Map It Out | Feeling Pressure | Would you be a good neighbor
Happy Friday afternoon.
It’s getting late so we’ll just call your attention to a few bits of news.
First – this is a post from Visual Capitalist from late January, but we just caught wind of it today. It’s map of all the power plants in the US. You can scroll between 2007 and 2016 to see how things have changed. It’s kind of cool.
Second, there is news of more moratoriums on natural gas hookups in Massachusetts. From Jon Chesto at the Globe, “The municipal utilities that serve Holyoke and Middleborough just imposed separate moratoriums on new natural gas hookups, citing supply constraints. Is your community close behind? Probably not. The two biggest gas providers in Massachusetts, National Grid and Eversource, say their supplies are adequate for now.
To close, have you ever seen those green envelopes in your utility bills? They are for the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, which helps keep those less fortunate stay warm during the winter. The Gardner News is reporting that “The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund is appealing to Massachusetts’ residents and businesses to make a donation to the Fund’s 2019 “Give the Gift of Warmth” campaign due to a heightened urgency of need brought on by bitter cold temperatures and the resulting increase in home energy consumption throughout the state…’The falling temperatures are generating an increase in the number of inquiries by individuals and families in need of energy assistance,’ said Mary Ellen Molloy, chairwoman of the 2018-2019 Good Neighbor Energy Fund campaign and regulatory relations specialist for Eversource Energy. ‘To meet their need, we appeal to the giving spirit of all our neighbors in the state and ask that you consider enclosing a donation of any amount in the green envelopes found in your utility bills or online at http://magoodneighbor.org/.’” FYI – you don’t need to live in MA to make a donation.
That’s it for this week. More snow is on the way so stay safe out there and have a great weekend.
Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling
Massachusetts gas explosions cost Columbia Gas more than $1 billion, Boston.com
Communities feeling pipeline pressure, Boston Globe
SEC Investigating Columbia Gas Parent For Pre-Disaster Filings, USA Patch
Columbia Gas parent won’t rule out rate hikes, Andover Townsman
The First Battle of the ‘Green New Deal’ Is the New York Pipeline Fight, Daily Beast
Coal power still gets NH through coldest days of the year, Union Leader
Anti-pipeline group questions HG&E moratorium decision, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI
Massachusetts house speaker introduces plan to allocate $1B for green infrastructure, Utility Dive
America’s strongest climate governor might be a Republican, E&E News
Amesbury awaits state approval of green initiative, Newburyport Daily News
Neal backs ‘bold action’ on climate change, falls short of endorsing ‘Green New Deal,’ MassLive
US keeps air pollution standard established under Obama, AP
When environmentalists busted up dams, coal moved in, Grist.com
Paul Mercer Appointed To Head New England EPA Office, WGBH
New York moves to phase out older peaking plants as it targets 100% clean energy, Utility Dive
Baker proposes controversial change in how Mass. spends money on global warming, Boston Globe
6 Clean Energy Milestones to Watch For, Union of Concerned Scientists
Community forum to provide update on Brayton Point, Herald News
Climate change is depleting our essential fisheries, National Geographic
Vermont Farmers Learn to Adapt to a Changing Climate, Seven Days
Will Massachusetts and Other Northeastern States Move to Aggressively Price Carbon Emissions?, National Law Review
Mills sets renewable energy goals in climate change speech, Portland Press Herald
Very high carbon dioxide could suppress cooling clouds, climate change model warns, New York Times
Wind
Cranston won’t sue Johnston over wind farm, Turn to 10
Rhode Island fishermen accept Vineyard Wind mitigation, South Coast Today
$2B offshore wind farm gets R.I. approval, Providence Journal
Nantucket fishermen raise concerns about wind farm, Cape cod Times
Offshore wind flexes 69GW potential to 2027, reNews
Solar
27 MW of distributed solar to be installed in New York and Rhode Island, Renewable Energy World
Burlington solar company nets $1 million investment, VTDigger
Solar energy incentives bill moves forward, Portland Press Herald
Tremont solar project latest in CEI, Nature Conservancy funding collaboration, Mainebiz
Solar farms growing along the countryside, WTNH
Solar facility expanding into Franklin, The Bulletin
Homeowners rush to install solar, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
17-acre solar farm in Northampton seeks Planning Board approval, MassLive
Clean energy groups support solar policy reforms in New York State, Daily Energy Insider
Energy Efficiency/Storage
Eversource wants to remotely lower users air conditioners, Valley News
PPL Expanding Energy Efficiency Programs with EFI’s Award Winning Utility Marketplace and Instant Rebate, Business Journals
Massachusetts speaker proposes $1B for energy efficiency grants, Journal-Record
The Energy Burden: How Bad is it and How to Make it Less Bad., Union of Concerned Scientists
How the US Became the Most Varied and Groundbreaking Energy Storage Market, Greentech Media
Investors in the energy-storage company Tesla is trying to buy for $218 million are suing to block the sale, Business Insider
New York utilities, NYISO to collaborate on allowing storage in state’s wholesale and retail markets, Utility Dive
FERC allows storage to access New England real-time energy markets, Utility Dive
Designing Liberty Utilities’ New Hampshire residential storage program, Utility Dive
Nuclear
CT taxpayers on hook for another round of nuke payouts, New Haven Register
Entergy Works On Selling Indian Point After It Shuts Down, WAMC
The Energy 202: Should nuclear plants get a bailout in the name of climate change? Pennsylvania debates, Washington Post
Read a draft of Pennsylvania’s nuclear bailout bill, State Impact PA
U.S. still has no place for spent nuclear fuel, so Maine Yankee’s owner gets millions, Portland Press Herald
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Regulators fine energy business $1.5 million as state lawmakers debate industry regulations, Hartford Courant
NEPPA CALLS FOR SPECIAL COMMISSION TO ADDRESS FUTURE ELECTRICITY NEEDS, Utility Dive
Who paid for ad critical of Mills’ support for CMP power line? No one’s saying., Portland Press Herald
Central Maine Power, opponent address proposed transmission line, Portland Press Heralds
Maine PUC wants to cut CMP’s allowable profit, WGME
Brayton Point towers to be imploded April 27, Herald News
The state’s ban on food waste lacks teeth, critics say, Boston Globe
Mapped: Every Power Plant in the United States, Visual Capitalist
National Grid expands customer engagement platform to 2 million customers, Electric Light and Power
Editorial/Opinion
Three takes on natural gas, CommonWealth Magazine
EDITORIAL: There’s plentiful gas on our doorstep. Let’s use it, Lowell Sun
Letter: Weather vs Green New Deal, New Hampshire Union Leader
Editorial: Hopes for hydro from Canada, Providence Journal
Put RGGI funds into energy efficiency, by Chris Balch, Keene Sentinel
EDITORIAL: Bay State takes rising seas seriously, Daily News of Newburyport
Northeast Energy News 