Category Archives: Energy Efficiency

June 25, 2021 · 4:47 pm

Energy News for week ending June 25, 2021

Bad Actors | 16,000 | Climate Change Deceit | Scrap the EE Plan

Happy Friday folks.

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:

New York scrutiny: National Grid faces bribery investigation; revenues docked for Con Edison, NYSEG, RG&E, Utility Dive
Trial dates set for utility cooperatives indicted in Kentucky Derby trips case, The Day

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

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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

March 19, 2021 · 5:01 pm

Energy News for week ending March 19, 2021

Support Signaled | Scale Back Rule | Good Vibrations

Happy Friday folks.

Busy day, so we’ll just call your attention to these three articles of note.

Theoharides signals admin support for revised climate bill, WWLP

Gas utilities seek to scale back engineering rules, Salem News

Good vibrations: bladeless turbines could bring wind power to your home, The Guardian

Enjoy the weekend and stay safe!

MA Climate Bill

Legislature approves climate bill, sends back to Governor Baker, Boston Globe

Theoharides signals admin support for revised climate bill, WWLP

Climate bill clears Massachusetts Senate again after last week’s delay, MassLive

Senate passes climate change bill 39-1, CommonWealth Magazine

Cost concerns echoing as climate bill advances, WWLP

Climate Change

As climate change makes more droughts likely, state plans to issue controversial new policy that may increase water restrictions, Boston Globe

Berkshire County shows challenges of meeting goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Telegram & Gazette

How protecting the ocean can save species and fight climate change, Washington Post

A forgotten Cold War experiment has revealed its icy secret. It’s bad news for the planet., Washington Post

Analysis: Sheen comes off green in crowded climate investment space, Reuters

Climate Change Website Deleted by Trump Is Rebooted Under Biden, Bloomberg Green

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

Top Democratic tax writers differ on clean energy breaks, Roll Call

Green Mountain Power to buy power from Great River Hydro, VT Digger

Soaring Biofuel Costs Are Latest Sign of Americans Driving Again, Bloomberg Green

Wind

Report to policymakers: ‘Remove barriers’ and ‘go big’ on offshore wind off MA coast, Cape Cod Times

Here’s what experts say about the possibility of ‘frozen turbines’ in Massachusetts, South Coast Today

Bids For Next Offshore Wind Project In Mass. Will Have Greater Focus on Equity, WBUR

New York green light for South Fork export cable, ReNews

Franklin County to repay state for wind farm tax abatement, Sun Journal (Maine)

Good vibrations: bladeless turbines could bring wind power to your home, The Guardian

Footprint presents alternate vision for redevelopment of vacant land, Salem News

Solar

Recent approval of CT’s largest solar project revives old tensions, CT Insider

So Big It’s Boring: The Rise of Utility-Scale Solar, Greentech Media

Solar projects outperform wind for 3rd straight year despite pandemic: Fitch, S&P Global

FERC boosts small solar, reversing PURPA ruling that had upended 40 years of precedent, Utility Dive

Efficiency/Storage

He wanted to get his home off fossil fuels. There was just one problem. Want to electrify your home? Good luck finding a contractor. Grist

Survey seeks Columbia Gas disaster victim input, Eagle Tribune

New York Power Authority sees progress on Buildsmart2025, Yahoo News

State attorneys general challenge Trump-era rollback of energy efficiency standards, The Hill

EVs

EV Turning Point: Momentum Builds for U.S. Electric Vehicle Transition, Yale Environment 360

Electric Cars Will Cost More Using Ethically Sourced Batteries, Bloomberg Green

Volkswagen to Build Six Electric-Vehicle Battery Factories in Europe, Wall St. Journal

Exclusive: U.S. looks to Canada for minerals to build electric vehicles – documents, Reuters

Natural Gas/Pipelines/Oil/Drilling

Gas utilities seek to scale back engineering rules, Salem News

Biden EPA toughens smog curbs at power plants to protect ‘downwind’ states, Reuters

House Republicans pitch nuclear, natural gas as ‘cleaner’ energy future, The Hill

Gasoline Demand Has Peaked, Global Forecaster Says, Wall St. Journal

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

New England power market stakeholders mull market designs to aid energy transition, S&P Global

How much more energy will the US need to electrify everything?, Quartz

Rhode Island Issues RFI in Anticipation of Municipal Microgrid Program, Microgrid Knowledge

Environmental group asks energy regulators to block use of utility customers’ money for lobbying, The Hill

Narragansett Electric being sold to Pennsylvania company, Providence Journal

Bipartisan House lawmakers to reintroduce grid security bill after Texas outages, SolarWinds attack, Utility Dive

FERC prevents states from blocking demand response in DER aggregations under Order 2222, Utility Dive

Opinion

Boston’s next mayor must be bold on climate, CommonWealth Magazine

Roadmap bill is a first step, but we need legislative transparency for a Green New Deal, Wicked Local

Opinion/Budris: Burning waste has no place in Rhode Island, Providence Journal

Despite his claims, science is not on Vic Gatto’s side, CommonWealth Magazine

My Turn: This river’s nuclear nightmare, Greenfield Recorder

Don’t believe hydrogen and nuclear hype – they can’t get us to net zero carbon by 2050, The Guardian

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

Tagged as climate change, Massachusetts, natural gas, offshore wind

January 29, 2021 · 4:47 pm

Energy News for week ending January 29, 2021

Take Two | Competing Priorities | East Boston Protest

Happy Friday folks.

Here’s what we’re reading:

Take Two: Lawmakers Again Send Climate Bill to Baker, State House News Service via WBUR

Environmental Priorities — Solar Energy and Land Conservation — Compete in the Legislature, CT Examiner

East Boston Residents Protest Controversial Electrical Substation Project, WBUR

There are also several stories this week on EVs and others on how to improve the grid to allow for more renewable development. Be sure to check them out.

As always enjoy the weekend, Stay safe and warm!

