Category Archives: Electric Grid

We’re bringing you another double edition this week. We are blessed here with busy times so client work comes first and this project lately has had to take a back seat.

But we’re making time today so let’s get to the news.

It was a bad couple of weeks for some alleged bad utility execs:

With headlines like that, it’s no wonder bills such as this get proposed: New York Bill Would Require Electric Utilities To Disclose Executive Salaries, Report Expenses, WSHU

Some big rooftop solar is coming to Massachusetts. From MassLive, “Medline Industries, Inc., plans to install the largest rooftop solar array in Massachusetts on its distribution center in Uxbridge. Medline’s 800,000 square foot Uxbridge Distribution Center will house nearly 16,000 solar panels on its extensive roof, generating renewable energy with environmental benefits equivalent to planting 93,000 trees or powering more than 800 homes annually according to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.”

MA Attorney General Maura Healey won a big one and will get a day (or months) in court, Exxon must face Massachusetts lawsuit alleging climate change deceit, Reuters.

And I’m sharing this last story for the headline and to give me a chance to ask a question, Mass. Efficiency Program Draft Plan Should Be Scrapped, Senator Says, Net Zero Insider. So here is a question – we have a lot of really old housing stock here in Massachusetts. When creating more space in an old home – such as an attic renovation – why on earth is closed cell foam insulation – which is highly energy efficient – not part of the MassSave program? I welcome those in the know to respond.

Thank you for reading. Enjoy the many articles below and have a wonderful weekend.

Climate Change

New Jersey Utility Accelerates Net Zero Carbon Plan by 20 Years, Bloomberg Green

Communities in Massachusetts Fight for Right to Be Green, Net Zero Insider (subscriber content)

Mass. Cities Begin Acting on New State Climate Laws, Net Zero Insider

Has the Carbontech Revolution Begun?, New York Times

Bipartisan lawmakers back clean electricity standard, but fall short of Biden goal, The Hill

Shell Gets Greener, Even as Climate Advocates Say, ‘Go Faster,’ New York Times

Renewables/TCI/RGGI

Harnessing the tides: The future of renewable energy could begin in Cape Cod Canal, Cape Cod Times

It looks like CT’s Transportation Climate Initiative bill is dead. Now what?, CT Mirror

Regional initiative to cut road emissions wins RI Senate approval, Providence Journal

Legislators hope to make northern Maine a hub of renewable power exports, Bangor Daily News

Building New Renewables Is Cheaper Than Burning Fossil Fuels, Bloomberg Green

Majority of wind and solar power installed in 2020 cheaper than new coal-fired production: Irena, Recharge News

Renewables are seeing declines in cost and market value: What gives?, PV Magazine

Amazon and Other Tech Giants Race to Buy Up Renewable Energy Wall St. Journal

Atlantic salmon advocates angry about fish they say were injured during Waterville dam repair, Press Herald

Wind

Wind turbine efforts advance, Salem, state to partner on making port staging area, Salem News

Sen. Shaheen Backs Plan To Split Offshore Wind Lease Revenue Among Coastal States, NHPR

Coastal regulators look to standardize wind farm compensation deals to avoid disputes, Providence Business News

New group spotlights New York offshore supply chain, Renews.biz

Feds to start environmental review for wind farm off South Shore, News Day

Video Simulation Shows What Empire Wind Project, Off Long Island And N.J., Will Look Like From Shore, CBS New York

Can Massive Cargo Ships Use Wind to Go Green?, New York Times

Bill meant to speed development of offshore windmills heads to governor’s desk, NJ.com

Offshore Wind in NJ: Meeting the state’s clean energy and economic goals, NJ Spotlight

NJ Shore Towns Want Say Over Offshore Wind Projects, Push Back on Legislative Proposal, NBC Philadelphia

Solar

Medline in Uxbridge to install the largest rooftop solar array in Massachusetts, MassLive

NJ Solar Push Squeezes Farms, Net Zero Insider (subscriber content)

Can America’s Solar Power Industry Compete with China’s? One Firm Tries, Wall St. Journal

Falmouth town meeting to consider zoning changes for solar farm on golf course, Cape Cod Times

With Bee the Change, Weybridge Couple Fills Solar Fields With Insect-Friendly Habitat, 7 Days

Waldo Renewable Electric installs 47.52-kW rooftop solar project for Connecticut’s Running Brook Farms, Solar Power World

Efficiency/Storage

‘Reports of energy efficiency’s death are greatly exaggerated.’ The cost keeps falling as the resource grows, Utility Dive

Mass. Efficiency Program Draft Plan Should Be Scrapped, Senator Says, Net Zero Insider

Nation’s 1st “Net Zero” Hotel Takes Form, New Haven Independent

Maine becomes 9th US state to adopt energy storage deployment target, Energy Storage News

EVs

Electric Vehicles Seen Reaching Sales Supremacy by 2033, Faster Than Expected, Bloomberg Green

Newton has a ways to go in reaching electric vehicle goals, Boston Globe

Nuclear

Company: Yankee nuclear plant demolition remains in budget, WCAX

Gas/Oil/Fossil/Pipelines

Peabody commission hears concerns about planned power plant, Salem News

Power plant session draws protesters, Salem News

Connecticut Neighborhood Pushes Back Against Planned Fuel Cell Power Plant, WNPR

Intense divide over Tennessee Gas Pipeline expansion evident at county meeting, NJ Herald

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices, etc.

