Energy News for week ending July 20, 2018

You bought Russian gas | Vineyard Wind Lights Fuse | Millstone Debate Heats Up

Happy Friday afternoon. Based on the amount of stories we found, there doesn’t appear to be a usual summertime shortage of energy news.

Here are a few of interest:

Trump Was Asked About a Russian Gas Shipment To Boston. Here’s What That Tells Us About Energy in New England, WGBH — At Monday’s press conference in Helsinki, President Trump faced a question about a shipment of Russian liquefied natural gas that was sent to Boston in January. The question came from a Russian journalist who pointed out, through an interpreter, that Trump has been critical of a pipeline project that allows Germany to buy gas from Russia. Trump has said it makes Europe a hostage of Russia. “You suggested that you could free Europe from this by supplying American LNG,” the Russian journalist said. He went on to question whether the United States could provide LNG or liquefied natural gas as an alternative. “As far as I know U.S. had to buy … Russian gas for Boston.”

Power line plan lights fuse under Yarmouth residents, Cape Cod Times — A plan by offshore power company Vineyard Wind to bring a high-wattage cable through Lewis Bay and onshore in West Yarmouth is energizing residents, who say that no amount of compensation is worth the damage the project could potentially inflict. “This is not about money,” West Yarmouth resident David Bernstein said at Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, which was devoted primarily to public comment on the project. “I don’t care if Vineyard Wind gives $10 million a year to the town of Yarmouth. If the bay is killed, it is killed.”

Millstone Power Station debate heats up, The Day — Whether you fear Millstone Power Station could shutter within a few years and create an economic and energy grid crisis, or believe plant owner Dominion Energy is making empty threats about closing before its licenses expire, state regulators want to hear from you…Millstone’s participation in the zero-carbon auction follows years of pushing from Dominion and lawmakers, who are concerned that cheaper, abundantly available natural gas could threaten the plant’s survival in the wholesale energy market.

That’s the quick recap for this week. There are a lot more news items and opinions below. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Trump Was Asked About a Russian Gas Shipment To Boston. Here’s What That Tells Us About Energy in New England, WGBH

LaFleur: FERC unlikely to act on pipeline review before Powelson exit, Utility Dive

Final round of hearings for Burrillville power plant will resume this week, Breeze Publications

Declining Battery Storage Costs Raise Questions About the Role of Natural Gas, Renewable Energy World

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

Climate activist groups blast Mass. House energy bill for ‘paltry’ renewable standard, MassLive

On a Mission to Cut Electricity Rates, Ontario’s Ford Says He Will Cancel Wind, Solar Contracts, Renewable Energy World

Environmental advocates push SouthCoast as renewable energy hub, South Coast Today

Report: Bay State can do more in green energy, The Reminder

FuelCell Energy Will Add 100 Jobs In Torrington, Double Annual Energy Production, Hartford Courant