MA Climate Bill

Take Two: Lawmakers Again Send Climate Bill to Baker, State House News Service via WBUR

Let’s try this (climate change bill) again, CommonWealth Magazine

Baker admin makes its case ahead of climate bill vote, State House News Service via WWLP

Theoharides explains $6b cost figure, CommonWealth Magazine

As Lawmakers Plan Vote On Climate Bill, A Showdown With Baker Seems Likely, WBUR

Climate Change

World’s Ice Is Melting Faster Than Ever, Climate Scientists Say, Wall St. Journal

NJ meets first goal in reducing carbon emissions, but still has ‘incredible hill to climb,’ NJ Spotlight

25 states promised to stay in the Paris Agreement. Did they follow through?, Grist

‘Energy’ Is Its Name. But What Can the D.O.E. Actually Do on Climate?, New York Times

Biden Executive Orders Set Broad Federal Role in Clean Energy and Climate Change Mitigation, Greentech Media

New U.S. Strategy Would Quickly Free Billions in Climate Funds, New York Times

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

Jiminy Peak a model for renewable energy tax incentives, Rep. Neal says, Berkshire Eagle

Expensive Renewable-Energy Report Completed But There Are No Plans to Advance Its Recommendations, EcoRI

Boeing Eyes Jetliners Fueled by Waste in Race to Zero Emissions, Bloomberg Green

Wind

Janet Mills Proposes 10-Year Moratorium On Wind Development In Maine-Managed Waters, Maine Public

Vineyard Wind looks to regain spot in project pipeline, Fall River Herald News

Will Airborne Wind Power Finally Fly in 2021,? Greentech Media

Solar

Environmental Priorities — Solar Energy and Land Conservation — Compete in the Legislature, CT Examiner

The Race Is On for Commercial Deployment of Solar in Open Seas, Greentech Media

Efficiency/Storage

How to stop your house’s expensive drafts — and save the planet, Washington Post

National Grid petitions NY PSC to approve small battery project’s dispatch, wholesale market roles, Utility Dive

Tesla Had 83% Increase In Energy Storage Deployments In 2020, CleanTechnica

4 Energy Storage Questions Answered, Microgrid Knowledge

New York approves utility revenue sharing for battery storage systems, Utility Dive

EVS

Where Exactly Does Joe Biden Plan To Put 550,000 EV Charging Stations,? Jalopnik.com

Shift to Electric Vehicles Spurs Bid to Make More Batteries in U.S., Wall St. Journal

Biden plan to electrify federal fleet will boost EV market, but many questions remain, experts say, Utility Dive

New Jersey OKs PSE&G’s $166M EV infrastructure program, omits heavy duty vehicles, Utility Dive

G.M. Will Sell Only Zero-Emission Vehicles by 2035, New York Times

Exclusive: U.S. oil industry seeks unusual alliance with Farm Belt to fight Biden electric vehicle agenda, Reuters

Nuclear

NY attorney general sues over nuclear plant shutdown plan, AP

Pilgrim Nuclear Reactor Parts Sent to Texas for Disposal, WCAI

Oyster Creek: Out with the old nuclear plant, in with a new one? The choices ahead, app.com

Natural Gas/Pipelines/Oil/Drilling

National Grid seeks hike in gas bills, Salem News

In Newton, leaks in gas lines are a never-ending challenge, Boston Globe

US Northeast spot gas prices, power prices spike amid lower-than-normal temperatures, S&P Global

As Biden vows monumental action on climate change, a fight with the fossil fuel industry has only begun, Washington Post

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

New York approves $854M transmission line, outlines path to reach storage, renewables goals, Utility Dive

Transmission seen as pivotal to Biden administration’s climate, environmental justice goals, S&P Global

Transmission trouble: Pipeline woes presage challenges for clean energy buildout, S&P Global

Report Calls for a Ground-Up Overhaul of Federal Transmission Grid Policy, Greentech Media

‘No compelling reason not to’: Former FERC chairs, commissioners call for federal transmission overhaul, Utility Dive

East Boston Residents Protest Controversial Electrical Substation Project, WBUR

Con Edison Tests ConnectDER as a Utility Touchpoint for Distributed Energy, Greentech Media

Opinion

Op-ed: We are the next generation. It’s time to embrace solar., Boston Business Journal

Rhode Island Needs a Plan to Fully Decarbonize, Uprise RI

February 19 is deadline for new climate change law, CommonWealth Magazine

No rules? No problem on Beacon Hill, CommonWealth Magazine

Pass the climate change bill again, CommonWealth Magazine

America’s investor-owned utilities: We can achieve a 100% clean energy future, Utility Dive

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

Tagged as climate change, energy storage, Maine, Massachusetts, offshore wind, solar

January 22, 2021 · 3:20 pm

Energy News for week ending January 22, 2021

NY on Top Again | Devouring Energy | 5-Minute Charging

Happy Friday folks.

Busy week so we can’t do a full recap, but we do draw your attention to these stories

In the offshore wind industry’s East Coast arms race, Mass. falls behind New York, Boston Globe
Empty office buildings are still devouring energy. Why?, Fast Company
Electric car batteries with five-minute charging times produced, The Guardian

As always enjoy the weekend and stay safe.

Climate Change

State Legislature Files Climate Bill, Again, WBUR

Trump Rules Easing Power-Plant Emissions Limits Are Vacated by Court, WSJ

Biden rejoins Paris climate accord, works to overturn Trump’s climate policies, Washington Post

Biden’s narrow path to an infrastructure dream, Politico

In Switch, Chamber of Commerce Backs Climate Action, Possible Carbon Tax, Bloomberg Green

Businesses Aim to Pull Greenhouse Gases From the Air. It’s a Gamble., New York Times

Biden Moves To Have U.S. Rejoin Climate Accord, WBUR

TCI opponents push other states to reject controversial carbon tax, Boston Herald

Biden’s climate steps could have big impact on energy firms, AP

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

New York City’s Biggest Power Producer Aims to Import Renewable Energy From Upstate, Greentech Media

Money Managers Look to Blue Seas for Green Investments, Wall St. Journal

Global investments into clean-energy technology reach record high, Axios.com

Bill Gates-Led Fund Raises Another $1 Billion to Invest in Clean Tech, Bloomberg Green

No-Name Clean Tech Firms Are Turning Into Billion-Dollar Bets, Bloomberg Green

Wind

Interior Department agencies move to streamline offshore wind permitting, Utility Dive

In the offshore wind industry’s East Coast arms race, Mass. falls behind New York, Boston Globe

Offshore wind stagnated under Trump, Biden policies could create a boom for offshore energy, Cape Cod Times

Offshore Wind Backers Hope Vineyard Wind Permitting Woes Will End Under Biden, WBUR

Permitting for big U.S. offshore wind farm will resume ‘very, very soon’: Avangrid CEO, Reuters.com

Solar

‘Not slowing down’: Solar will be cheapest power resource in US by 2030: WoodMac, Utility Dive

Efficiency/Storage

Empty office buildings are still devouring energy. Why?, Fast Company

A Megabattery Boom Is Coming to Rescue Overloaded Power Grids, Bloomberg

EVS

Electric car batteries with five-minute charging times produced, The Guardian

Electric vehicles close to ‘tipping point’ of mass adoption, The Guardian

Fleet electrification can have ‘outsized influence’ on EV adoption, RMI analysis concludes, Utility Dive

Nuclear

Up for renewal, controversial $300M nuclear subsidies could be cut, state consultant advises, NJ Spotlight