Interconnection issues jeopardize New England’s clean energy goals, PV Magazine

White House agrees to bipartisan infrastructure deal with $73B in power grid spending, Utility Dive

New York scrutiny: National Grid faces bribery investigation; revenues docked for Con Edison, NYSEG, RG&E, Utility Dive

US grid needs overhaul to keep up with renewable revolution, says GE exec, Sen. Heinrich, Utility Dive

The National Guard Just Simulated A Cyberattack That Brought Down Utilities Nationwide, The Drive

House passes broad bipartisan measure to help states fund energy cybersecurity efforts, Utility Dive

National labs identify priorities in modernizing U.S. electricity markets, PV Magazine

Trial dates set for utility cooperatives indicted in Kentucky Derby trips case, The Day

New York Bill Would Require Electric Utilities To Disclose Executive Salaries, Report Expenses, WSHU

Ethics commission again behind closed doors in CMP transmission line case, Press Herald

Drone inspection of power lines will be out of sight but not out of mind, Concord Monitor

Opinion

Stop sweetheart deals with state utilities, CommonWealth Magazine

Energy efficiency is a low-hanging fruit to combat climate change. So why can’t everyone get access to it?, Boston Globe

Social justice is a key issue in Mass. energy efficiency programs, Boston Globe

Lawmakers shouldn’t overlook gas tax increase to pay for infrastructure, transportation, Bangor Daily News

Opinion/Searson: RI should lead the way on renewable energy, Providence Journal

Week of 6/18/21

Climate Change

Earth is now trapping an ‘unprecedented’ amount of heat, NASA says, Washington Post

Renewables/TCI/RGGI

The US East Coast is set to become a green energy job powerhouse, Quartz (subscriber content)

A power play? Steam plant owner aims to decarbonize downtown with huge building project, Boston Globe

Confidence Among Renewable Energy Investors at an All-Time High: Report, Environment and Energy Leader

Schneider Electric, Citizens Energy Form Alliance for Microgrid, Renewable Projects

Wind

Shore towns want say over wind projects, push back on bill, AP

Solar

Why America Doesn’t Really Make Solar Panels Anymore, The Atlantic

The Dark Side of Solar Power, Harvard Business Review

Massachusetts group tests new model for solar on affordable housing projects, ENN

Efficiency/Storage

It’s not easy being green in Massachusetts, but here’s how., Boston Globe

Boston City Councilor Wants Big Buildings To Become Carbon Neutral, WBUR

Nexamp looks beyond solar, to storage and utility scale, Boston Inno

EVs

G-7 Drops Aim to Shift New Car Sales Away from Oil By 2030, Bloomberg Green

G.M. will increase investment in electric vehicles by 30 percent and build more battery plants., NY Times

Volkswagen Readies ‘Massive’ Rejig to U.S. Plans on Biden’s EV Shift, Bloomberg Green

America’s Electric Vehicle Future, WBUR

Nuclear

U.S. nuclear regulator approves fuel for next-generation reactors, Reuters

Gas/Oil/Fossil/Pipelines

Oil Price Hits Pandemic High as Investors Bet on Green Energy, Wall St. Journal

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices, etc.

Maine Senate Approves Utility Takeover Bill, Gov. Mills Signals Veto Is Imminent, Maine Public

Eversource and UI appeal Connecticut regulators’ financial hit for Tropical Storm Isaias response, Hartford Courant

Utilities to DOE: More information, not new regulations, needed to secure the grid, Utility Dive

Mass. Residents Think Regulators Can Improve Public Engagement, RTO Insider (subscriber content)

To address transmission issues, FERC and NARUC agree to tackle barriers through a new task force, PV Magazine

Opinion

Hybrid storage and renewable projects are popular. Are they the best for the market,? Utility Dive

Mass. should set 100% clean energy mandate, CommonWealth Magazine

Transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is necessary, inevitable (Guest viewpoint), MassLive

Training underway to meet offshore wind industry demand for jobs, Barnstable Patriot

Leave a comment

Filed under Climate Change, Electric Grid, Energy Efficiency, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, offshore wind, solar

Tagged as climate change, Electric Grid, Maine, Massachusetts, offshore wind, solar

June 12, 2021 · 1:01 pm

Energy News for week ending June 12, 2021

4 Million Years | TCI Participation Shrinking | Scavenging Energy

Happy Saturday.

There was a lot of energy news this week.

Here are a few interesting stories:

CO₂ Reaches Its Highest Level in More Than 4 Million Years, Bloomberg Green
Connecticut Shelves Transportation Climate Initiative, NBC CT
MIT Engineers Have Discovered a Completely New Way of Generating Electricity, SciTech Daily

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Climate Change

Despite pandemic, carbon dioxide level in atmosphere hits record high, Washington Post

Watchdogs on alert ahead of climate law implementation, State House News Service via WWLP

Vt. Governor Signs State Budget with $250M for Climate Mitigation, RTO Insider

New Multi-State Initiative Seeks to Protect Coastal Environment, Hawaii Public Radio

G-7 Targets Environmental Crimes in Push for Greater Disclosure, Bloomberg Green

SRPEDD receives $78K+ grant for climate resiliency, WickedLocal

Ninety degree days occurring earlier and more often. A rising toll of health effects. What does this say about climate change?, Boston Globe

Climate Change Has Central Americans Fleeing to the U.S., Bloomberg Green

Renewables/TCI/RGGI

Mass. Bill Would Allow Utilities to Sell Geothermal Energy, Net Zero Insider (subscriber content)

Smithfield seeking proposals for renewable energy projects, Valley Breeze

Vermont Standard Offer program 2021 request for proposals released, soliciting over 12 megawatts of renewable energy, VT Digger

Conservation groups to sue major hydro plan owner over Kennebec damn operations, Press Herald

OTR: Rep. Lori Trahan taking patient approach with move toward green energy, WCVB TV

Renewable Energy Boom Unleashes a War Over Talent for Green Jobs, Bloomberg Green

Electricity Bill with 100% Renewable-Sourcing Goal by 2030 Passes Senate, EcoRI

Convert New York’s Entire Grid to Renewables With This One Trick, Vice.com

How green bottlenecks threaten the clean energy business, The Economist (subscriber content)

The green energy revolution is coming — with or without help from Washington, CNN Politics

