Energy News for week ending October 26, 2018

It’s a nuisance | 47,000 Ticks | Precipitation Reducers

Happy Friday afternoon. Let’s get to the news.

Given it’s a cross border issue it will be interesting to see how this one works out…From the Cape Cod Times, “After years of hearing complaints of noise, headaches and sleep deprivation, the Bourne Board of Health declared Wednesday that the four wind turbines across the town border in Plymouth are negatively affecting public health…The board will communicate to the Plymouth Board of Health its determination that the turbines are a nuisance to the residents of Bourne and interfering with the health and enjoyment of life and property, per the town’s nuisance law. A letter also will be sent to the Plymouth Planning Board, Board of Selectmen and Zoning Board of Appeals, which is responsible for licensing of the turbines.”

OK – so this next story is pretty gross. It’s been on local news as well. But it’s a story that must be shared. From the New York Times, “47,000 Ticks on a Moose, and That’s Just Average. Blame Climate Change…Between 2014 and 2016, Dr. Pekins counted ticks on moose calves at two locations in New Hampshire and Maine. He wanted to see how the moose were faring, given that climate change has been delaying snow’s arrival in New England’s winters. The longer-lasting warmth gives the ticks a leg up as they glom onto the moose, their preferred hosts, in the fall. They then feed through winter and hop off in the spring to lay eggs…three consecutive years of tick outbreaks ‘arguably reflects a host-parasite relationship strongly influenced by climate change at the southern fringe of moose habitat.’…While large numbers of ticks, literal bloodsucking parasites, aren’t great for adult moose, they’re especially bad for moose calves, which can die from the onslaught.”

Last for this week, from an unusual source for us, The Claims Journal, we learn, “With the United States being pummeled over the last couple of years with several high-category, high-damage hurricanes, the University of Delaware’s Cristina Archer recently published a paper that discovered an unexpected benefit of large-scale offshore wind farms: they lessen the precipitation caused by these devastating storms.”

Have a great weekend and Go Sox!

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Grid spending stable, but hookups, leak repairs down, CommonWealth Magazine

Mass. Natural Gas Explosions Highlight Tension Between Recovery and Long-Term Efficiency Goals, Greentech Media

National Grid, locked-out gas workers remain at odds, Boston Globe

Rehoboth selectmen approve natural gas pipeline moratorium, Sun Journal

Tennessee Gas seeks federal OK for Agawam pipeline, compressor, MassLive

Lawmakers revive bill, eye National Grid hearing, Lowell Sun

Grid, steelworkers busy away from negotiating table, CommonWealth Magazine

National Grid, locked-out gas workers remain at odds, Boston Globe

Merrimack Valley

Columbia Gas pushes back deadline to restore service to those affected by explosions, Boston Business Journal