NRC to discuss 100-year licenses for nuclear plants, Gloucester Times

Natural Gas/Pipelines/Oil/Drilling

After years of protests, a glimmer of hope for opponents to the Weymouth gas compressor, Boston Globe

‘Where does the energy come from?,’ Hudson Valley Times

President-elect Biden to end Keystone XL pipeline in fight on climate change, Washington Post

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

Construction of $1 billion Maine power corridor halted by federal appeals court, MassLive

Hydro-Quebec’s American dream, LaPresse

Opponents continue push against Maine power project, Boston Globe

President Biden Names Richard Glick as FERC Chair, Greentech Media

Governor Cuomo Announces PSC Approval of Major Transmission Line Project from Oneida County to Albany County, Gov. Cuomo

Opinion

Debunking Baker’s 6 reasons for climate veto, CommonWealth Magazine

10 state utility commission chairs to FERC: Let’s strengthen federal-state electricity regulatory relationships, Utility Dive

The best way to use our ‘available’ wood, CommonWealth Magazine

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

Tagged as climate change, energy efficiency, Massachusetts, New England Clean Energy Connect, offshore wind, Weymouth

December 11, 2020 · 4:05 pm

Energy News for week ending December 11, 2020

New Climate Bill | Greener Cement | House of Tomorrow

Happy Friday folks.

We begin with a story from the State House News Service via the Berkshire Eagle, “Massachusetts state senator prods climate bill negotiators with new bill. Hoping to deliver ‘a wake-up call’ and highlight the urgency of the issue, state Sen. Marc Pacheco this week filed a new bill combining what he viewed as the best parts of the climate policy bills that six other lawmakers have been trying to reconcile since August. The Senate dean who chairs its Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change filed essentially his own vision for a conference committee report Wednesday and said he wanted to make sure Beacon Hill is ‘not losing sight of the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions…’ The late-session bill, which was not referred to a committee when the Senate met Thursday, would establish a requirement to get to net-zero emissions by 2050 with interim limits every five years, increase the state’s renewable portfolio standard that governs the amount of clean energy that utilities must purchase, codify environmental justice policy terms, increase the state’s offshore wind authorization to 6 gigawatts by 2035, and establish a goal that 100 percent of electricity come from renewable sources by 2035.

This next story from Utility Dive is pretty cool. “GE announces first US wind turbine blade recycling program with Veolia. GE Renewable Energy announced Tuesday a multi-year agreement with Veolia North America for the first U.S. wind turbine blade recycling program of its kind. The majority of blades from onshore turbines that GE changes out during repowering efforts will be shredded and used to replace raw materials for cement manufacturing, creating a ‘circular economy for composite materials,’ Anne McEntee, CEO of GE Renewable Energy’s Digital Services, said in a statement. In Europe, such recycling processes have grown to commercial scale, and GE plans to deploy the program at scale quickly. The process will make wind turbines fully recyclable, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions from cement production by a net 27%, according to environmental impact analysis by Quantis U.S. The reprocessed blade has a net-positive environmental impact by replacing coal or other raw materials in the cement production process, according to GE.”

This next article is also cool and is more interactive than wordy. You can scroll the “House of Tomorrow” and see all the features including refrigerators that order ahead, a green roof, solar on the outside walls, interchangeable rooms, and cones of silence! (OK they didn’t call them that, but basically that’s what they are) all available at The House Of Tomorrow, Wall St. Journal.

That’s the recap for this week. Stay safe and have a wonderful weekend.

Climate Change

Massachusetts state senator prods climate bill negotiators with new bill, State House News Service via The Berkshire Eagle

As Climate Envoy, Kerry To Seek ‘Ambition’ With ‘Humility,’ WGBH

Earth just notched its warmest November, as 2020 closes in on record for hottest year, Washington Post

‘Very small silver lining’ of COVID-19? An extra 2.5 years to reduce power sector emissions: report, Utility Dive

Are utilities legally required to plan for climate change? ‘The devil is in the details.,’ Utility Dive

Most states are below their greenhouse gas reduction goals: report, The Hill

Global warming has profoundly transformed Arctic in just 15 years, report warns, Washington Post

The world’s rich need to cut their carbon footprint by a factor of 30 to slow climate change, U.N. warns, Washington Post

The Paris agreement survived the Trump administration. What happens now?, Washington Post

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

Poll: Majority of Mass. Voters Support Regional Greenhouse Gas Pact, WBUR

R.I. Works On Creating Right Mix of Renewable Energy, EcoRI

Peterborough voters to consider transition to clean energy, Sentinel Source

Vanguard Renewables announces opening of Organics Recycling Facility, Waste Today Magazine

Ellsworth hydro project and future of Graham Lake are inextricably linked, Bangor Daily News

New York Power Authority’s plan for 70% renewable energy by 2030 approved, PV-Tech

The Bumpy Road to a Hydrogen Economy, Greentech Media

The New Green Energy Giants Challenging Exxon and BP, Wall St. Journal

Does low-cost renewable energy, storage mean hydrogen is here to stay,? Utility Dive

Wind

N.J.’s first offshore wind farm gets boost, E&E News

PSEG says it will take 25% stake in Ørsted Ocean Wind project, NJ Spotlight

GE announces first US wind turbine blade recycling program with Veolia, Utility Dive

Mayflower Wind Awards Contract to Burns & McDonnell for Feed Design of Onshore Substation and Cable System, Press Release, Utility Dive

Offshore wind CEO on Biden and why Trump critics are wrong, E&E News

Maine signs wind-focused clean energy accord with United Kingdom, Press Herald

Atlantic Shores, Ørsted apply in new round of offshore wind contracts, Press Of Atlantic City

Solar

Solar vs. wind: Federal study finds a winner, E&E News

Confusion over tax status stymies solar projects, CommonWealth Magazine

AUI Partners building Rhode Island’s largest single-rooftop solar project, Solar Power World

Bath Iron Works set to buy energy from 6 Maine solar projects, Press Herald

Solar developer, investor, unite on pollinator-friendly projects, Rutland Herald

First R.I. community solar project at affordable-housing complex marks completion, Providence Business News

Solar power, which can save money even for people who don’t have it, is the future, Concord Monitor

Decision on Southington solar panel project delayed, My Record Journal

Efficiency/Storage

The House Of Tomorrow, Wall St. Journal

Green buildings ‘unheralded hero’ in emissions fight, experts say, Utility Dive

A Danbury battery startup business faces its first big test, CT Post

EVs

The T’s next set of battery-powered buses wouldn’t reduce much pollution, Boston Globe

Is This The Electric Vehicle Filling Station of the Future?, Greentech Media

The electric bike that could change delivery as we know it, E&E News

Feds eye nuclear-powered EVs: Breakthrough or bad idea?, E&E News

About 150 U.S. Cadillac Dealers to Exit Brand, Rather Than Sell Electric Cars, Wall St. Journal