Wind

Amended Wind Energy Bill Includes Permanent Ban On Wind Projects Within State Waters, Maine Public

Offshore Wind Farms Show What Biden’s Climate Plan Is Up Against, New York Times

Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Competitive Lease Sale for Offshore Wind Development for New York and New Jersey (Press Release), US Dept. of Interior

Stony Brook University to launch offshore wind training this summer, Newsday

Baker, guvs urge Biden to keep offshore wind a priority, Gloucester Times

One Oil Company’s Rocky Path to Renewable Energy, Wall St. Journal

New Jersey’s 2nd Offshore Wind Project Expected to Be Approved June 24, NBC Philadelphia

State study looks at putting wind turbines in the Great Lakes, seeking public comment, WKBW

Solar

Solar firm expands with acquisition of energy storage systems, WWLP

Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure completes 12 MW of solar projects in New York and Rhode Island, Solar Power World

SolarConnecticut asks governor to veto prevailing wage bill that would add costs to commercial solar, Solar Power World

Maine’s largest solar power project Milo Solar is ‘energized,’ News Center Maine

Hecate Energy plans a $500 million, 500 MW solar project in New York State, PV Magazine

Plenty of voices heard on solar moratorium, Lockport Journal

Solar company wants to be excluded from potential moratorium, Lockport Journal

Wiscasset residents approve 20-acre solar farm at airport, The Times Record

Exclusive: New York project to combine solar power with high-speed broadband, Axios

New Jersey solar-ready warehouse bill heads to Gov. Murphy’s desk, PV Magazine

Kearsarge Energy, GZA complete 2.8-MW solar project at former petroleum facility, Solar Power World

Efficiency/Storage

Urgency Needed on Mass. HVAC Retrofits, Boston Official Says, Net Zero Insider (subscriber content)

Connecticut legislators approve 1 GW energy storage target for the end of 2030, Utility Dive

Incentives, interconnection rule changes needed to drive renewables + storage, Ørsted, DNV experts say, Utility Dive

‘Cool’ roofs, cooler designs as the building industry embraces energy sustainability, Washington POst

Greentown Labs Announces the Healthy Buildings Challenge with Saint-Gobain and MassCEC, Press Release Greentown Labs

How vehicle-to-grid technology could disrupt energy storage investment as we know it, Canary Media

EVs

Good Question: What happens if my electric car breaks down?, WHEC

Connecticut lawmakers once again reject Tesla legislation to sell electric vehicles directly to car buyers, Hartford Courant

Electric vehicle service stations might soon be on their way to Vermont, WCAX

High-speed EV charger network to extend eastward to Acadia, Maine Biz

The Future of Classic Porsches and Jaguars? Electrification, WSJ

G-7 Eyes Ambitious Shift to Electric Cars and Away From Oil, Bloomberg Green

A California Startup Now Offers a Full EV Battery in Just 10 Minutes, Bloomberg Green

GM’s EV Gamble Could Be Toyota’s Gain as Carmakers Place Bets, Bloomberg Green

Nuclear

Energy secretary: ‘Yucca Mountain will not be a storage place for nuclear waste,’ 8 News Now

Advanced nuclear tech in ‘early innings’ but essential to widespread decarbonization, utility execs say, Utility Dive

Gas/Oil/Coal

Shell Vows to Speed Up Emissions Cuts in Wake of Court Ruling, WSJ

Health Experts, Climate Orgs Ask Eversource to Shift from Natural Gas, RTO Insider

Peabody Power Plant Battle Heats Up As ‘Pause’ Nears 30 Days, Patch .com

The Retreat of Exxon and the Oil Majors Won’t Stop Fossil Fuel, Bloomberg Green

Passaic County scraps resolution to oppose gas pipeline project in West Milford, Daily Record

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices, etc.

New England states push for governance changes in ISO-NE, ahead of anticipated MOPR reform, Utility Dive

Newest stretch of N.Y.’s massive ‘Energy Highway’ is opening, Times Union

Energy secretary says enemies are capable of shutting down US power grid, NY Post

FERC Accepts, Rejects Parts of ISO-NE, NEPOOL ORTP Filing, RTO Insider

Divestment goes Maine-stream, Grist.org

New York Utility Negotiation Bill Moves To Cuomo’s Desk, WSHU

Glick: FERC to outline plan to tackle transmission ‘certainly’ by the end of summer, Utility Dive

NYISO Tracker: Higher gas prices, power demand, temps increase NYISO power prices, S&P Global Platts

LIPA Energy Choice Bill Clears a Hurdle, East Hampton Star

Court ruling on utility taxes may save millions for customers, NJ Spotlight

How Microgrids Will Change the Way Electricity Is Made, Delivered and Used, Microgrid Knowledge

‘Private industry can’t do it alone’: Lessons for electric utilities from the Colonial ransomware fallout, Utility Dive

National Grid encourages FERC to provide better incentives for grid-enhancing technology, Utility Dive

CMP fined $360,000 for transmission system testing violation, Sun Journal

Con Ed To Cough Up $530K For Food Spoiled In Isaias Outages, Patch.com

Biden’s proposed corporate tax hike poses potential for costlier utility bills, Fox News

Power Prices Surge Amid Air-Conditioning Binge in U.S. Northeast, Bloomberg Green

Opinion

Hydroelectric relicensing and protecting traditional cultural property on the Connecticut River (Guest viewpoint), MassLive

Rep. Caiazzo: Ballot question must present Maine voters with clear choices on NECEC, Press Herald

The safety of nuclear’s future, Science

Commentary: Yes, renewables can supply New York’s energy needs, Times Union

Time to prioritize offshore wind supply chain, CommonWealth Magazine

Solar gone wrong, CommonWealth Magazine

Andrew Ahern: Worcester, this is what the climate crisis feels like, Telegram

Enough Is Enough. It’s Time To Shut Down The Weymouth Compressor, WBUR

Leave a comment

Filed under Climate Change, Electric Grid, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, offshore wind, solar

Tagged as carbon, climate change, Connecticut, energy storage, Maine, offshore wind, solar

May 28, 2021 · 5:04 pm

Energy News for week ending May 28, 2021

Mayflower Wind Strikes Deal at Brayton Point | Texas-Sized Obstacles | Radioactive Rhinos

Happy Friday folks.

