Energy News for week ending March 22, 2019

Last Minute Deal | Nuclear Valued | Felled Fruit

Happy Friday and welcome to this week’s energy news recap.

We start in Connecticut with a story that came out just after we published last Friday’s edition. From the New Haven Register, “Last minute deal reached to keep Connecticut’s Millstone nuclear plant open. Gov. Ned Lamont and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes said Friday Dominion Energy and Connecticut’s two major electric utility companies, Eversource and United Illuminating, struck a deal Friday that will keep the company’s Millstone nuclear facility in Waterford operating. Word of the deal came hours before a deadline that Virginia-based Dominion had to notify New England’s regional electric grid operator, ISO-New England, whether or not the nuclear plant would be shut down. Under the terms of the agreement, Dominion will supply Eversource and UI with electric power generated at Millstone for a 10-year period. The deal must still be approved by Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, which has 180 days to act on it. Ken Holt, a Dominion spokesman, said the date when Millstone begins supplying the power to the utilities and other details of the contract won’t be released until PURA has ruled on the deal.”

Speaking of nuclear, and also occurring last Friday, the Coalition of Northeastern Governors released a statement that reads in part, “…A particular challenge is the retirement of nuclear generation resources, which serve approximately 25% of the region’s annual electricity demand. For example, closure of the 2,100 MW Millstone nuclear facility, which Connecticut state agencies have determined to be at risk of retirement as early as 2023, could expose New England ratepayers to increased winter energy security risks. Its retirement could also increase the New England power sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25%. Recognizing that the entire New England region has a stake in ensuring a reliable energy system that also produces affordable outcomes for consumers, the New England Governors commit to work together, in coordination with ISO New England and through the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE), to evaluate market-based mechanisms that value the contribution that existing nuclear generation resources make to regional energy security and winter reliability.” Ah, it’s too bad this is all too late for Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee.

For our last feature this week we go back to Connecticut for a story that made us think of the George Bernard Shaw quote, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” From WFSB, Eyewitness News 3, “Fruit trees on a Southington homeowner’s property are now gone after she says Eversource workers cut them all down. Eversource has been working in the area, trimming trees that are near power lines…She says at least 7 of her fruit trees were taken down…some fruit trees have been there for almost 10 years…While there were power lines above her property, she said the trees they cut down were not much taller than a swing set…Eversource said their trimming cycle is every five years and they sent letters before doing the work. ‘This area has many landscaped yards underneath the transmission lines, so in February we sent all the property owners a letter explaining the work that will be done and urged them to call us if there were any concerns,’ said Frank Poirot, Eversource spokesperson. Raudis says she received a letter but it wasn’t specific about her fruit trees, just about cutting down brush…Channel 3 has learned from Eversource that they plan on replacing the trees in Raudis’s yard.” Here’s looking forward to seeing other fruit trees in blossom this spring.

That’s the recap for this week. Have a wonderful weekend.

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

State sets Longmeadow public hearing on Tennessee Gas Pipeline expansion in Hampden County, MassLive

Granite Bridge pipeline tests state infrastructure corridors, Seacoastonline.com

Liberty Utilities update of natural gas pipeline proposal finds 30% spike in cost to accommodate environmental concerns, New Hampshire Union Leader

Newport Looking For Feedback Following Gas Outage, USA Patch

No new natural gas hookups in New York’s Westchester County, Con Ed says, Reuters

Merrimack Valley/Columbia Gas of Massachusetts

Columbia Gas Has Paid Out $94.8 Million In Disaster Claims, USA Patch

Utility safety becomes Ray LaHood’s top priority, Boston Globe

Exclusive: Columbia Gas boss talks safety, trust and being a fix-it guy, Business Journals

Bay State legislators question Columbia Gas claims process, Boston Herald