This breakthrough electric vehicle never needs to be plugged in, Fast Company

QuantumScape is building a better electric car battery that it says charges to 80% in 15 minutes, CNBC

Vermont’s Green Mountain Power deploys vehicle-to-grid charger, publicpower.org

Con Edison testing V2G service from 5 electric school buses, Green Car Congress

Nuclear

MIT Study Lays Bare Why Nuclear Costs Keep Rising, Greentech Media

This Is the Company That Will Decommission Indian Point in Buchanan, Westchester Magazine

Does nuclear power deserve to be in the Green New Deal?, Medium.com

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Why Gas Stoves Are More Hazardous Than We’ve Been Led to Believe, Slate

Battle reignites over first East Coast gas bans, E&E News

NOAA greenlights seismic harassment of dolphins and whales, E&E News

N.Y. pledges to purge fossil fuel risks from pension fund, E&E News

Entire Aquidneck Island delegation opposes planned expansion of fracked gas, Uprise RI

Inside Clean Energy: The Era of Fossil Fuel Power Plants Is Rapidly Receding. Here Is Their Life Expectancy, Inside Climate News

Dartmouth College drops plans for wood chip heating, pivots toward cleaner oil, Valley News

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

Grid operator projects sufficient energy for winter demand, Eagle Times (NH)

Residents call for Burrillville’s Ocean State Power Plant to be phased out using “just transition” framework, Uprise RI

Residents: How will Keene’s power plan affect my electric bill?, Sentinel Source

Transmission, local resources, market improvements key to decarbonization: CAISO and NYISO chiefs, Utility Dive

Long-running dispute over regional energy market settled, Bangor Daily News

Dynamic Line Rating: Expanding Transmission Grid Capacity for Clean Energy, Greentech Media

16 Mass. Elected Officials Challenge State Agency On East Boston Substation, WBUR

How an Energy Startup’s Plan to Disrupt the Power Grid Got Disrupted, Wall St. Journal

Need for heating assistance growing in Mass. during pandemic, South Coast Today

As residents grapple with COVID and harsh winter, Sen. Ed Markey, advocates call for $10B boost to low-income home energy assistance, MassLive

Nova Scotia Power Picks Sunverge for Virtual Power Plant, Microgrid Knowledge

With closing date set for MIRA trash plant, Connecticut looks for a long-term solution, Hartford Courant

Opinion

Solar revolution is stalled, needs to shift into gear, CommonWealth Magazine

Why energy-efficiency programs are good for New Hampshire businesses, consumers, NHBR

Out with the old, in with the new: Why regionalized grid coordination is inevitable, Utility Dive

Utility regulators wake up to the long-term risks of gas, Opinion

Op-Ed: Repower NJ’s ‘sacrifice zones,’ NJ Spotlight

Opinion/Getting ready: Maine won’t wait to take action on climate, Seacoastonline.com

DEEP should make solving the puzzle of siting large scale solar a priority, CT Mirror

My Turn: State’s triennial energy efficiency plan is under attack, Concord Monitor

Don’t squander State Pier opportunity, The Day

Op-Ed: How fishing and offshore wind can — and should — coexist, NJ Spotlight

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

Tagged as climate change, Electric Grid, EVs, Massachusetts, offshore wind, solar, TCI

December 4, 2020 · 3:53 pm

Energy News for week ending December 4, 2020

Taking a pause | Ugly, but needed | Postpone Efficiency

Happy Friday folks.

We start this week’s recap with Vineyard Wind news from the State House News Service via Saving Seafood. “On the heels of another federal permitting delay, Vineyard Wind announced Tuesday that it is temporarily withdrawing its construction and operations plan from further review by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management but the company says its pause won’t delay the planned start of clean power generation. The announcement came in conjunction with news that the 800-megawatt offshore wind project plans to use GE Renewable Energy’s Haliade-X wind turbine generators when it begins construction, which it called ‘industry leading’ and ‘the most powerful in operation to date.’ Project developers told BOEM on Tuesday that they plan to launch their own ‘final technical review associated with the inclusion of the Haliade-X into the final project design’ and have asked for a pause in the federal review, which had been expected to be completed this month before recently being pushed to January.”

Next up is a story from Bloomberg Business Week which, considering the topic was mentioned by Present-Elect Biden, I think we’re going to be hearing a lot more about this in the coming years, “High-Voltage Power Lines Are Ugly, and the U.S. Needs More. Places where the sun shines bright and the wind blows hard aren’t always places where a lot of people live. High-voltage transmission lines are needed to bring electricity from renewable energy installations to the towns and cities where it’s consumed. The U.S. is way behind other countries in building these lines… Investors and utilities in the U.S. do want to build high-voltage transmission lines. There are dozens of projects at various stages of consideration, with colorful names such as Power From the Prairie, the Grain Belt Express Clean Line, and Zephyr Power Transmission. The problem is getting approval. Ownership of the U.S. power grid is balkanized, Nimby-ism is common, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been reluctant to override local authorities to get lines sited.”

This next story from NH is a bit of head scratcher since this is a great way to save money and help the environment. From the Concord Monitor, “Citing economic fears, House Republicans call on PUC to postpone 2021 energy efficiency plan. Citing pandemic-driven economic concerns, top Republican state lawmakers are asking the Public Utilities Commission to put off the adoption of more aggressive energy efficiency goals, currently set to take effect at the start of next year. The letter, sent Monday from incoming House Majority Leader Dick Hinch and incumbent Republicans on the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, calls on the PUC to ‘indefinitely postpone implementation’ of the next three-year statewide energy efficiency plan… The proposal is more aggressive than past versions, aiming to reduce electricity sales by 5% and gas sales by 3% at a three-year cost of about $367 million. The utilities say these cuts will create jobs and enable all kinds of customers to buy less energy, ultimately saving them $1.3 billion or more than three times what the plan costs. They say it will create jobs and business opportunities in weatherization and efficiency upgrades, free up business and municipal revenues to cover other services and improvements, and save residents money to reinvest in their local economies. The utilities also expect the plan to improve public health and fight climate change by preventing the equivalent carbon emissions of more than half a million average homes’ annual energy use, according to an Environmental Protection Agency calculator. The House Republicans, in their letter, argue these long-term savings goals are not worth the short-term costs the plan will carry for manufacturers, small businesses such as restaurants and municipalities hard-hit by the economic downturn of COVID-19.”

That’s the recap for this week. Stay safe and have a wonderful weekend.