We’re bringing you a double edition this week. We have this and last week’s news for you.

Check out these stories from this week:

Mayflower Wind strikes Brayton Point deal, CommonWealth Magazine

NRG push for sweeping retail market changes in Northeast meets Texas-sized obstacles, Utility Dive

And this great idea from the nuclear industry: Radioactive Rhino Horns Set to Add to Anti-Poaching Arsenal, Bloomberg Green

Enjoy the long weekend!

Climate Change

How Your Hot Showers And Toilet Flushes Can Help the Climate, NPR

Clean electricity standard, key to climate fight, awaits definition, Roll Call

Rare climate bipartisanship emerges on carbon storage, air capture, Axios.com

Renewables

Where Wind and Solar Power Need to Grow for America to Meet Its Goals, New York Times

Enough solar and wind to clean the U.S. power grid… available yesterday, PV Magazine

Wind

Mayflower Wind strikes Brayton Point deal, CommonWealth Magazine

Massachusetts fishermen fear ‘dead zones’ as massive wind farms loom, Boston Herald

National Grid, RWE join scramble to develop wind projects off New York, New Jersey coasts, Utility Dive

Biden Administration Strikes A Deal To Bring Offshore Wind To California, WBUR

Solar

Rooftop solar and home batteries make a clean grid vastly more affordable, Volts

Solar Power’s Decade of Falling Costs Is Thrown Into Reverse, Bloomberg Green

Efficiency/Storage

Green Mountain Power and Tesla break grid barriers with behind-the-meter batteries, Canary Media

Nuclear

Radioactive Rhino Horns Set to Add to Anti-Poaching Arsenal, Bloomberg Green

U.S. senator prepares tax credit legislation for existing nuclear plants, Reuters

Gas/Oil/Coal

A bad day for Big Oil, Washington Post

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

NRG push for sweeping retail market changes in Northeast meets Texas-sized obstacles, Utility Dive

Microgrid Costs, How to Lower Them and What They Mean for the Sector’s Growth, Microgrid Knowledge

Opponents denounce Maine consumer-owned electric utility proposal, Daily Energy Insider

Solar Storms Are Back, Threatening Power Grids and Satellites, Bloomberg Green

NH Poised to Merge Utility Regulator into New Dept. of Energy, RTO Insider (paywall)

Legislators Considering Bill to Replace Maine’s IOUs, RTO Insider (paywall)

NERC sees potential summer energy shortfalls, says energy transition ‘pace’ may threaten reliability, Utility Dive

Opinion

Letter: New York must ban gas-fired power plants, Daily Freeman

Averting economic devastation from New York’s billion-dollar consumer energy debt, Utility Dive

Energy News for the week ending 5/21/21

Climate Change

A ‘narrow’ pathway to a net zero future for greenhouse gases, IEA says, Washington Post

Hackers and Climate Change Threaten U.S. Energy Independence, New York Times

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

Regulators pushed to go big on clean energy plan, Spectrum local news

Wind

Following Vineyard Wind’s final approval, Mayflower Wind is next up seeking permits, State House New Service via Cape Cod Times

State, New Bedford officials and local leaders criticize state’s offshore wind bid process, SouthCoast Today

End of wind power waste? Vestas unveils blade recycling technology, Reuters

One Floating Wind Turbine Good, Two Floating Wind Turbines Better, Clean Technica

Requests for Expression of Interest in Offshore Wind Uses for Salem Harbor Due June 21, 2021, Footprint Power and City Of Sale

Solar

New York’s Community Solar Program, Clean Technica

Efficiency/Storage

Biden decarbonization focus shifts to buildings, with goal to triple efficiency, see up to $200B in savings, Utility Dive

Natural Gas, America’s No. 1 Power Source, Already Has a New Challenger: Batteries, Wall St. Journal

EVs

Electric Pickups Could Make or Break Biden’s Infrastructure Plans, New York Times

Electric vehicles escaped last week’s gas shortage — but the next cyberattack could take them down instead, NBC News

Biden Considering Point-of-Sale Rebates for Electric Car Buyers, Bloomberg Green

Nuclear

New York approves Indian Point sale after Holtec sets up trust to cover cost of cleanup, lohud.com

Gas/Oil/Coal

Weymouth Compressor Shuts Down Again — For Fourth Time In Less Than A Year, WBUR

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

Planned Transmission Projects to Add 442,000 Jobs, Drive $42 Billion in GDP, T&D World

NERC identifies 4 regions facing potential summer energy shortages, Utility Dive

Bipartisan Maine lawmakers push to create first statewide, publicly-owned utility in US, Utility Dive

Opinion

Without grid investments, clean power goals may not be met, Commonwealth Magazine

The Real Tragedy at Indian Point, Medium.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Climate Change, Electric Grid, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, offshore wind, solar

Tagged as Brayton Point, climate change, Mayflower Wind, offshore wind

May 14, 2021 · 5:24 pm

Energy News for week ending May 14, 2021

Vineyard Wind Gets Federal Approval | New MA Wind RFP | Plant on Hold

Happy Friday!

The big news this week was the federal approval of the Vineyard Wind project. We have several stories on that below.

Some recent news stories have noted Massachusetts is falling behind other states on offshore wind procurement. But this week the Commonwealth launched a new RFP for up to 1600 MW of offshore wind.

On the other hand, plans for a natural gas peaker plant in Peabody, MA have been put on hold.

That’s the recap for this week. Enjoy the weekend and stay safe!

