas Intelligence
US lawmakers ask Facebook, Twitter for information on anti-fracking ads, Reuters
118 Groups Urge Trump to Ban Fracking on Public Lands, Center for Biological Diversity
Otis State Forest pipeline protesters make a plea for the planet during court hearings, Berkshire Eagle
Rick Perry links pipelines, natural security, CommonWealth Magazine
Renewable Energy
This Bipartisan Senate Bill Could Enable US Offshore Wind to Take Off, Greentech Media
Wind power is now cheaper than nuclear – the energy revolution is happening, The Guardian
Wind Energy Could Power 30% Of Europe’s Needs By 2030, Reports WindEurope, CleanTechnica
New Milford residents oppose solar project for Candlewood Mountain, Danbury News Times
US Climate Change Policy: Made in California, New York Times
New Jersey to examine solar incentives, cost differentials, Utility Dive
The most effective clean energy policy gets the least love, Vox.com
Savoy voters reject bylaw allowing taller wind turbines, Berkshire Eagle
Solar to power Middle East oil, natural gas exports, Platts
Stronger RGGI Cuts Projected to Be Achieved at Low Cost, Natural Resources Defense Council
RGGI issues first ever offsets as states narrow opportunities, Carbon Pulse
State environmental groups rip GOP cuts as short-sighted, New Haven Register
NextEra: Four former Ranger solar projects will be operating by end of 2019, Mainebiz
Let the Sun Shine In: Solar Prices Decreasing, ecoRI news
Ruling Finds Solar Panels From China Hurt US Makers, Maine Public
Scituate Wind turbine noise still a problem for some, Wicked Local Scituate
Renewable developers respond in droves to New York solicitation, Utility Dive
Large solar array in works for old gravel pit in Williamsburg, Going Green
Wind and water: Powering our past, and future, Seacoast Online
Energy Efficiency
Massachusetts stays atop NGO’s state energy efficiency rankings, Utility Dive
State money to help Central Mass. communities switch to energy-saving LED streetlights, Worcester Telegram
Meriden councilors favor program with Eversource to upgrade lights in city buildings, Meriden Record-Journal
How your air conditioner plays catch-up to regulations, Axios.com
Weymouth to convert 3,800 street lights to LED, Patriot Ledger
Nuclear
Entire US Nuclear Power Fleet Could Disappear in 38 Years: S&P, Bloomberg
Energy Company Finances At Center Of Battle Over Millstone, Hartford Courant
Plans to clean up Vt. Yankee met with criticism from environmental groups, The Recorder
Port council votes to send letter to NRC, The Daily News of Newburyport
NorthStar leader, engineering consultant talk future of Vt. Yankee, Going Green
Energy Storage
New York City Aims To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions By Using Energy Storage, Forbes.com
Years In, NY REV Lacks Major Storage Action. That May Have to Change Soon, Greentech Media
Brain Research Tools Could Help Revolutionize Energy Storage Technology, Microgrid Knowledge
Climate Change
Hidden Costs of Climate Change Running Hundreds of Billions a Year, National Geographic
States Can Lead the Way on Climate Change, Scientific American
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
DOE proposes cost recovery for baseload generators in new FERC rule, Utility Dive
Connecticut energy plan raises tough questions on comparative resource valuation, Utility Dive
SEC Member: Northern Pass Could Cost Taxpayers More For Public Construction Projects, indepthnh.org
Central Maine Power seeks permit to transmit cheap hydro from Canada, Utility Dive
Tisbury looks to join Brewster in Eversource spraying battle, Martha’s Vineyard Times
Texas firm sells Milford power plant in $119M sale, Worcester Business Journal
Sudbury property values (partially) fair play in Eversource case, MetroWest Daily News
Cushing bill looks to block utility monopolies, Foster’s Daily Democrat
Eversource says fewer people have lost power this year, cites system improvements, Concord Monitor
National Grid in settlement talks with NY over rates, Albany Times Union
Great Barrington pursues ‘low cost and green’ collective power purchase plan, Berkshire Eagle
Central Maine Power seeks permit to transmit cheap hydro from Canada, Utility Dive
Energy harvested from evaporation could power much of US, Science Daily
NiSource Again Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Business West
Can Distributed Energy Resources Get Paid to Serve as ‘Virtual Transmission Lines’?, Greentech Media
Sudbury sues MBTA over Eversource lease, MetroWest Daily News
Editorial/Opinion
Letter: Not clean, not green, Concord Monitor
Approve bill to help Millstone secure its future, theday.com
Nuclear Power Is ‘On Its Back,’ Former CIA Director Says, Forbes
Lisa Ostrove: Why Candlewood Solar is a bad deal for our town, Danbury News Times
Northeast Energy News 