Climate Change

‘Climate change continued its relentless march’: 2020 on track to be 2nd warmest year in recorded history, MassLive

Mills unveils 4-year climate action plan, makes plea for urgent action, Press Herald

Cuomo Strengthens RGGI to Cap, Reduce New York GHG Emissions, North American Wind Power

New York to include small combustion turbines in annual carbon emission limits, Utility Dive

Special Report: U.S. air monitors routinely miss pollution – even refinery explosions, Reuters.com

NYC Climate Progress on Ambitious Emissions Goals Backslides As Strategic Plan Sprawls, The City

Grant aims to help coastal communities cope with rising sea levels, more, Press Herald

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

The New Energy Giants are Renewable Companies, Bloomberg Green

Top officials see shift coming on energy front, WWLP

Maine company working on tidal power with help from feds, Bangor Daily News

How New York is trying to build lots of renewables, fast, Grist.com

A ‘world first’ project to heat homes using renewable hydrogen gets the green light, CNBC

Top Baker aide says full steam ahead with TCI, CommonWealth Magazine

AG vows to defend clean energy law as governor seeks tweaks, Wilton Bulletin

Court denies group’s request to see statewide energy plan, NCPR (New York)

Wind

Feds Push Vineyard Wind Decision Into 2021, WBUR

Vineyard Wind plans to use GE wind turbines for clean power project, Boston Business Journal

Vineyard Wind Pause May Kick Project Decision To Biden Admin, Saving Seafood

Offshore wind threatened by ‘key bottleneck’ — report, E&E News

Offshore Wind Looks at Crowded Future in New England, RTO Insider

Solar

How Maine’s Solar Power Boom Could Unintentionally Stunt Adoption Of Climate-Friendly Technologies, Maine Public

Report finds small-scale solar has saved New Englanders more than $1.1 billion over six years, Solar Power World

‘A huge setback’: Candlewood Mountain solar project dealt blow, News Times

Efficiency/Storage

Citing economic fears, House Republicans call on PUC to postpone 2021 energy efficiency plan, Concord Monitor

Eversource Urges Customers To Utilize Assistance Programs, Patch.com

EVs

Boston roadmap details 10-minute EV access for all, Utility Dive

Bipartisan bill aims to boost charging infrastructure, E&E News

Solar company wants to power Port Jervis cars, Record Online

New Hampshire remains a laggard in building EV charging station network, NHBR

Nuclear

NRC formalizes Seabrook oversight, Eagle Tribune

Much work remains as Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station moves toward decommissioning, Old Colony Memorial

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Feds Give Weymouth Compressor Station Approval To Start Up, WBUR

Weymouth Compressor May Vent Gas As Part Of Its Startup Week, WBUR

Green Hydrogen in Natural Gas Pipelines: Decarbonization Solution or Pipe Dream?, Greentech Media

‘National Grid has failed… to demonstrate that this pipeline is needed’: Mayor de Blasio blasts fossil fuel expansion project in Brooklyn, NY Daily News

Tackling The Natural Gas Industry’s Biggest Problem, oilprice.com

Peak Oil is Suddenly Upon Us, Bloomberg Green

Should it be called “natural gas” or “methane”?, Climate Communication

PA’s Natural Gas Is Stranded from ‘High Risk’ Energy Regions Like New England, Delaware Journal

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

High-Voltage Power Lines Are Ugly, and the U.S. Needs More, Bloomberg

Construction of $1B power corridor to be delayed by a several weeks, WMTW

Whether NJ bolts regional power grid could depend on offshore wind — and Biden rules, NJ Spotlight

Marblehead among 19 Mass. utilities to sign hydroelectric power deal, Salem News

Is New York’s energy industry prepared for both winter and the Covid pandemic?, Buffalo News

Peco plans hourly rates to encourage customers to shift energy use to off-peak periods, Philadelphia Inquirer

‘The Landscape Has Shifted’: Neil Chatterjee on FERC’s Role in the Energy Transition, Greentech Media

PURA overhauls electric rate process, restricts costs utilities can recoup, CT Mirror

Hudson River towns worry about planned power line in the river, Times Union

Opinion

Op-ed: Hydrogen is the missing piece of Mass. clean energy economy, BBJ

‘No net loss!’ Don’t cut down forests to build solar sites, CT Mirror

Scott Campell: Gov. Scott, please get on with it, VT Digger

The PUC Gets a Really Bad Letter, InDepthNH

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

Tagged as climate change, Electric Grid, energy efficiency, New England Clean Energy Connect, tidal power, Vineyard Wind

November 20, 2020 · 5:51 pm

Energy News for week ending November 20, 2020

Running Late Edition

Happy Friday folks. Sorry for the late send. Enjoy the stories below.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. We’ll be back in your inboxes in two weeks.

Efficiency/Storage

Energy efficiency advocates see $1.1T in savings potential with Biden directing DOE, Utility Dive

Green New Deal for Portland could add $6 million to school renovation costs, Press Herald

Climate Change

Biden and Electric Utilities Are Split on Emissions Goals, Scientific American (E&E News)

Walsh appointed to lead Climate Mayors group, Boston Globe

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions set to drop to lowest level in three decades, Washington Post

Report: Northeast must triple electricity to meet CO2 goals, E&E News

Considerable power market design changes needed to decarbonize New England: study, S&P Global

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announces roadmap to curb climate change, ramp up support for electric, zero-emission vehicles, MassLive

8 ways climate change is already impacting you, Mashable

Maine Takes Its Next Step on the Climate Crisis, Natural Resources Council of Maine

How climate change is complicating a Thanksgiving staple, Washington Post

Why capital markets are continuing to finance utilities facing rising flood and other climate change impacts, Utility Dive

Renewables/RGGI/TCI

Charlie Baker re-evaluating TCI in Massachusetts amid coronavirus pandemic as advocates urge support, Boston Herald

Renewable targets may ‘undermine’ CO2 goals — report, E&E News

Study points to greater gas price impacts from Transpo Pact, WWLP

Job growth in clean energy sector derailed, Republican-American (CT)

Committee approves resolution opposing RGGI, Indiana Gazette

FERC’s carbon pricing statement draws criticism, cautious support, S&P Global Platts

Price Cap Will Ease Compact’s Gas Cost Concerns, TCI Supporter Says, State House News Service (subscriber content)

Wind

Developers Look Beyond Floating Wind to Hybrid Power-Generation Platforms, Greentech Media

State, regional grid operator hook up to brainstorm bringing wind power ashore, NJ Spotlight

Ørsted strikes deal with labor union on U.S. offshore wind development, Reuters

Connecticut Port Authority unable to provide documentation supporting project labor agreement for State Pier, Yankee Institute

Mayflower Wind Staff Says Project Will Not Impact Beach Views, Falmouth Enterprise

USA: Fugro Completes Mayflower Wind Site Survey, Offshore Engineer

Solar

Solar Industry Prioritizes Tax Credit Extension, Trade Policy for Biden Administration, Greentech Media