Vineyard Wind

Feds Give Final Approval to Vineyard Wind, State House News Service via WGBH

Feds OK Vineyard Wind, first large offshore wind farm in federal waters, BBJ

BOEM Approves 800-MW Vineyard Wind I, RTO Insider

Offshore Wind Project South Of Martha’s Vineyard Clears Last Regulatory Hurdle, WBUR

‘America’s leader in offshore wind’: What Vineyard Wind final approval means for New Bedford, Standard Times

Vineyard Wind approval injects fresh optimism into offshore wind industry, Energy News Network

Climate Change

U.S. has entered unprecedented climate territory, EPA warns, Washington Post

Massachusetts Port Authority revisiting climate action plans, Gloucester Times

Study Predicts ‘Rapid And Unstoppable’ Antarctic Ice Melt If Paris Targets Missed, WBUR

Lawyer faults ‘men’s-club’ dynamic in Mass. v. EPA account, (subscriber content) Greenwire

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

NY to launch large-scale renewable energy projects, The Daily Orange

Leading Energy Companies Partner to Propose Hydro & Upstate NY Renewable Solutions and Green Job Creation for New York, Press release

Wind

State begins 3d procurement for offshore wind, CommonWealth Magazine

Massachusetts launches 1.6GW offshore wind tender, Windpower Monthly

Biden wants to move energy offshore, but choppy seas are ahead, Washington Post

Anbaric completes second New Jersey offshore probe, ReNews

White House climate czar pledges to balance offshore wind, fishing sector, WPRI

Solar

Early Solar Adopters Oppose Mass. REC Program Change, RTO Insider

Efficiency/Storage

Agilitas Energy $1.4M Rhode Island storage project to avoid up to 8.6X costlier transmission line fix, Utility Dive

Beverly, Salem planning participation in Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, Wicked Local

EVs

Most Toyotas Will Still Use Gasoline in 2030, Company Says, Wall St. Journal

Hyperdrive Daily: EV Hesitancy Is Real. Here’s Why, Bloomberg

Nuclear

NorthStar to ship Vermont Yankee’s low-activity wastewater to Idaho, American Nuclear Society

Markey, Warren ask NRC for stricter conditions at Seabrook Station, Gloucester Daily Times

Natural Gas/Pipelines/Oil/Drilling

Plans for Peabody power plant on hold, Salem News

Eversource-Backed Natural Gas Booklets Spark Backlash At Cambridge School, WBUR

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

Court lifts injunction on CMP transmission corridor project, Press Herald

Transmission tax credit could unlock 30 GW of renewables, spur over $15B in private capital, report finds, Utility Dive

US utility commissioners: Who they are and how they impact regulation, S&P Global

The grid needs to smarten up to reach clean energy goals, The Verge

Wednesday is deadline for transmission lines to New York City, Albany Times Union

How New York Could Build Publicly Owned Electricity Without Taking Over Dirty Plants, Huffington Post

Biden cybersecurity order tackles software risks in energy, other sectors following Colonial hack, Utility Dive

Opinion

Sen. Edward J. Markey: Green infrastructure is critical to our future (Guest viewpoint), MassLive

New building construction must be affordable while incorporating energy efficient construction, technology and innovation to meet current carbon emissions standards (Guest viewpoint), MassLive

Letter to the Editor: Indian Point Would Be the Ideal Location to House a Solar Farm, The Examiner

Leave a comment

Filed under Climate Change, Electric Grid, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, offshore wind

Tagged as Central Maine Power, energy storage, offshore wind, Rhode Island, Vineyard Wind

April 30, 2021 · 5:32 pm

Energy News for week ending April 30, 2021

Wind Ups and Downs | Battery Matters | Goodbye IPEC

Happy Friday!

Not only is it really windy here in northeast Massachusetts right now, our news feed this week is full of wind stories too.

While the federal review process started for Revolution Wind, two New England Governors — Maine and Rhode Island – are slowing the wind development pace.

And in Scotland they are finding new life for old turbine blades.

EVs are getting a big push here in the US and abroad. And batteries have become a topic of interest – particularly getting the metals needed and creating longer lasting better models. But the BBC asks a really good question, what will happen to all the dead batteries?

In New York today they said good-bye to the Indian Point Energy Center that shut down for good. We send our best wishes to all the employees – some of whom we’ve had the pleasure to work with and who all are pretty great.

That’s the recap for this week. Enjoy the weekend and stay safe!

Climate Change

EXCLUSIVE White House backs 2030 milestone on path to net zero grid, Reuters

Swift action to cut methane emissions could slow Earth’s warming by 30 percent, study finds, Washington Post

The Climate Solution Actually Adding Millions of Tons of CO2 Into the Atmosphere, ProPublica

The U.S. Will Need a Lot of Land for a Zero-Carbon Economy, Bloomberg

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

Outlook 2021: US planned capacity additions again led by solar, wind, S&P Global

New York plans to build 20 renewable energy projects, Power Technology

DOE offers over $8B in transmission loans for clean energy projects, Utility Dive

Utilities testing geothermal heating and cooling, Eagle Tribune

Big Hydrogen doesn’t want you to read this, Canary Media

Eminent domain opens doors for fossil fuels — could it do the same for renewable energy?, Grist.org

Worcester City Council adopts Green Worcester Plan, aims for 100% renewable energy citywide by 2045, MassLive

Wind

Decision delayed on major offshore wind farm as McKee takes closer interest, Providence Journal

Vineyard Wind Approval Could Come Any Day; Mayflower Wind Takes Next Steps, WCAI

Mills Administration Introduces Bill to Prohibit Offshore Wind in Maine’s Heavily Fished Waters For 10 Years, Maine.gov

More Compact and Efficient Vertical Turbines Could Be the Future for Wind Farms, SciTech Daily

US federal environmental review started for offshore Revolution Wind power project, S&P Global

