Accelerated repairs | Ambitious EE | Plastic Crystals
Happy Friday afternoon.
Let’s end the week on a happy note. Here are three stories that all have positive vibes.
First from MassLive, Springfield councilors praise Columbia Gas for accelerated gas leak repairs. “City councilors, during a meeting Wednesday with representatives of Columbia Gas, said they are pleased with reports that the company has accelerated repairs of gas leaks in Springfield… While the company immediately repairs the most serious leaks, known as Grade 1, it accelerated its program to repair the less serious Grade 2 and 3 leaks. There are 162 known Grade 2 leaks in Springfield that will be repaired by Dec. 1, said David Nelson, operations station manager for Columbia Gas. There 233 Grade 3 leaks, which are defined as not posing a risk to life and property, with the utility company currently planning to repair the two that are deemed the “highest emitters,” Nelson said. City Councilor Jesse Lederman, chairman of the council’s Sustainability and Environment Committee, said he recalls there being 590 gas leaks in all categories in 2017. “It sounds like there is really great progress,” said Lederman, who was one of the community activists lobbying for the accelerated gas repair program. Councilor Adam Gomez also praised the efforts to go after the gas leaks.”
Next, we go to New York with a story from Greentech Media, New York City Set to Pass Ambitious Energy Efficiency Mandate. “New York City is on the verge of enacting one of the most ambitious citywide building energy efficiency laws in the country, aimed at getting its biggest buildings — including landmarks like the Empire State Building and Trump Tower — to shave their carbon emissions footprint by 40 percent by 2030 or face financial penalties. Backers of the bill say it’s an important step to help meet New York state’s broader climate change goals, and could pave the way for similar efforts in cities across the country.”
For our new technology focus we turn to New Scientist, Fridges made from plastic crystals could help cut carbon emissions. A fridge that runs on plastic crystals could solve a big problem: our need to stay cool is warming the planet. Refrigeration equipment, air conditioners and heat pumps are estimated to consume between 25 and 30 per cent of the world’s electricity – and many rely on greenhouse gases to transfer heat. Bing Li at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Metal Research in Shenyang and his colleagues have used an alternative cooling material known as plastic crystals, which they believe could use less energy and be better for the environment.
That’s the recap for this week. Enjoy the stories below and have a wonderful weekend.
Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling
Springfield councilors praise Columbia Gas for accelerated gas leak repairs, MassLive
FSU professor: Eversource pipe proposal is not necessary, Milford Daily News
Ashland residents decry pipe plan at hearing, Milford Daily News
State orders more sampling at proposed compressor site, Patriot Ledger
How Canada’s other major energy export could light up New England states, The Telegram
Gas pipeline proposal would tunnel under Merrimack and Souhegan rivers, The Telegraph
Serious gas leak at Andover home repaired, Boston Globe
Columbia Gas responds to over-pressurized gas lines in western Massachusetts, Eagle-Tribune
Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI
Satellite confirms key NASA temperature data: The planet is warming — and fast, Washington Post
Trump-appointed energy official: Climate change is real and we must lower carbon emissions, CNN
Electrification Myth-Busting: Heat Pumps Are Ready for Cold Climates Today, Greentech Media
Vermont Utility Green Mountain Power Commits to 100% Renewables by 2030, Greentech Media
Sen. Ed Markey: “We are now in the era of the Green New Deal,” Vox.com
Momentum Builds for Green New Deal Plans as Maine’s Bill Gets a Powerful Endorsement, Earther Gizmodo
Wild bee species critical to pollination on the decline in New England, Portland Press Herald
EPA Chief Says Climate Change Is Not His Top Priority, Time
New Hampshire’s new clean-energy consensus, Keene Sentinel
Latest EPA climate pollution data shows disturbing lack of progress, Environmental Defense Fund
Vt.’s Largest Utility Wants 100% Renewable Power by 2030, NECN
Earth Day: Climate change and the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts Daily Collegian
Official warning to banks: Get real about climate change or risk going bust, CNN
Three Areas Where These Young N.H. Leaders Agree On Climate Change Policy, New Hampshire Public Radio
Wind
CT’s sole wind farm wants Eversource to cover costly outages, Hartford Business
Offshore wind farms are spinning up in the US—at last, Wired
DPU gives $168m offshore wind bonus to utilities, CommonWealth Magazine
CDC getting ready to take down towers at Brayton Point, southcoasttoday.com
State Pier’s future — wind or no wind?, The Day
Offshore Wind Farms Are Spinning Up in the US—At Last, Wired
Solar
Proposed R.I. solar farms endangering rural forests, environmentalists say, Providence Journal
Norton town meeting sides with solar farm opponents, Sun Chronicle
Discussion Sheds Light On Second Phase Of EDIC Solar Array, Falmouth Enterprise
UMPI looking into solar energy projects to replace wind turbine, WAGM TV
Energy Efficiency/Storage
EPA honors Efficiency Vermont with ENERGY STAR award, Rutland Herald
Fridges made from plastic crystals could help cut carbon emissions, New Scientist
New York City Set to Pass Ambitious Energy Efficiency Mandate, Greentech Media
Nuclear
Millstone workers, state & local officials tout 10-year deal, The Day
Electric bills to rise as NJ approves nuclear plant subsidies, WKXW
Entergy announces plan to sell Indian Point by 2021, Lohud.com
Gov. addresses future of Millstone nuclear facility, WFSB
Where will the nuclear waste go after Three Mile Island shuts down?, Philly.com
Supreme Court won’t hear nuke subsidy cases, clarifying state energy jurisdiction, Utility Dive
NRC to Meet With Connecticut Nuclear Energy Advisory Council to Discuss 2018 Millstone Station Performance, Energy Central
Hulking Nuclear Plants Try to Get Nimble in Volatile Power Markets, Bloomberg
U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Weren’t Built for Climate Change, Bloomberg
N.J. approves $300 million annual subsidy for nuclear industry that threatened shutdown, WHYY
Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.
Lewiston the big winner in controversial power line project, Portland Press Herald
In CT electric market, ‘buyer beware’ not enough?, The Hour
Durham approves $1M settlement with Eversource, Seacoastonline.com
South Portland-Montreal pipeline pitched as possible route for proposed CMP line, Portland Press Herald
State Releases More Heating Aid; Advocates Want Full Amount, WBUR
What Electrification of Transportation and Buildings Means to Microgrids: Interview, Microgrid Knowledge
Editorial/Opinion
We need both renewables and natural gas, CommonWealth Magazine
BAKER AND LAROCQUE: Compressor station threatens Weymouth’s health and safety, Patriot Ledger
Letter: The right way to use RGGI money, Concord Monitor
Letter to the editor: Wind-, solar-charged batteries better option than NECEC, Portland Press Herald
It’s time for power grid to look at benefits of offshore wind, CommonWealth Magazine
Letter to the editor: CMP line would bring clean power to New England, Press Herald
In face of climate change, time to retreat, CommonWealth Magazine
Northeast Energy News 