New Jersey food bank receives donation of 33-kW rooftop solar array, Solar Power World

Tax Breaks OK’d For Solar Farm In Hanover, Post-Journal

Solar farm developers say they’d preserve land for later farm use, Journal Inquirer

Portsmouth Residents Want New Solar Ordinance Revised, EcoRI

Cape Elizabeth moves forward with solar project on capped landfill, Press Herald

Solar farm to create renewable energy option, WAGM

Ameresco, Greenbacker construct solar carports at Boston apartments, Solar Power World

EVs

Electric School Bus Fleets Test the US Vehicle-to-Grid Proposition, Greentech Media

Utilities, Tesla, Uber create U.S. lobbying group for electric vehicle industry, Reuters

Cutting the Total Cost of Electrification for EV Bus and Truck Fleets, Greentech Media

Quebec to ban sale of new gasoline-powered cars from 2035, Reuters

General Motors’ electric vehicle plan just got bigger, bolder, and more expensive, The Verge

EV industry optimistic for expanded tax credits, other policy wins under ‘car guy’ Biden, Utility Dive

Nuclear

Moran Reinforces Citizen Oversight in Plymouth Plant Decommissioning, capecod.com

NYC-area nuclear plant sale for decommissioning is approved, AP News

Experts: Nuclear waste storage a concern in New Mexico, Southwest, Santa Fe New Mexican

U.S. nuclear power industry group sees reprocessing as potential waste fix, Reuters

Trump boost to nuclear power to live on in Biden administration, Washington Examiner

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Eversource makes new pitch for Ashland pipeline replacement: easement agreements with all property owners, MetroWest Daily News

Aquidneck Island Climate Caucus to discuss natural gas distribution, Newport Daily News

Middletown firefighters prepare for potential LNG incidents, NewportRI.com

NYISO, others blast gas generators’ proposed fix to alleged price distortions in capacity market, Utility Dive

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

Hydropower project faces new challenge, Newburyport Daily News

FERC proposes transmission rating reform, upholds PURPA, ISO-NE orders, Utility Dive

The Top Priorities of FERC’s Most Likely New Chairman Under Biden, Greentech Media

Utilities one of most vulnerable industries as cybersecurity IT/OT threats merge, survey finds, Utility Dive

Glick vows to prioritize transmission, reassess capacity markets if named FERC Chair, Utility Dive

Central Maine Power ranks last in survey of businesses, AP News

Hundreds of ‘critical’ facilities around Connecticut were left in dark for days after Isaias, CT Post

Conn. Attorney General Scrutinizes Eversource Outage System, WSHU

Eversource pilots helicopter tree-trimming program, Union Leader

Opinion

Editorial — Wasted energy: Communities have little influence over wind, solar projects, NNY 360

Op-Ed: Environmentally responsible and economically savvy in 2020, NJ Spotlight

Weekly Planet: Vermonters voted for the environment, Rutland Herald

It’s time to use accurate line ratings, WATT Coalition Blog

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

Tagged as Central Maine Power, climate change, EVs, Maine, Mayflower Wind, New England Clean Energy Connect, TCI

October 30, 2020 · 4:30 pm

Energy News for week ending October 30, 2020

Rethink the future| Optimistic | It was in Niagara Falls…

Happy snowy Friday folks. I hear next week at this time we may hit 70 degrees. Ah, life in New England.

Maybe it was unintentional but given the nature of the story maybe not. Regardless, I love the photo of the upside down burner that accompanies this piece from CommonWealth Magazine, “DPU orders gas utilities to rethink their future. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities on Thursday ordered the state’s natural gas utilities to jointly hire consultants and come up with a way to dramatically phase down or eliminate their businesses over the next 30 years. The order is a response to Gov. Charlie Baker’s call for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It asks for strategies to achieve that goal ‘while simultaneously safeguarding ratepayer interests; ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective natural gas service; and potentially recasting the role of LDCs [local distribution companies] in the Commonwealth.’”

If the gas utilities aren’t feeling positive, according to the Boston Business Journal the cleantech folks are seeing the glass half full. “Mass. clean energy leaders are optimistic about future growth. How disruptive an influence has the coronavirus been on the clean energy industry this year? A recent report from BW Research Partnership showed that the U.S. clean energy sector added 12,500 jobs in September, ‘leaving just under half a million (477,900) clean energy workers out of work since February this year – an almost 14 percent decline over pre-Covid-19 employment levels.’ The report further suggests the sector has been slower to rebound than others on a national level. Of the 17 firms that have appeared on the two most recent versions of the BBJ’s Largest Clean Energy Companies list, seven companies reported year-over-year increases in local headcount, four stayed flat, and six reported decreases (although, in at least a couple of cases, the drops were minor, relatively speaking). ‘While Massachusetts continues to be a leader in clean energy employment, there is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the industry,’ said Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Steve Pike. ’However, Massachusetts’ commitment to combatting climate change and to growing its clean energy economy sets the stage for not just recovering those lost jobs, but also dramatic growth in the years to come.’”

Our last feature story comes from Niagara Falls which when hearing of that place I confess it always makes me think of this Three Stooges episode. That aside, it’s a cool story about water-based transit. From the Washington Post, “A new era in maritime travel: Electric boats. Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls has launched North America’s first all-electric, zero-emissions tour boats. With the sun streaming into the Niagara Gorge, visitors lined up in socially distanced groups waiting to shuffle onto the Maid of the Mist, the boats that have ferried tourists to the base of Niagara Falls for the past 174 years. Whether they knew it or not, these passengers were experiencing a new era of maritime transportation: boats powered by electricity. Earlier this month, the Maid of the Mist launched two electric catamarans into the gorge, the first of their kind in North America. The hulking double-deckers run on dual banks of lithium-ion batteries. All the power used to charge the batteries is supplied by the nearby Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant, one of the most productive hydroelectric facilities in the United States, making the boats a zero-emission operation. Maid of the Mist is at the forefront of what observers say is an emerging trend in maritime operations.”

That’s the recap for this week. Have a safe and fun Halloween and don’t forget to fall back Saturday night.

