Compressor Station Safety Study | 100+ Submissions to Zero Carbon Program
Good morning:
After last week’s gas explosions on the North Shore, local legislators in Weymouth and Hull are calling for a moratorium on construction of the Spectra Energy-Enbridge natural gas compressor station until a public transportation safety study is done. The Patriot Ledger is reporting that, “the compressor station in Weymouth would reverse the flow of methane in the existing gas pipeline and increase the gas pressure from 750 pounds per square inch to 1,440 pounds per square inch.”
Connecticut’s “Zero Carbon” program received over 100 submissions for solar, wind hydro and nuclear facilities. The Hartford Courant reports that “The participation of Dominion Energy, owner of the Millstone plant, has been a major point of controversy. The plant’s owners hinted that they might be forced to close the nuclear facility unless they were given the opportunity to compete in the new program, which could pay them higher rates for the power they produce.” But a preliminary state report estimates that Dominion and Millstone are expected to remain “highly profitable” through 2035.
More news follows below. Have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling
Mass DPU rejects AG Healey request for National Grid pipeline safety investigation, MassLive
Burrillville power plant proposal hits possible deal-breaking snag, Providence Journal
After Merrimack Valley explosions, lawmakers call for halt to Weymouth compressor station work, WickedLocalSwampscott
Massachusetts governor puts rival utility in charge of Columbia Gas disaster response, Utility Dive
Columbia Gas withdraws $33 million rate increase, Eagle-Tribune
Massachusetts gas explosions shine spotlight on century-old pipelines, Reuters
Lawsuit targets Massachusetts utility over deadly gas explosions, Reuters
The government just made it easier for oil companies to leak methane on public land, Popular Science
Natural Gas Utility Gets Go-Ahead for $135M Energy-Efficiency Measures, NJ Spotlight
Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI
Massachusetts wastewater plants to test innovative treatment technologies with MassCEC grants, MassLive
Devil in the details of Rhode Island’s 400 MW renewable energy RFP, pv-magazine-USA.com
9 Northeastern states share $115M from carbon sale, Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Maine businesses to get help to use more renewable energy, Journal Record
Carbon Prices Are Too Low to Reduce Emissions, Scientific American
Newburyport mayor reflects on global climate conference, Daily News of Newburyport
Nuclear, Wind Companies Competing To Sell Connecticut ‘Zero Carbon’ Energy, Hartford Courant
Wind
BU enters agreement to purchase renewable wind energy, Daily Free Press
N.J. begins nation’s largest single-state solicitation of offshore wind projects, Business Journals
Wind energy project may bring jobs to Bridgeport, Connecticut Post
Orsted sells half of vast offshore wind farm for $5.88 billion, CNBC
Solar
Gold Meadow Farms To Be Rhode Island’s Biggest Solar Project, Solar Industry
Solar company promises Ware $112K annually if town approves 8-megawatt project, MassLive
Solar Energy Largely Unscathed by Hurricane Florence’s Wind and Rain, InsideClimate News
Tracking The Sun: U.S. Solar Installation Prices Continued To Drop In 2017, Solar Industry
Energy Efficiency/Storage
UTC to receive $3M for energy storage program, Hartford Business Journal
Analyst: We’ve Misunderstood Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy World
A tiny, beleaguered government agency seeks an energy holy grail: long-term energy storage, Vox
Nuclear
Millstone casts bid for state contract, Hartford Business Journal
NRC OKs License Extensions For Indian Point, WAMC
Anti-Nuke Groups Concerned About Plans For Vermont Yankee’s Radioactive Waste, VPR Digital
Exelon Retires Oyster Creek After 49-Year Run, Nuclear Street
NRC to Hold Meeting to Discuss Transfer of Pilgrim License, Cape Cod
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
New Hampton dam part of Eversource’s $83 million sale of hydro plants, New Hampshire Union Leader
Green Mountain Power announces energy costs agreement, VTDigger
More than 30 people testify against CMP power line proposal at PUC hearing, Portland Press Herald
Second small Maine town votes against CMP’s hydropower project, MSN
National Grid offering support in wake of explosions, WPRI12
NEPOOL Alone in Support for Press, Public Ban, RTO Insider
Regulators affirm ‘reasonable’ response by CMP and Emera in October storm, Portland Press Herald
Editorial/Opinion
Sierra Club fires back on Quebec hydro, CommonWealth Magazine
EDITORIAL: Breath of fresh air on offshore wind, Daily Record
Unfortunate override: Biomass wins, solar loses, New Hampshire Union Leader
Seabrook nuke plant evacuation plan is not OK, Seacoastonline.com
Northeast Energy News 