Powerwalls pay off | Russians Hack Utilities | 50 Million dollars
Happy Friday afternoon.
Below are a few articles from this week that we found interesting.
Vermont utility says program saved $500K during heat wave (Concord Monitor) “An innovative program in Vermont that uses batteries in customers’ homes as a “virtual power plant” paid off to the tune of almost half a million dollars during the recent heat wave, according to the utility running the project…At times during the heat wave that covered much of the first week of July, the utility – often known as GMP – drew electricity out of about 500 Tesla Powerwall batteries installed in the home of about 400 customers and fed it into the grid. This meant GMP had to buy less electricity from power plants when the wholesale price of power in New England, which changes every five minutes depending on demand and supply, was particularly high. This had a double price benefit. It saves on the momentary energy charge, but more importantly it can reduce the utility’s payment to the bulk transmission system in New England…”
In some disquieting national news we have some local assurance, After Russians hack into US electrical utilities, ISO New England says it constantly upgrades security (MassLive) “After federal officials announced hackers working for Russia gained access to the control rooms of US electric utilities, ISO New England said the company has a myriad of ways to safeguard the region’s power grid against security threats. The company has redundant facilities and continues to change and upgrade security measures as cyber threats evolve, said Marcia Blomberg, senior media relations specialist for ISO New England.”
Here is some good news out of Maine, CMP will give $50 million to help low-income customers in Massachusetts (Press Herald) “Central Maine Power has agreed to give $50 million to energy-assistance programs that will benefit low-income electric customers – in Massachusetts. CMP will provide $50 million over 40 years to several programs and initiatives in Massachusetts, as a condition of winning the bid to build a high-voltage transmission line from Quebec through Maine that will carry hydroelectricity to the Commonwealth. The disclosure comes as CMP is under multiple investigations and lawsuits over allegations it overcharged Maine ratepayers. None of the money for the program will come from ratepayers in Maine or Massachusetts, according to Avangrid, CMP’s parent company. It will be taken out of profits.”
That’s the recap for this week. Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling
Debate over proposed power plant in Burrillville centers on power needs, The Providence Journal
Maine oil dealers begin delivering new, cleaner blend of heating oil, MaineBiz
Trump Says Europe Will Buy More American Gas. Is That Possible?, New York Times
DEP’s overdue Marcellus Shale air study finds few health risks, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
National Grid lockout causing headaches for customers, Boston Globe
Lowell Council won’t act on National Grid gas work during lockout, Lowell Sun
Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI
Use of renewable energy increasing in NH, WMUR
Group Says N.H. Renewable Energy Mandates Use Too Much ‘Dirty’ Fuel, New Hampshire Public Radio
Audubon Says Carbon Pricing Bill is a “refreshingly bold move”, National Audubon Society
State organization calls for 100 percent renewable energy in Massachusetts by 2035, Valley Advocate
Connecticut Green Bank and PosiGen “Solar for All” Partnership – Bringing the Benefits of Clean Energy to LMI Communities, Renewable Energy World
The 5 most important questions about carbon taxes, answered, Vox.com
Vermont PUC seeks alternative ratemaking proposals to boost renewables, Utility Dive
Massachusetts energy bills stall as deadline approaches, PV Magazine
Solar and wind are coming. And the power sector isn’t ready., Vox.com
Wind
Kingston Wind Independence promises payment of back taxes, Wicked Local Kingston
Judge scraps lawsuit against Maine wind moratorium, Utility Dive
Vineyard Wind to cover Yarmouth costs for review, Cape Cod Times
Between lines on Savoy wind energy project denial, National Wind Watch
Offshore wind hits early turbulence: who will bring the power ashore?, NJ Spotlight
Wind turbines could be on Guilford’s horizon, National Wind Watch
NYS Exposed: NY towns fight controversial wind turbine project, WHEC
Judge tosses challenge of order halting wind turbines, Bangor Daily News
State urged to move fast on offshore wind, but get it right, The Press of Atlantic City
Electric rates will rise due to wind power, The Day
Solar
Massachusetts Legislature Could Overturn Eversource’s New Demand Charge for Resi Solar, Greentech Media
City Hall solar sparks ire from council, Salem News
Fall River trying again to create solar farm off Blossom Road, Herald News
Goldman Sachs Puts a Grim Number on Solar Slump for This Year, Bloomberg
NH Co-ops solar facility adds green energy to the power grid, Energy Central
Molly Kelly Tours North Hampton Brewery That’s Saving Money Thanks to Solar Energy, NHlabornews
Solar delivers during New England heatwave, PV Magazine USA
State seeking towns’ input to help develop solar guidelines, Westerly Sun
Residents air concerns over big solar array project, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Rural Westhampton could see 20-acre solar plant, MassLive
Energy Efficiency/Storage
Beyond weatherization: Are utilities doing enough to engage low-income customers?, Utility Dive
Using customer batteries as a power source saved Vt. utility $500K, Granite Geek
Massachusetts power players scramble for deal in critical storage, DER docket, Utility Dive
Efficiency Vermont and Sense Conduct Pilot Study of Advanced Home Energy Monitoring, Energy Central
Vermont utility says program saved $500K during heat wave, Concord Monitor
Liquid metal battery could lower cost of storing renewable energy, Engadet
EVs
Electric buses are cleaner in all parts of U.S., study finds, Metro Magazine
Nuclear
Study: US Unlikely To See New Nuclear Power Anytime Soon, WABE
Yucca Mountain revival efforts appear dead – for now, Review Journal
WPI receives $600K for nuclear program, Worcester Business Journal
Next-Gen Nuclear Is Coming—If Society Wants It, Wired
Mapped: The US nuclear power plants ‘at risk’ of shutting down, Carbon Brief
Nuclear power looks to shrink its way to success, Financial Times
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Russian Hackers Reach U.S. Utility Control Rooms, Homeland Security Officials Say, Wall St. Journal
How vulnerable is the grid to cyberattacks, really?, Utility Dive
3 utilities seek $426m for negotiating hydro contracts, CommonWealth Magazine
CMP will give $50 million to help low-income customers in Massachusetts, Press Herald
Baker officials tout hydro contract benefits, CommonWealth Magazine
What Will Maine Get Out Of It? Groups Skeptical Over CMP’s Hydropower Plan, Maine Public
Group nixes plan for hydro project at Keene dam, Keene Sentinel
State Argues Budget Sweep of Energy Funds No Big Deal, Hartford Courant
More than 600 customers sue CMP, claiming the company overcharged them, then gave them ‘the cold shoulder’, Portland Press Herald
Class-action lawsuit filed against CMP over alleged overbillings, MaineBiz
Kelly questions Sununu’s energy bill vetoes, Seacoastonline.com
Editorial/Opinion
It’s Time to Stop Investing in New Oil and Gas Pipelines, Scientific American
Renewables, not gas, key to our clean energy future | Opinion, NJ.com
Power prices — and long-term costs, Boston Globe
Mass. must lead on climate change, CommonWealth Magazine
LETTER: Mention of Chernobyl serves as a reminder, Daily News of Newburyport
Go Nuclear For Power Policy Winners Among Utilities, Forbes
Viewpoint: For energy fix in Mass., natural gas capacity must be increased, Boston Business Journal
MA solar hurting, needs legislative help, CommonWealth Magazine
Mass. must lead on climate change, CommonWealth Magazine
A sharp slap of reality, Watertown Daily Times
Opinion: Cape leads the way on renewable energy; state must do more, Taunton Gazette
Clean, Reliable Energy Key to Western Mass Jobs (Guest viewpoint), MassLive
Northeast Energy News 