26 days a year | At Risk | Vows to fight
Happy Friday afternoon folks.
We start with a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists and a story from WBUR, “Feeling the heat this summer? Well, it’s just going to get worse. Massachusetts is going to see more hot and humid days in the coming decades, according to a new analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Days that feel like 100 degrees (or higher), which rarely happen in Massachusetts now, will occur 26 times each year by the end of the century if no action is taken to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the report finds. Ninety degree temperatures will likely occur in the state about one month a year by 2050 and more than two months a year by 2100. Currently, the average is seven to 10 days.” It’s not just Massachusetts that faces increased heat. From the Hartford Courant, “Hartford could see as many as 44 days a year of summer temperatures above 90 degrees by 2050 if the U.S…Currently, Hartford averages just 11 days during the year when temperatures hit the 90-degree Fahrenheit mark.”
In some other dispiriting news, CommonWealth Magazine reports that, “Vineyard Wind says its offshore wind farm could be in jeopardy if the federal government fails to approve its environmental impact statement over the next six weeks. In a carefully worded statement issued early Thursday morning, the company appeared to be prodding federal officials at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to move quickly to approve the environmental impact statement. The statement represents a shift for the company, which had earlier acknowledged delays were expected in the review of the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm.
Last for this week, just after we sent out last week’s Energy News, the MA DEP approved the air permit for the Weymouth compressor station. But the fight may not yet be over. From WATD, Ron Mariano represents the 3rd Norfolk District, which includes the Fore River Bridge, the proposed site for a natural gas compressor station. He’s saying that he’s disappointed in the DEP for their decision to approve the air quality permits after mishandled hearings, as well as with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or FERC. Mariano says the fight is frustrating, but doesn’t end here.”
That’s the recap for this week. Here are two words for you to remember this weekend – hydrate and shade.
Stay cool and have a wonderful weekend.
Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling
Hopkinton wants answers on ‘thermal anomaly’ at LNG tank, MetroWest Daily News
Pipeline foes choke region’s economy, Press Enterprise
Tribal Org. Blew Chance To Fight Pipeline, DC Circ. Told, Law360
Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI
Report: By 2100, Mass. Could Have 26 Days A Year That Feel Hotter Than 100 Degrees, WBUR
Climate, NIMBY concerns drive move to floating power plants, E&E News
Pingree’s amendment would require Pentagon to prepare for climate change, Portland Press Herald
Maryland’s highest court rules state can trump counties in deciding where solar, wind projects can go, Baltimore Sun
Study predicts more ‘extreme heat’ days in Maine as climate warms, Portland Press Herald
Climate Change Will Strain Federal Finances, Scientific American
Climate change could mean as many as 44 days with temperatures above 90 in Hartford, according to report by Union of Concerned Scientists, Hartford Courant
New York takes lead in climate change fight, Politico
Mass Audubon and Eversource Collaborate to Address Climate Change, Utility Dive
Trump officials worry warming could hurt the grid, E&E News
Millbury awarded $1 million grant as part of climate change adaptation program, Boston Globe
Maine Enacts Beneficial Electrification Law; State to Issue RFP for Pilot Projects, Mircorgrid Knowledge
How GE invested in fossil fuels, and missed the opportunity to be a clean energy giant, Fast Company
N.S. approves new attempt to harness Bay of Fundy’s powerful tides, Vancouver Courier
Wind
Vineyard Wind says project at risk, CommonWealth Magazine
Baker, Vineyard Wind mum on Feds’ project guidance, Southcoasttoday.com
Vineyard Wind Dealing With Potential Setbacks, WGBH
New York Awards Offshore Wind Contracts in Bid to Reduce Emissions, New York Times
Ørsted/Deepwater: We’ll Be On Time, The Independent
In Amagansett, Pushback on Offshore Wind Farm, The Easthampton Star
Freedom approves Invenergy community host agreement worth $12 million, Olean Times Herald
Maine regulators approve 22-turbine wind power project, Portland Press Herald
Solar
NextEra Energy Hosts Public Information Session On Large Solar Project, New Hampshire Public Radio
Rhode Island Getting Pair Of Community Solar Projects, Solar Industry
National Grid Acquires Renewables Developer Geronimo Energy, Greentech Media
Sunrun Wins Another Capacity Contract for Aggregated Home Storage, Greentech Media
Efficiency/Storage
NPU encourages residents to be energy efficient as heat hits region, The Bulletin
Sen. Murkowski teases prospects for storage as committee advances 22 energy bills, Utility Dive
Why Long Island Could Become New York’s First Energy Storage Hot Spot, Greentech Media
Nuclear
Vermont Yankee cooling towers coming down, marking the ‘end of an era,’ Vermont Digger
Bill Gates faces “daunting” nuclear energy future, Axios
Three Mile Island nuclear plant shutdown cost: $1.2 billion, The Morning Call
NRC eyes reducing inspections of nuclear reactors, The Hill
U.S. plans to extend nuclear plants’ lives to 80 years, senior energy official says, Washington Post
EVs
Experts: State’s goal to have 300,000 electric vehicles by 2025 will be a challenge, MetroWest Daily News
Market/Grid/Policy/Prices
LaFleur’s exit will leave 3 commissioners — and anxiety, E&E News
Few people show for first hearing on CMP rates in Portland, but those who did criticized the utility heavily, Bangor Daily News
Municipal utilities support House bill giving them more control, MassLive
Is a Green Future Worth Spoiling the Appalachian Trail?, Outside
New Environmental Secretary Katie Theoharides touts climate initiatives, MassLive
Nation’s Mayors Applaud House Committee Action to Renew Energy Block Grant Program, YAHOO! News
New Law Requires National Grid, Utility Companies To Fix Roads, Patch
National Grid Faces Possible Penalty on Non-Compliance of New York Safety Rules, New York Times
ConEd: Failed relay systems, not transmission equipment, caused NYC blackout, Utility Dive
Editorial/Opinion
Our View: Turning the page from the gas disaster, Eagle Tribune
ARENA, Weymouth: Correcting compressor station misstatements, Patriot-Ledger
YOUR VIEW: Offshore wind should not go forward until there are answers, South Coast Today
As wind energy grows, need for gas plants shrinks, Republican-American
Why did the state OK a new natural gas power plant in Killingly when the move is to renewable energy?, Hartford Courant
Clean energy comes with a high price. Lowell Sun
Holyoke Mayor Goes Full Green with Climate Change Envy, Betrays Cause, Natural Gas Now
Northeast Energy News 