Protests take new turn | Storm creates havoc | Natgas Moratorium News
Happy Saturday folks!
We had a “wicked busy” day yesterday so this newsletter is a day behind its normal schedule but it’s filled with an extra day of stories so it’s more a like a “Bonus edition!”
Out in western Mass, WAMC reports that Kinder Morgan protests are turning more aggressive. “Massachusetts State Police said in a statement three pipeline opponents were arrested Wednesday. State police say one man trying to escape arrest pushed a trooper and was hit with a stun gun. Further from home, but incredibly disturbing, is a story from KWWL where it is suspected a wind power opponent placed more than a dozen dead rabbits at the base of a wind turbine. A local environmental consultant believes the rabbits were likely placed under the turbine to attract eagles and other birds into the path of the propellers. Just awful.
Big news this week was the wind storm that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people around New England. Some still remain without power. The response, or slowness of it, has caught the attention of government leaders in Massachusetts (Boston Herald), Rhode Island (ProJo) and Connecticut (NBC Connecticut).
Last for this week, is news from the Daily Hampshire Gazette where Columbia Gas laid out plans to lift the moratorium on new gas connections in Northampton and East Hampton along with several other projects to improve reliability and reduce gas leaks in its Springfield territory.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Natural Gas/Pipeline
Bill aims to protect consumers in pipeline expansions, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Columbia Gas outlines solutions to natural gas logjam, Hampshire Gazette
Natural gas industry seeks expanded infrastructure, Lowell Sun
Spectra defends Weymouth compressor plan amid new concerns, WickedLocal Weymouth
There’s a new tool in the fight to seal the state’s gas leaks, Boston Globe
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. cleared to start flow through Otis State Forest spur, Berkshire Eagle
Police: Kinder Morgan Pipeline Protests Have Turned More Aggressive, WAMC.org
Northeast pipeline controversy exposes gas markets as ‘a recipe for chaos,’ researchers say, Utility Dive
Kinder Morgan denies claims about Otis forest project; TD Bank says it’s not involved, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Power grid operator disqualifies proposed Burrillville plant from electricity auction, The Providence Journal
Public forum in Concord on gas leaks, The Boston Globe
Chelmsford board backs gas leaks bills, Wicked Local Chelmsford
Company says it knew of pipeline coating damage 3 years ago, PennEnergy
Now it’s oilmen who say fracking could harm groundwater, E&E News
How a 672000-Gallon Oil Spill Was Nearly Invisible, New York Times
The Fracking Boom’s Midlife Crisis, Bloomberg
U.S. Energy Regulator Says Coal More Reliable Than Natural Gas, Bloomberg
Climate Change
Dual bills call for climate change action, Lowell Sun
Massive Government Report Says Climate Is Warming And Humans Are The Cause, WBUR
UN environment chief: US likely to live up to Paris accord, CT Post
Atmospheric CO2 Levels Are Now The Highest In 800,000 Years, IFL Science
October 2017 was second warmest on record in Worcester, Telegram.com
Renewable Energy/Policy/etc.
NY Green Bank seeks $1B in private sector investment for clean energy projects, Utility Dive
HomeBiogas 2.0: Ready-to-use biogas solution for the home, Treehugger
New York Stakeholders Question Carbon Pricing Process, RTO Insider
Wind
Bay State Wind opens downtown New Bedford office in wind power bid, South Coast Today
Moosehead-area lawmakers oppose wind projects, Press Herald
Public back New England offshore, REnews
Wind mill tax program not worth the ‘headache,’ Sun Journal
US Bill targets offshore boost, renews
Wind Power Set a New Renewable Energy Record in Europe Last Week, Futurism
US and Denmark sign deal for offshore wind cooperation, Energy Digital
Dead rabbits found on local wind farm, KWWL
Solar
Is solar+storage eligible for net metering in Massachusetts? Tesla and others want to know, Utility Dive
Solar permitting data shows residential market woes, pv magazine USA
New England Solar and Storage Symposium 2017: The Presentations, Greentech Media
Energy Efficiency
Town of Maynard reduces energy use by 22 percent, Wicked Local Bolton
Time to Change Our Clocks Back and Our Lightbulbs Forward, Natural Resources Defense Council
New Hampshire House committee votes to end RGGI-funded efficiency investments, Utility Dive
Nuclear
Malloy signs Millstone bill, then questions its need, The Day
Connecticut governor calls for Dominion cooperation, World Nuclear News
Consultant airs Vermont Yankee contamination concerns, Brattleboro Reformer
NARUC, other energy organizations urge Congress to fund Nuclear Waste Program, Daily Energy Insider
Crews restoring power to Seabrook nuke plant sirens, Seacoastonline.com
Storm knocks out Pilgrim power line, Cape Cod Times
Storm
AG eyes utility’s power restoration efforts after storm, Boston Herald
Following outage, Grid wants to bill ratepayers $39M for tree-clearing, Boston Herald
National Grid under fire for slow response to outages, The Providence Journal
State reports 31000 still without power, Lowell Sun
Utility’s storm prep called into question, Boston Herald
Frustration Mounts As Thousands Remain Without Power, Hartford Courant
Ledyard Mayor, Frustrated With Eversource Response, Postpones Trick or Treating, NBC Connecticut
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Healey fights Eversource’s $4.9M reimbursement request, Boston Globe
Eversource touts N. Pass ‘certainty,’ CommonWealth Magazine
Eversource Seeking $336.8M Electricity Rate Increase Amid Criticism Over Recent Storm Response, Hartford Courant
Sudbury: Eversource power line proposal faces state hearings, Wicked Local Sudbury
Sixty-Four House Members Tell Pruitt RFS has Failed, DTN The Progressive Farmer
Mayor Carpenter: Brockton Power is dead, Enterprise News
Budding marijuana sector brings big load growth, efficiency challenges for utilities, Utility Dive
Fall back no more? Commission moves time zone issue forward, WCVB Boston
Thoughts for fuel: Bringing new technology to home-heating delivery, Boston Globe
Why You Should Fear a Cyberattack on the Grid, Greentech Media
In private meeting Cuomo administration pushes utilities for more REV investment, Politico
What Is Grid Modernization? An Explainer, Conservation Law Foundation blog
Why We Need Microgrid Cybersecurity: The Threat is Real, Microgrid Knowledge
Editorial/Opinion
Budget Hurts Environment, Hartford Courant
Lessons from first campus carbon-pricing scheme, Nature.com
Opinion: Approve Vermont Yankee plan, BurlingtonFreePress.com
Paying environmental tribute to neighboring states, Commonwealth Magazine
Guy Page: ‘Residential standards’ for VY decommissioning make little sense, VT Digger
Northeast Energy News 