Energy News for week ending June 29, 2018

That was quick | Substantial benefits | Cooperation. Not so much

Happy sunny Friday.

According to Platts, it’s reportedly the shortest tenure for any member of FERC. Last night, in a surprise announcement FERC Commissioner Robert Powelson announced his resignation. From Mary Serreze at MassLive, “Powelson said he is leaving FERC with ‘mixed emotions’ to become president and CEO of the National Association of Water Companies, and that ‘It has been an honor to serve this great country.’ The Republican and former Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner is stepping down in mid-August, and leaving as the bipartisan independent commission faces political pressure. An advocate for competitive power markets, Powelson opposed the coal and nuclear bailouts pushed by Trump energy secretary Rick Perry.”

Michelle Froese at Windpower Engineering and Development writes that “A recent report released by the Applied Economics Clinic (AEC) in conjunction with Sustainable Energy Advantage found substantial economic and environmental benefits for Massachusetts, and no new costs for ratepayers, if the legislature approves policies included in a bill passed by the State Senate. If adopted together, the four key policies, including an accelerated increase in the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), increased targets for off-shore wind generation and battery storage, and a removal of the solar net metering cap, would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 600,000 metric tons and have the following impacts in Massachusetts: Create an average of 1800 new jobs; Generate $3.4 billion in economic opportunity over the next twelve years; Lead to 9,800 MW of total wind, solar, and hydro generation; yet Result in no increase to Massachusetts electric bills.”

Cooperation seems to have gone by the wayside in New England energy markets according to an article by Tux Turkel at the Portland Press Herald. He writes, “Today’s battles over big energy projects in New England obscure the region’s past history of successfully bringing key visions to reality. But they also call into question whether the wholesale electricity market that has evolved over the past two decades can survive.”

One last note, we couldn’t bring you the Northeast Energy News each week without the hard work of all the journalists out there. Our hearts break for those who lost their lives or were injured in Maryland yesterday. We send our genuine thanks and appreciation to each and every member of the news community for the work they do.

That it for this week. Have a wonderful 4^th of July holiday. We’ll be back in your inboxes on July 13^th.

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Methane leaks offset much of the benefits of natural gas, new study says, Keene Sentinel

Scrutinize Pipeline Past Nuclear Plant: Long-Awaited State Report, USA Patch

NYS Report: Significant Risks to AIM Pipeline, NRDC.org

Making Utilities Make Gas Leak Info Public: New Law, USA Patch

Federal Trial Concludes in South Portland Pipeline Lawsuit, U.S. News & World Report

Natural gas execs see ‘century of supply’ in U.S. shale, Reuters

Is the Coming Natural Gas Boom Good for the Climate? Depends Who You Ask, Time

Are Fugitive Methane Emissions Offsetting the CO2 Benefit of Natural Gas?, (podcast) Greentech Media

BNEF: Gas Still ‘Necessary’ in a 50 Percent Wind and Solar Scenario, Greentech Media

National Grid locks out gas workers, Boston Globe