Russians Hacking, Emissions Spiking, Oceans Warming, Oh My!
It’s Friday afternoon so that’s a good thing, but some of the energy news headlines this week were darn depressing.
Take these six stories for example:
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions spiked in 2018 — and it couldn’t happen at a worse time, Washington Post
Ocean Warming Is Accelerating Faster Than Thought, New Research Finds, New York Times
America’s Electric Grid Has a Vulnerable Back Door—and Russia Walked Through It, Wall Street Journal
US power sector carbon emissions jump as gas boom outpaces coal decline, Utility Dive
2018 was Earth’s fourth-warmest year, EU scientists find, Axios
Mass. Families face home heating emergency, $30 million sought, WickedLocal.com
Ugh! And if that’s not enough to make you want to crawl under the covers, the government shutdown is causing headaches everywhere (and horrible times for government workers), but here in New England it’s also slowing things down:
Gas investigation on hold amid shutdown, Eagle Tribune
Government shutdown delays Vineyard Wind meetings, South Coast Today
Jon Chesto at the Globe brings us a positive story so we’ll end our recap here Wind turbine company picks Boston for US HQ, Boston Globe.
Enjoy the weekend and stay warm – very cold temperatures are expected.
Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling
Special Report: Gas leaks plague Bay State, Boston Herald
After setbacks, Weymouth compressor foes turn focus to Baker, Patriot Ledger
South Shore lawmakers urge Baker to reject natural gas station air permits, Boston Globe
Lawmaker looks to ban offshore drilling, Gloucester Times
Weymouth gas project advances, but fight’s not over yet, Boston Globe
Fossil generators ask Supreme Court to review state nuclear subsidies, Utility Dive
Ensuring fuel security for the electricity system: New England and the role of LNG, Utility Dive
Wind vs. Gas: Winter Wind Beats New Pipelines, Union of Concerned Scientists
Lockout finally over at National Grid, CommonWealth Magazine
Challenges Remain For National Grid, Union Workers Even With Contract, WBUR
National Grid union workers OK contract, ending lockout, Boston Globe
Merrimack Valley
Columbia Gas Offers Payment Plans For Merrimack Valley Gas Bills, USA Patch
Lawmakers push for safer gas practices, Salem News
Warren, Markey call for Columbia Gas to repair damaged roads, Boston Globe
Gas investigation on hold amid shutdown, Eagle Tribune
Charlie Baker tours Merrimack Valley to promote businesses affected by gas explosions, Boston Globe
Lawrence mayor wants Columbia Gas license revoked, Lowell Sun
Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions spiked in 2018 — and it couldn’t happen at a worse time, Washington Post
Ocean Warming Is Accelerating Faster Than Thought, New Research Finds, New York Times
Warning Of Flooded Cities, Spilka Puts Climate Change Atop To-Do List, WGBH.org
US power sector carbon emissions jump as gas boom outpaces coal decline, Utility Dive
2018 was Earth’s fourth-warmest year, EU scientists find, Axios
The National Weather Service is ‘open,’ but your forecast is worse because of the shutdown, Washington Post
Ramping up renewable energy remains lawmakers’ focus in 2019, The Day
Pennsylvania commits to 26% GHG reductions amid federal inaction, US emissions increase, Utility Dive
Vagaries Of the Energy Market: A Boom In Renewables Leads To Higher Rates For Co-op, VPR Digital
Mass. Inaugurates Clean Peak Standard, RTO Insider
Wind
Wind turbine company picks Boston for US HQ, Boston Globe
Sununu Will Ask for Federal Offshore Wind Study, A First Step To Development, NHPR
Government shutdown delays Vineyard Wind meetings, South Coast Today
Public hearings set on Roxbury Wind Project, National Wind Watch (Maine)
Busy month ahead for Alle-Catt Wind Farm issues, Olean Times Herald
A key approval for the $2-billion off-shore project is set for Jan. 22, NewportRI.com
R.I. fishermen still without compensation deal from wind farm developer, ProJo
Court: Refund Swanton Wind developers, St. Albans Messenger
Rhode Island harvesters, wind farm developer still talking compensation, Undercurrent News
New Jersey receives three bids in largest state wind energy solicitation to date, Daily Energy Insider
Under New Management, New London Pier Looks To Capitalize On Offshore Wind, WNPR
Solar
Maine Mall 2,340-panel solar array poised to go online, Mainebiz
How Can You Take a Stand on Energy at the Local Level? Lebanon Has an Idea, New Hampshire Public Radio
Tax exemption could cut towns statewide from solar-farm revenue, Telegram.com
Energy Efficiency/Storage
Energy efficiency info may be coming to Mass. residential home listings, Boston Business Journal (subscriber content)
Energy Storage Developers See Promise in Second Phase of Innovative New Hampshire Pilot, Microgrid Knowledge
California set a goal of 100% clean energy, and now other states may follow its lead, Los Angeles Times
Three Big Energy Ideas to Watch in 2019, Microgrid Knowledge
EVs
Before the Electric Car Takes Over, Someone Needs to Reinvent the Battery, Bloomberg
Boston transit authority adds to electric bus fleet, Utility Dive
Nuclear
Closed Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Sale Complete, NHPR
U.S. to Bill Gates: Build your scrapped China nuclear reactor in America, Axios
Energy Department Initiative Aims to Keep U.S. Competitive on Nuclear-Plant Fuel, Wall Street Journal
Pilgrim Nuke Plant Back at Full Power, CapeCod.com
NRC public meeting Jan. 15 for comments on Pilgrim decommissioning, Wicked Local Plymouth
New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution to join Vermont Yankee nuclear storage conference, VTDigger
Full scholarships offered for nuclear program at Three Rivers, The Day
Experts: Nuclear power production in country just 3%, The Tribune
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
America’s Electric Grid Has a Vulnerable Back Door—and Russia Walked Through It, Wall Street Journal
New England Power Grid Operators Train For Severe Nor’Easters, New Hampshire Public Radio
Wholesale power prices were generally higher in 2018, with both winter and summer spikes, eia.gov
Regulators decide to open full investigation into CMP billing issues, Portland Press Herald
Regulators consider plan to get rebates for some electric customers, Record-Journal
Confidence Grows that Proposed Burrillville Power Plant will be Denied, ECO RI
Invenergy analyst says Burrillville plant would supplement renewables, Providence Journal
Braintree Light hopes to retire generator, Patriot Ledger
Mass. Families face home heating emergency, $30 million sought, WickedLocal.com
Activists, lawmakers rally for heating help for low-income families, WBSM.com
Data: Maine Had Longer, More Frequent Power Outages Per Customer Than Any Other State In 2017, Maine Public
Editorial/Opinion
Ensuring fuel security for the electricity system: New England and the role of LNG, Utility Dive
Electricity aggregation success extends beyond Newton, CommonWealth Magazine
Viewpoint: Solar power, storage poised to protect Mass. businesses this winter, Boston Business Journal
Letter to the editor: Efficiency Maine Trust a burden to needy electricity customers, Portland Press Herald
Thinking globally, but acting warily, on new gas pipelines, Boston Globe
Letter to the editor: Good to hear real story on gas companies, New Haven Register
Editorial: Industry must be part of transit carbon cap policy, Boston Business Journal
Northeast Energy News 