Energy News for week ending December 6, 2019

Vineyard Wind takes CT | Pressing Threat | Blue Membrane

Happy Friday folks. Let’s get to this week’s energy news.

We begin in Connecticut. From Greentech Media, “Connecticut on Thursday selected Vineyard Wind’s 804-megawatt Park City project as the winner in a major offshore wind solicitation, setting up the seaport city of Bridgeport to become a significant hub for the emerging U.S. market. Connecticut regulators said Vineyard won with a price “lower than any other publicly announced offshore wind project in North America.” The exact price was not disclosed. Vineyard Wind, which competed against rival development groups backed by Ørsted and Shell, will now begin negotiating a final contract with Connecticut’s two electric utilities. The project is due for completion in 2025.”

The next topic – offshore drilling – always takes me by surprise when it’s said in conjunction with the northeast. But it’s a thing now so hopefully those in charge will pay attention to this story from MassLive, “An Environment America report released this week suggests offshore drilling could severely impact communities throughout Massachusetts and other coastal states. The report warned that expansion of offshore drilling, pushed by the Trump administration last year in a plan that is tied up in court, would result in onshore infrastructure that could damage the environment, including pipelines through sensitive coastal habitats and harmful greenhouse gas emissions from oil refineries…The 32-page report highlights how pipelines from offshore rigs to inland processing facilities could increase the chances of oil spills and worsen water quality in estuaries. The report also argues toxic waste brought onshore from drilling operations could pollute land and drinking water. Proponents of offshore drilling say expansion could tap into vast available resources and boost the U.S. economy.”

Speaking of water, our new technology feature this week comes from Science Magazine, “Rivers could generate thousands of nuclear power plants worth of energy, thanks to a new ‘blue’ membrane. Green energy advocates may soon be turning blue. A new membrane could unlock the potential of ‘blue energy,’ which uses chemical differences between fresh- and saltwater to generate electricity. If researchers can scale up the postage stamp–size membrane in an affordable fashion, it could provide carbon-free power to millions of people in coastal nations where freshwater rivers meet the sea…Blue energy’s promise stems from its scale: Rivers dump some 37,000 cubic kilometers of freshwater into the oceans every year. This intersection between fresh- and saltwater creates the potential to generate lots of electricity—2.6 terawatts, according to one recent estimate, roughly the amount that can be generated by 2000 nuclear power plants.”

That’s the recap for this week. Enjoy the stories below and have a great weekend.

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Offshore drilling ‘creates pressing threat’ to Massachusetts’s environment, residents’ health, report says, MassLive

Maine eyed for project that converts electricity to storable gas, Portland Press Herald

Overpowered: Why a US gas-building spree continues despite electricity glut, S&P Global

Free Legal Aid Offered To Those Affected By Gas Explosions, WGBH

Construction begins on Weymouth compressor station, Boston Globe

Four arrested as protesters block construction crews at Weymouth compressor site, Patriot Ledger

Natural gas companies call for carbon tax, Houston Chronicle

Iroquois Pipeline project to be discussed in Brookfield, Stamford Advocate

National Grid: Pact with state won’t lead to significant hikes over prior rate requests, Newsday

Weston residents testify in support of gas legislation, Wicked Local