A Scottish university finds new life for old wind turbine blades, Electrek

Mills pushes for 10-year ban on offshore wind development in state waters, Press Herald

Biden’s new moonshot: An offshore wind industry to rival Europe’s, Grist

Wave of Offshore Wind Creates Surge for Energy Justice, EcoRI

Vineyard Wind: Sailing Uncharted Waters, North American Wind Power

Maine contractors fear labor agreement will shut them out of offshore wind work, Press Herald

Conservationists angle for 2nd look at Lowell wind project, using the permit process, VT Digger

Solar

Solar-incentive proposal under fire, NJ Spotlight

New York plans 20MW build-ready solar park, Renews.biz

Navisun establishes pollinator-friendly program with 3.8 MW of new Massachusetts solar, Solar Power World

Southampton Town Plans Large Solar Array, East Hampton Star

Efficiency/Storage

More Clean Energy Will Demand Bigger Battery Storage To Power New England Grid, NHPR

Granholm announces goal to make hydrogen power, EV batteries more affordable, The Hill

GE, others see hybrid storage as ‘the future’ of grid reliability but face technology, optimization challenges, Utility Dive

Newsletter: When promises turn into projects, Canary Media

QuantumScape Defends Its Battery Breakthrough Against the Short Sellers, Bloomberg Green

The Hidden Science Making Batteries Better, Cheaper and Everywhere, Bloomberg Green

Battery-Metal Rush Pits Miners Against Marine Biologists, Bloomberg Green

EVs

Electric cars: What will happen to all the dead batteries?, BBC News

T lays out bus electrification plan, CommonWealth Magazine

State lawmakers pass bill mandating only electric cars sold by 2035, Times Union

Ford to accelerate battery development with $185M ‘Ford Ion Park’ lab in 2022, Detroit Free Press

Electric vehicles on world’s roads expected to increase to 145m by 2030, The Guardian

Audi Sees Electric Cars Occupying Half the Global Market by 2030, Bloomberg Green

White House eyes $42B in existing funding for Biden electric vehicle push, Utility Dive

Nuclear

Nuclear drawdown: How two little-known private companies are taking over the biggest environmental cleanup in U.S. history, Fortune

What ratepayers will pay in subsidies for NJ’s nuclear power plants, NJ Spotlight News

NJ OKs nuclear-power subsidy that you will keep paying for three more years, app.com

This Is the End of Nuclear Energy in New York, New York Times

As Indian Point Goes Dark, New York Races to Swap Nuclear With Wind, Bloomberg Green

Natural Gas/Pipelines/Oil/Drilling

Compressor station coming back online after April 6 shutdown, Patriot Ledger

U.S. Supreme Court tackles pipeline company’s bid to seize New Jersey land, Reuters

Residents, officials speak out against plant, Salem News

Senate votes to restore Obama-era limits on methane gas emissions, Washington Post

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

A battle to get more clean energy into New England’s electric grid is underway. Here’s what you need to know., CT Mirror

Biden Administration to Finance $8 Billion in Power-Grid Improvements, Wall St. Journal

Are market constraints hampering the evolution of ‘last-mile’ grid resources?, Canary Media

New York regulators address data access issues in bid to grow clean energy development, Utility Dive

Throwing up roadblocks to Quebec hydro-electricity, CommonWealth Magazine

How transmission along railroads and highways could break open clean energy growth, Canary Media

Biden plan for cleaner power system faces daunting obstacles, AP

1st 100 Days: New FERC chair eyes power market reforms, environmental justice, S&P Global

Almost All Types of Air Pollution Disproportionately Affect People of Color, Bloomberg Green

Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan meets power system needs but leaves room for political dealing, Utility Dive

PURA to Consider Fines for Eversource, UI Over Response to Tropical Storm Isaias, NBC CT

When a pole falls, who needs to know? Utilities share space — and responsibility, NH Union Leader

Opinion

In dealing with climate change, don’t forget solar, storage, CommonWealth Magazine

Give New York’s farmers a break, NY Daily News

Guest column: Maine’s future hinges on a healthy environment, Press Herald

Our Turn: A path toward New Hampshire’s energy future, Concord Monitor

Leave a comment

Filed under Climate Change, Electric Grid, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, nuclear, offshore wind

Tagged as Electric Grid, energy storage, EVs, IPEC, nuclear, offshore wind

April 17, 2021 · 12:29 pm

Energy News for week ending April 17, 2021

Coming Apart at the Seams | Battery Week | Cows Join Carbon Market | Facing Opposition

Good Saturday afternoon.

Apologies for the delayed delivery of this week’s energy news. I’d blame the USPS, but you know…electronic mail.

Here are a few interesting stories from this week.

Somerset coming apart at the seams, CommonWealth Magazine

Why lithium-ion batteries are so important, Volts

Cows Join Carbon Market in Quest to Curb Planet-Warming Burps, Bloomberg Green

Peabody gas plant faces opposition, Salem News

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and stay safe!

Climate Change

RI Gov. Dan McKee signs ‘landmark’ Act on Climate, Providence Journal

Vermont Electric Cooperative plans to go carbon-free by 2023, VT Digger

White House considers doubling Obama-era carbon reduction targets: BNEF, Utility Dive

Climate change law codifies environmental justice, CommonWealth Magazine

How high-tech robotic surfboards could change our understanding of the Gulf Stream, Washington Post

Satellite Constellation Set to Unmask World’s Super Polluters, Bloomberg Green

Massachusetts just passed a landmark climate bill. Here’s why Ben Downing thinks it doesn’t go far enough., Boston.com

Senate Democrats float climate diplomacy plan ahead of White House summit, Axios

Biden Says His Climate Plan Means Jobs. Some Union Members Are Skeptical, NPR

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

New rules require more efficient biomass energy plants, WWLP

A Green Grid by 2035? New Report Says We’re Halfway There, Bloomberg Green

Granholm: Reconciliation possible for clean energy standard, but no decisions made, Politico

