Texas Explainers | Can it Happen Here | Zombie in Western Mass
Happy Friday folks.
Of course the big news this week were the problems in Texas. There was a lot of finger pointing among some parties, but it became clear it wasn’t all the frozen wind turbines’ fault. We have a few articles below that give some clear explanations about what happened, as well as others that look at if, when, or how that situation could happen elsewhere, particularly here in the northeast.
This is a story that keeps on giving and the headline from Western Mass Politics and Insight takes the award for most attention grabbing one of the week, Markey Grabs a Shovel to Help Bury Zombie Biomass Project…
That’s the recap for this week. Enjoy the weekend and stay safe!
Texas
Why the Texas power grid is struggling to cope with the extreme cold, Vox.com
The Texas grid got crushed because its operators didn’t see the need to prepare for cold weather, Washington Post
Power experts cite gas constraints as main cause of ERCOT outages, but system planning questions remain, Utility Dive
Severe weather, blackouts show the grid’s biggest problem is infrastructure. not renewables, TechCrunch
Can it Happen Here?
A Glimpse of America’s Future: Climate Change Means Trouble for Power Grids, New York Times
Could Rolling Blackouts Happen In New England?, NHPR
After Texas blackouts, MPUC will look at climate demands for Maine’s electricity grid, Maine Biz
Climate Change
$10 billion bill offered to power climate legislation, State House News Service via WWLP
Lamont administration lays out legislative agenda on climate change, The Day
How the Warming Arctic Helped Drive a Deep Freeze Into Texas, Bloomberg Green
There’s an invisible climate threat seeping from grocery store freezers. Biden wants to change that., Washington Post
New FERC Chair’s Focus: Environmental Justice and Climate Change Impacts, Greentech Media
Renewables/RGGI/TCI
Holyoke’s energy stays green and affordable as demand expected to grow, MassLive
Markey Grabs a Shovel to Help Bury Zombie Biomass Project…, Western Mass Politics and Insight
Stop raiding Clean Energy Funds to plug holes in NJ Transit budget, advocates say to Murphy, NJ.com
Ignoring pandemic, Americans installed record amounts of solar and wind energy, CBS News
Wind
Vestas Looks at Wind Turbines Made of Wood With Startup Stake, Bloomberg Green
Anbaric, DNV GL Preparing Bid for New Jersey Offshore Wind Transmission, North American Wind Power
US offshore network boosts board, ReNews
The Emerging US Offshore Wind Industry Is Ready for Take-Off, Commercial Property Executive
Some worry N.J. offshore wind project will affect views, fishing, and tourism, Inquirer.com
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind to test ocean floor for energy project, Press of Atlantic City
Solar
Massachusetts solar installers form unique alliance to address installer shortage, Solar Power World
State revamps home solar compensation, Journal Inquirer (CT)
Hopkinton Town Council considers solar ordinance amendments, Westerly Sun
Efficiency/Storage
Boston’s first net-zero-carbon building could tower over Downtown Crossing, Boston Business Journal
New Hampshire companies call for enhancing state’s energy-efficiency standard, NH Business Review
SEPA/ESA report details multiple ways utilities can make battery storage financially viable, Utility Dive
S&P: Despite storage growth, US to achieve ‘marginal’ carbon-free capacity increases through 2035, Utility Dive
EVs
State now offering rebates to spur electric truck sales, State House News Service via WWLP
Massachusetts to subsidize electric trucks in expansion of rebate program, Boston Globe
VW ‘unintended victim’ in battery supplier dispute, seeks four-year reprieve, Reuters
Nuclear
Regulatory Harmonization: An Upcoming Hurdle for SMRs? Greentech Media
How and why a nuclear reactor shut down in Texas cold snap when energy was needed most, Washington Examiner
Natural Gas/Pipelines/Oil/Drilling
FERC To Take Another Look at Weymouth Gas Compressor, State House News Service
Manchin urges Biden to support “responsible” natural gas, Axios
How to Decarbonize Natural Gas, Greentech Media
FERC to reopen 1999 policy on gas project approvals, add environmental justice considerations, Utility Dive
Market/Grid/Policy/Prices
Eversource CEO expects regulators to allow $341M spent on Tropical Storm Isaias to be collected from ratepayers, Union Leader
Unpaid utility bills mount during pandemic, Eagle Tribune
Biden gets his first energy crisis — and an opening, Politico
Biden Official Says Texas Storm Shows Infrastructure Need, Bloomberg
Biden to Meet With Unions Pushing for Infrastructure Spending, Wall St. Journal
NYS Public Service Commission approves transmission lines, Daily Energy Insider
FERC reliance on ratepayers to fund utility cybersecurity insufficient to meet rising threat, analysts say, Utility Dive
State regulator launches probe into future of Maine’s electric grid, Press Herald
How the Rich Can Escape America’s Unreliable Power Grid, Bloomberg Green
The thorny politics of the next Canadian energy project are being debated in Maine, Bangor Daily News
Representative Serpa opposes medical waste to fuel pyrolysis facility, Uprise RI
Tiny Maine community divided as construction on CMP corridor begins, Bangor Daily News
Many locals wary as CMP corridor breaks ground near The Forks, CentralMaine.com
N.H. House Bill That Would Change Current Community Power Structure Gets Its First Hearing, NHPR
Opinion
Outlook 2021: Modernizing natural gas distribution system is priority for Eversource (Guest viewpoint), MassLive
Should Your Town Politicians Be In Charge of Your Electrical Power? NH Journal
Questioning ‘artificial’ electrification, Utility Dive
No state is an island — Transmission keeps the lights on, Utility Dive
A Plan to Future-Proof the Texas Power Grid, New York Times
Doubling Down on a Centralized Grid Is More Expensive Without Distributed Energy, Greentech Media
We need to know why CMP seeks big increase in interconnection fees, Bangor Daily News
Northeast Energy News 