Efficiency/Storage

Eversource creates online hub for energy efficient services with City of Boston, Daily Energy Insider

NH Guard strives for net-zero energy use at training site, Army.mil

Climate Change/Renewables/RGGI

RI climate suit to stay in state court, ProJo

Mass. clean energy leaders are optimistic about future growth, Boston Business Journal

Exclusive: GM, Ford knew about climate change 50 years ago, E&E News

A woman warned GM about warming. Men didn’t listen, E&E News

As Climate Disasters Pile Up, a Radical Proposal Gains Traction, New York Times

‘It just goes into a black hole,’ Grist.org

‘Sleeping giant’ Arctic methane deposits starting to release, scientists find, The Guardian

At the intersection of clean energy and bluetech, BlueGreen Innovation Challenge emerges, RhodeIslandInno

Trump’s pullback of pollution controls is even more hazardous than you think, Vox.com

Unlimited, on-demand renewable energy anywhere in the world — is Eavor-Loop climate change’s holy grail?, Recharge

Poll: NJ voters strongly support investing in clean energy as part of pandemic recovery, NJ Insider

DEP warns environmentalists not to prejudge climate regulation review, NJ Spotlight

UMass Boston report shows that climate change views vary by race, Dorchester Reporter

Cuomo adviser: New York is “putting equity at the center” of climate work, Axios

NJ Transit Switches to Renewables for Microgrid, Plans Nov. 25 Solicitation, Microgrid Knowledge

Kennebunkport selectmen explore goals for tackling climate change, Seacoastonline.com

Wind

Vineyard Wind Secures Transmission Agreement With ISO-NE, Power Magazine

RI set to double down on offshore wind power, ProJo

Floating Offshore Wind Turbines Set to Make Inroads in U.S., Scientific America (E&E News)

FERC Pushed to Change Tx Rules for OSW, RTO Insider (Subscriber content)

How the Virus Slowed the Booming Wind Energy Business, New York Times

Falmouth no closer to dismantling wind turbines Town officials frustrated by state actions, Cape Cod Times

Ørsted Looks to Soften Impact of US Permitting Delays With Bigger Turbines, Greentech media

Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia partnering on offshore wind energy development, The Hill

Solar

Wind remains cheaper, but solar’s costs are falling faster, Lazard finds, Utility Dive

New Solar Projects Save Energy Costs Across Cape, Capecod.com

This spooky Halloween display in Western Massachusetts is completely solar powered, MassLive

42-acre solar farm proposed on Bucksport Road, Ellsworth American

Gray solar array on track for December completion, Press Herald

Seneca Nation calls on solar developer to ‘cease and desist’ following bone discovery, Livingston County News

EVs

A new era in maritime travel: Electric boats, Washington Post

Auto Makers Shift Their Hydrogen Focus to Big Rigs, Wall St. Journal

Trump administration funds projects to more efficiently charge and deploy electric buses, Utility Dive

Electric vehicles see state-level gains, The Hill

Nuclear

NRC names new inspector at Seabrook nuclear power plant, Seacoast Online

NuScale Faces Questions on Nuclear Reactor Safety and Financing Its First Project, Greentech Media

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

DPU Opens Look Into Natural Gas Industry, State House News Service via WBUR

RI regulators approve natural gas rate increases but defer bill impacts, ProJo

Beacon Hill’s Iconic Gas Lamps Are Going Green, WBUR

Healey wades into debate over Weymouth gas compressor station, WHDH

Town’s public safety officials offer plan for compressor station emergency, Patriot Ledger

Activist group urges Eversource CEO to scrap plans for regional natural gas pipeline, MassLive

National Grid looks to move LNG facility off Old Mill Lane in Portsmouth; Middletown wants say, Newport Daily News

Company plans biorefinery for zero-emission heating oil in Maine, Press Herald

In Battleground Pennsylvania, Fracking and Renewables Compete to Be the Future of Energy, Wall St. Journal

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

Gov. Cuomo proposes bill to ‘dramatically increase penalties’ for NY utility storm response failures, Utility Dive

CMP goes back to the future in bid to calm customers, short-circuit revolt, Press Herald

Lawsuit seeks environmental review of Maine energy project, AP News

Mainers encouraged to apply for jobs on controversial power line, Sun Journal

Advocates press state regulators to extend moratoriums on power utility shut-offs, CT Post

NYS Public Service Commission to identify transmission projects to meet clean energy goals, Daily Energy Insider

How Does Your State Make Electricity?, New York Times

Tesla microgrids spread as U.S. grid ‘gets worse and worse,’ E&E News

Opinion

Another Voice: Hydrogen, natural gas make a dynamic energy duo, Buffalo News

Op-Ed: Here’s how NJ can protect consumers and state clean-energy policy from feds’ fossil fuel favors, NJ Spotlight

The US power sector has prevented millions of cyberattacks in 2020 — that takes 24/7 commitment, Utility Dive

Op-Ed: ‘Blue holes’ offer New Jersey unique opportunity for solar development, NJ Spotlight

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Filed under Climate Change, Electric Grid, Energy Efficiency, Natural Gas Pipelines, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, offshore wind

Tagged as electric vehicles, Massachusetts, natural gas, New England Clean Energy Connect, Rhode Island

October 23, 2020 · 2:17 pm

Energy News for week ending October 23, 2020

Here to Stay | Save Billions | Construction this Year

Happy Friday folks.

We start this week’s energy news recap with a story from Greentech Media, “From Pilot to Permanent: Green Mountain Power’s Home Battery Network Is Here to Stay. The Vermont utility now controls several thousand Tesla Powerwall batteries sited in customers’ homes. The results have been promising. Utility pilot projects aren’t famous for being standout financial successes. Usually, the goal is to verify a technology in the field before attempting broader deployment. Sometimes nothing follows the pilot. Vermont utility Green Mountain Power not only verified the efficacy of residential batteries for meeting grid needs, but it also saved its customers millions of dollars with them. Now, that program has been ratified by the state’s Public Utility Commission as a permanent residential storage tariff, which means battery installations — and utility savings — will continue to rise.”

Speaking of savings, according to a new study, a big push to renewables could save Americans a lot of money. From The Guardian, “Aggressive push to 100% renewable energy could save Americans billions – study. An aggressive push towards 100% renewable energy would save Americans as much as $321bn in energy costs, while also slashing planet-heating emissions, according to a new report. Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, has vowed to eliminate greenhouse gases from the US power grid within 15 years and essentially zero out emissions by 2050, a plan assailed by Donald Trump as costly and detrimental to the American economy. But a new analysis by Rewiring America, an energy policy organization, finds that households would benefit financially from a complete switch to clean energy sources such as solar and wind. More than 40% of energy emissions are determined by appliances in and around the home, according to the report, such as heating, electricity, refrigeration and car use. Should all of these related factors be fully electrified and sourced from clean energy, households could save as much as $321bn in energy costs, the report finds, or up to $2,500 a household a year. Households would be faced with the upfront costs of installing solar panels and electric devices such as stovetops and heat pumps, but Rewiring America says strong government assistance for renewables would help deliver long-term savings.