Wind

New Bedford mayor calls offshore wind ‘generational opportunity,’ CommonWealth Magazine

Interior bolsters offshore wind by revoking Trump-era legal opinion, The Hill

How an offshore wind boom in the US could boost ocean research, The Verge

Samsung Heavy Industry Unveils New Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Design, GCaptain

‘Rapid innovation’: Oil giant Chevron backs new floating wind design for US Atlantic debut, Recharge News

US crew secures Vineyard onshore wire job, ReNews

A Favorable Fetch for US Offshore Wind, Marine Link

Angry Somerset residents elect ally to select board, CommonWealth Magazine

Somerset selectman Holly McNamara resigns ‘effective immediately’ over Brayton Point fight, Herald News

Solar

How a 2019 Maine law spurred $100 million in solar investment, Press Herald

State fines Eversource, builder up to $310,000 for solar project runoff in Southampton, Daily Hampshire Gazette

Efficiency/Storage

Pandemic raises the profile of decarbonization — and clean air — tech for buildings, Canary Media

Energy Efficiency Contractors Say PUC Delays On State Plan Could Harm Their Businesses, NHPR

Eversource honored with award from U.S. Department of Energy, WTNH

How do lithium-ion batteries actually work? David Roberts explains, Canary Media

South Korean battery makers reach last-minute settlement, Washington Post

QuantumScape says its technology is ready to move from the lab to VW’s dealerships. But this secretive startup is very familiar with failure. Bloomberg Green

UMass Dartmouth receives second grant for LED light fixture upgrades, UMass News

EVs

Eversource Energy : Partners with Major Utilities to Increase Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Across the Country, Market Screener

DOE commits $100M in grants to put electric trucks on the road, Canary Media

How to get the US to 100% electric vehicles by 2035, Canary Media

Biden’s infrastructure plan goes big on EVs, but his first budget starts small, analysts say, Utility Dive

Nuclear

Indian Point Is Shutting Down. That Means More Fossil Fuel., New York Times

Former NRC chair questions economic feasibility of new nuclear in US, Utility Dive

Atomic Superyacht to Offer $3 Million Eco-Tours With Scientists, Bloomberg Green

Attorney General reaches tentative agreement for dismantling and cleaning up Indian Point, Mid-Hudson News

Natural Gas/Pipelines/Oil/Drilling

Glick spells out views on FERC’s reach amid tempest over Weymouth gas compressor, S&P Global

Replace Your Gas Stove With Induction to Save Energy and Impress Guests, Bloomberg Green

Quincy city councilors call for halt to compressor operations, vow to keep fighting, Patriot Ledger

Shell to Let Shareholders Vote on Shift to Cleaner Energy, Wall St. Journal

U.S. Startup Plans to Build First Zero-Emission Gas Power Plants, Bloomberg Green

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

Comparing the actual US grid to the one predicted 15 years ago, Ars Technica

Why is Connecticut No. 1 in the cost of electricity among the 48 lower states? Here are 7 reasons., Hartford Courant

Transmission strategy takes shape as Congress, FERC press ahead with reforms, S&P Global

Glick, Chatterjee clash on RTO expansion incentive as FERC announces transmission initiatives, Utility Dive

US House Bill Would Give Microgrids 30% Tax Credit, Microgrid Knowledge

Eversource raps Connecticut regulators’ report on Tropical Storm Isaias response as error-prone and failing to comply with state law, Hartford Courant

New York approves Con Edison’s proposed $800 mln power line projects, Reuters

How lessons from a microgrid project can lead the way to decarbonizing the electric grid, Tech Republic

NERC finding 25% of utilities exposed to SolarWinds hack indicates growing ICS vulnerabilities, analysts say, Utility Dive

Biden Rushes to Protect Power Grid as Hacking Threats Grow, Bloomberg

Opinion

Op-ed: Offshore wind procurement should use ‘Massport model,’ Boston Business Journal

MBTA needs to get on decarbonization train, CommonWealth Magazine

Why Closing a Nuclear Plant Could Hurt N.Y.’s Environment, New York Times

A Climate Back Door to Watch, Wall St. Journal

Letter: Put gas in the past, Salem News

We Are Living in a Climate Emergency, and We’re Going to Say So, Scientific American

Cleaner by the mile: Electric trucks can have outsized environmental and health benefits, Utility Dive

Leave a comment

Filed under Climate Change, Electric Grid, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, offshore wind

Tagged as batteries, climate change, Electric Grid, EVs, natural gas, offshore wind

April 9, 2021 · 4:58 pm

Energy News for week ending April 9, 2021

RI Climate Bill | Jump Ball | Reckoning

Happy Friday folks.

Here are a few interesting stories from this week.

Rhode Island lawmakers pass sweeping climate change bill, MassLive. Governor McKee says he’ll sign but as of the writing of this email he hadn’t yet done so.

For those of you who like detailed, wonky market stories there is news about a jump ball filing, NEPOOL pitches ISO-NE capacity market reforms aimed at boosting offshore wind, S&P Global Market Intelligence.

And on a subject that is likely to be important energy news going forward – transmission infrastructure – we have this from Politico Down to the wire: Biden’s green goals face a power grid reckoning.

That’s the recap. Enjoy the weekend and stay safe!

Climate Change

Biden’s Jobs Plan Is Also a Climate Plan. Will It Make a Difference?, New Yorker

Demand for climate grants outpaces funds, Salem News

Why the World Awaits Biden’s Pledge on Climate Change, Bloomberg Green

After passing a landmark climate law, Mass. officials now face the hard part: how to wean the state off fossil fuels, Boston Globe

CO2, methane emissions surged 2020 despite pandemic: NOAA, The Hill

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

For hydrogen to dominate the low-carbon world, batteries must fail, Renew Economy

Mass. Revokes Air Permit For Controversial Biomass Facility In Springfield, WBUR

Local governments set record for new renewable energy procurement in 2020, groups report, Utility Dive

How cities and counties can grow their clean energy profiles, Canary Media

Wind

NEPOOL pitches ISO-NE capacity market reforms aimed at boosting offshore wind, S&P Global Market Intelligence

US government agencies boosting offshore wind with financing, loan support, S&P Global Platts

Solar

The Subprime Solar Trap for Low-Income Homeowners, Bloomberg Green

Tesla continues beta-testing on live homeowners, moves to fifth version of integrated solar roof, Canary Media

Sen. Ed Markey tours Holyoke’s Mount Tom solar farm, battery facility; city preps new battery storage downtown, MassLive

Efficiency/Storage

DOE begins ‘repairing damage’ done by Trump to energy efficiency program, say advocates, Utility Dive

State of the Electric Utility 2021: Despite sharp drop, cost remains key obstacle to more storage, some say, Utility Dive

New York regulators have ‘effectively accelerated’ the state’s storage market, report finds, Utility Dive

EVs

Tesla praises, ConEd opposes different New York EV bills, Utility Dive

The Next Electric-Car Battery Champion Could Be European, Bloomberg Green

Buffett-Backed BYD’s Profit Surges 162% on Electric-Car Boom, Bloomberg Green

Volkswagen’s rebranding hoax could undermine marketer’s EV ambitions, Marketing Dive

Biden’s plan to rev up the electric car market is complicated by battery supplies, Washington Post

EV charging setup would cost Schneider, NFI more than 10 times annual fuel savings: study, Utility Dive

States, utilities must ensure equitable investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, new report warns, Utility Dive

Nuclear

‘Not bonkers’: Hydrogen could give US nuclear plants new lease on life, S&P Global

How Bill Gates’ company TerraPower is building next-generation nuclear power, CNBC

Natural Gas/Pipelines/Oil/Drilling

Gas industry says new rules not needed, Eagle Tribune

Massachusetts politicians push to shutter Weymouth gas compressor station after third unplanned release of gas, Boston Globe

Weymouth Compressor Reports Another ‘Unplanned’ Gas Release. Third Time In 8 Months, WBUR

As Texas Freeze Gas Bills Come Due, Cue Up the Lawsuits, Wall St. Journal

Sen. Markey reintroduces legislation to block infrastructure for exporting natural gas, Patriot Ledger

Granholm: American Jobs Plan will prioritize communities struggling with loss of coal, oil and gas jobs, Utility Dive

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

New England power grid operator shelling out millions on salaries, Boston Herald

Down to the wire: Biden’s green goals face a power grid reckoning, Politico

Lawmakers in 20 States Introduce 69 Microgrid Bills, Microgrid Knowledge

NYPA officials detail work to be done during Northern New York Priority Transmission Project, NNY 360

State of the Electric Utility 2021: Gas doubts rise, DER focus wanes, and 5 other key takeaways, Utility Dive

Biden’s Grid Proposal May Be a Square Peg in a Round Hole, Wall St. Journal

State of the Electric Utility 2021: Utilities’ cybersecurity approach shows cause for concern, experts say, Utility Dive

Opinion

Why Are Oil Majors Investing In Offshore Wind,? Forbes.com

Municipal Light Plant elections loom large, CommonWealth Magazine

Plenty of low-hanging fruit: How FERC can catalyze transmission infrastructure, Utility Dive

Leave a comment

Filed under Climate Change, Electric Grid, Electricity Costs, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, offshore wind

Tagged as climate change, EVs, ISO New England, NEPOOL, Transmission, Weymouth

April 2, 2021 · 5:11 pm

Energy News for week ending April 2, 2021

Big week for OSW | Overcharged | It’s going to hurt

Happy Friday folks. It’s opening day at Fenway! Spring has officially sprung.

Here’s what’s big news and/or interesting this week.

It was a two-fer week for the energy industry with President Biden’s release of his huge offshore wind and infrastructure plans. We have included a lot of article links below with both local and national perspectives. Suffice to say, a lot of people are excited at the possibilities these plans bring. Of course there is caution about how much gets through Congress and the multiple hurdles to overcome – for example the siting and permitting of transmission.

In other news, MA AG Maura Healey released a report finding that Massachusetts residents who get their power through competitive electric suppliers paid $426 million more over five years than they would have if they’d stayed with their utility companies. State House News Service via WWLP has the story.

And from Jon Chesto at the Globe, “The heating oil industry is fired up about a proposal to take away energy-efficiency rebates from its customers as part of a state-led effort to wean homeowners off fossil fuels. At issue are priorities endorsed March 24 by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council that includephasing out Mass Save rebates for new oil-fired systems for heat and hot water, as well as no-interest loans for homeowners to install them,as soon as January. Rebates for natural gas-fired and propane installations would be ratcheted back significantly. ‘It’s simply not fair,’ said Michael Ferrante, president of the Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association. ‘I wouldn’t say it’s going to cripple the industry. But it’s going to hurt us. And it’s going to hurt heating oil customers.’”

Enjoy the weekend and stay safe!

President Biden’s OSW & Infrastructure Plans

Biden touts offshore wind plan, Cape Cod Times

How to build an industry to support offshore wind, CommonWealth Magazine

Global wind industry could install almost 1 TW of new capacity by 2030, report says, Reuters

Biden Envisions Thousands of Wind Turbines Spinning at Sea, Bloomberg Green

Under Biden, will offshore wind finally drive major energy gains in the U.S.?, PBS News Hour

Biden Blueprint Seeks to Unleash Offshore Wind Energy, State House News Service

Biden sets big goal for offshore wind, CommonWealth Magazine

US Adds Offshore Wind Area off New York, RTO Insider

Biden to Push Offshore Wind Projects, Wall St. Journal

White House pushes new offshore wind power expansion, Politico