Each week there seems to be something new going on with the NECEC project in Maine. This week, the State House News Service reports we can expect to see action. “Utility Sees Maine Transmission Project Construction This Year. Utility company executives behind the project that would deliver clean power from Hydro-Québec to the Massachusetts and New England power grid said Wednesday construction should start before the end of 2020, about a year later than the company once projected. New England Clean Energy Connect, a 145-mile transmission project of Central Maine Power Company, is expected to link the electrical grids in Quebec and New England to provide cleaner and more reliable hydropower directly to a converter station in Lewiston, Maine, and into the regional grid. Bay State utilities and Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration chose the project to help Massachusetts meet its statutory requirements to increase renewable energy supplies. During an earnings call for CMP parent company Avangrid on Wednesday morning, CEO Dennis Arriola said the project is ‘on track to start construction in Q4 2020, once we receive the approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which we expect by the end of this month.’”

That’s the recap for this week. Have a great weekend, and as always, stay safe.

Efficiency/Storage

NRDC Sues US Department Of Energy Over Efficiency Standards Process Changes, CleanTechnica

From Pilot to Permanent: Green Mountain Power’s Home Battery Network Is Here to Stay, Greentech Media

Looking towards a net-zero future, Burlington considers requiring all-electric buildings, VT Digger

The town that built back green, Washington Post

Climate Change/Renewables/RGGI

Aggressive push to 100% renewable energy could save Americans billions – study, The Guardian

In the nation’s asthma capital, plans to burn wood for energy spark fury, Boston Globe

BDCC drops biomass project, Brattleboro Reformer

In defense of the sturgeon, green group wants to put brakes on Canadian hydropower plan for the Hudson, lohud.com

New York City Is About to Get an Injection of Tidal Power. Is This Time Different?, Greentech Media

Geothermal energy is poised for a big breakout, Vox.com

Belching Cows and Endless Feedlots: Fixing Cattle’s Climate Issues, New York Times

Promise or Peril? Importing Hydropower to Fuel the Clean Energy Transition, The Revelator

Keene’s future energy plan put before public, Sentinel

FERC commissioner: Listen to the scientists, Rutland Herald

Cease-and-desist order sought, Ellsworth American

New York Reforms Clean Energy Standard, Power Magazine

Wind

So, What Exactly Is Floating Offshore Wind?, Greentech Media

Wind Energy Hub Project in Cortlandt Withdrawn by Developers, The Examiner

Democrats push expansion of offshore wind, block offshore drilling with ocean energy bill, The Hill

Vineyard carries out cable corridor research, ReNews

Scores more wind turbines proposed for Long Island’s South Shore, Newsday

Solar

Maffei looks to reduce solar project, Hometown Weekly (Norfolk, MA)

Regulators Approve N.H.’s First Large Solar Array, Planned By NextEra In Fitzwilliam, NHPR

Ellsworth will buy all its electricity through local 11,000-panel solar project, Bangor Daily News

Borrego Solar Expands Maine Distributed Solar Portfolio, Solar Industry Magazine

Clifton Park residents oppose solar array, Times-Union

South Burlington to add solar array to Market Street complex, WCAX

SunBug Solar Announces Solar Tech Meets Tradition on A Monson Family Farm, Massachusetts Newswire (press release)

EVs

Auto Makers Grapple With Battery-Fire Risks in Electric Vehicles, Wall St. Journal

GM to Plan Third Electric-Vehicle Plant in Big Plug-In Bet, Bloomberg

An Electric Car With Swedish Roots, and a Rebellious Streak, New York Times

Nuclear

MIT Validates Science Behind New Nuclear Fusion Reactor Design, Greentech Media

Nuclear Panel Says ‘Logjam’ Is Baked Into Their Voting Rules, WCAI

Schumer & Gillibrand Call for Nuclear Regulatory Commission Before Transfer, Kings County Politics

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Fuel oil prices flirt with 16-year low in Maine as the heating season approaches, Press Herald

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

Hydro contract ruling offers clarity in clean energy law, State House News Service via WWLP

Utility Sees Maine Transmission Project Construction This Year, State House News Service

CMP Spinoff Company Gets Final Approval, Maine Public

First Transmission Project Moves Forward Under NY Renewable Energy Growth Act, T&D World

It’s not just your perception, weather-related power outages are increasing, News Center Maine

At PURA hearing, customers get their turn to criticize Eversource and UI over outages caused by Isaias; power companies face fines, Hartford Current

Towns Ask N.H.’s Public Utilities Commission For Regulations That Would Enable Community Power, NHPR

Gas generators ask FERC to apply PJM MOPR logic to NYISO, Utility Dive

The lockdown increased NH electricity use – wait, increased it?!?, Granite Geek

So, What Exactly Are Virtual Power Plants?, Greentech Media

Opinion

When it comes to solar geoengineering, we’re still very much in the dark, Boston Globe

Most N.E. governors want the power grid to change (guess which one doesn’t?), Granite Geek

Fossil fuels endanger communities of color | Opinion, NJ.com

Ben Edgerly Walsh: Gov. Scott has failed to demonstrate leadership on climate crisis, Brattleboro Reformer

The Impact of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, Bloomberg Law

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

Tagged as energy storage, Maine, New England Clean Energy Connect, renewable, Vermont

October 9, 2020 · 2:21 pm

Energy News for week ending October 9, 2020

Ludicrous…Propaganda | Hard 2021 | Radiative Cooling

Happy Friday folks.

We have quite a few stories below about CT’s new legislation aimed at requiring utilities to pay up if power isn’t restored after 96 hours among other penalties and incentives. This article won the headline war though, Electric rate hikes as a result of new law? ‘Ludicrous…propaganda.’ (Middletown Press)

With election day fast approaching, things are heating up in Maine over the Clean Energy Connect power line. Despite this story from the Press Herald New England Clean Energy Connect may start construction in November, despite opposition, there is this report from the Bangor Daily News CMP could have hard 2021 in Augusta as legislative hopefuls turn against corridor.

For a new technology story this week, we alert you to Bringing the chill of the cosmos to a warming planet “Scientists are tapping into a law of physics to create cooling systems that work without special fuel or electricity.” (Washington Post)

That’s the recap for this week. Enjoy the long weekend, and as always, stay safe.

Efficiency/Storage

GMP energy storage program saves customers millions, WCAX

Once shut out, Maine cannabis industry now eligible for sustainable energy grants, Press Herald

Will the Distributed Energy Revolution Leave Renters Behind?, Greentech Media

Climate Change/Renewables/RGGI

RI Updates 2030 Load and Renewables Forecast, RTO Insider

DOE study: Solar-hydro projects could power 40% of world, E&E News

National Grid sees hydrogen as a lynchpin, joins utilities targeting net zero carbon by 2050, Utility Dive

Boston near top in new clean energy scorecard, WHDH

Coalition: Avoided Deaths, Asthma Cases Underscore Need for TCI, State House News Service

Transportation and Climate Initiative gets corporate push, Worcester Business Journal