Category Archives: Wind Power

October 5, 2018 · 2:32 pm

Energy News for week ending October 5, 2018

No Free Lunch | 8 Years in a Row | Hydrophobic

Happy Friday afternoon everyone.

Here are some highlights from the news this week.

From the AP we have, No free lunch for renewables: More wind power would warm US. “Ramping up wind power in America would also dial up the nation’s temperatures, a new study out of Harvard found. While wind energy is widely celebrated as environmentally friendly, the researchers concluded that a dramatic, all-out expansion in the number of turbines could warm the country even more than climate change from burning coal and other fossil fuels, because of the way the spinning blades disturb the layers of warm and cold air in the atmosphere…Some parts of the central United States are already seeing nights that are up to 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) warmer because of nearby wind farms…The researchers and other scientists stressed that climate change from greenhouse gas emissions is clearly a far bigger threat globally and over the long term than turbine-caused warming, which is temporary and stops when the blades aren’t turning. Despite the potential drawbacks, wind energy still makes more sense for the environment than fossil fuels, Keith said.”

Would we expect anything different? MassLive reports that, For 8th year, Mass. named most energy-efficient state in the nation. “For the eighth year running, Massachusetts has been named the most energy-efficient state in the nation. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, which issues the annual scorecard, noted utility-led programs such as Mass Save, “stretch building codes” for cities and towns, incentives for combined heat and power, and standards for state buildings…The scorecard measures six categories, including utility programs, transportation, building energy codes, combined heat and power, state government policies, and appliance standards. Massachusetts in 2016 approved a three-year energy efficiency plan. In 2017, $740 million in investments yielded $2.6 billion in savings…”

From the new energy technology file we bring you a story from Popular Mechanics, A New Hydrophobic Surface Could Turn the Ocean’s Waves Into Electricity. “There’s waterproof and then there’s the surface developed by engineers at the University of California San Diego. They’ve developed a surface so hydrophobic that it can actually be used to generate electrical voltage, turning seawater into 50 millivolts (or around 0.05 volts)…The created surface holds a negative electrical charge, so when the positive ions in salt water move over the surface an electrical potential difference is created. That difference creates a voltage…Although it’s just a proof of concept, the idea becomes impressive when deployed on a much larger scale. There’s a lot of ocean water out there, and the team hopes that it could be used for energy harvesting methods through desalination plants. From ions to waves, there’s a lot of potential energy in the water that covers 70 percent of the planet, and these hydrophobic surfaces could help tap into that energy.”

More news is below. Have a great long weekend.

Merrimack Valley

Disaster could be a turning point in energy debate, Eagle Tribune

State rep seeks Western Massachusetts public hearings on Columbia Gas after Merrimack Valley explosions, MassLive

After Baker tasked Eversource with Merrimack Valley response, executives cut checks to his campaign, Boston Globe

After Dozens of Gas Explosions, a Community Looks for Alternatives to Natural Gas, Inside Climate News

Longmeadow considering moratorium on Columbia Gas construction, citing recent explosions, MassLive

Columbia Gas pulling workers from other states amid tight labor market, Boston Globe

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

DPU presses Natl. Grid on alleged violations, CommonWealth Magazine

Northampton City Council resolves to oppose gas pipelines, Hampshire Gazette

Power plant hearings delayed as regulators consider request to cancel contract, Valley Breeze

New York Gas Plant Comes Online Despite Opposition, Power Magazine

City Council opposes Burrillville power plant, Cranston Online

Agency: Gas lines safe; State utility regulators questioned in wake of Massachusetts disaster, Journal Inquirer

Connecticut state lawmakers want review of gas pipelines, WHDH

Compressor foes warn of dangers with infomercial, Weymouthwickedlocal.com

Liberty Utilities to create natural gas from closed Bethlehem landfill, Concord Monitor

Manhole left open, failure to investigate gas leak: National Grid cited for 29 reported safety violations amid lockout, MassLive

National Grid lockout causing ‘collateral impact’, MassLive

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

Utilities have a problem: the public wants 100% renewable energy, and quick, Vox.com

A New Hydrophobic Surface Could Turn the Ocean’s Waves Into Electricity, Popular Mechanics

Carbon prices could save us … if we actually start using them, Grist

Portland hub monitors 425 solar projects, six wind farms, Portland Press Herald

Researchers to develop renewable fuel additives from sawdust, Biomass Magazine

Pellet project in Maine awarded $200,000 REAP grant, Biomass Magazine

The US Is Ready For 100% Clean Energy — 10 Cities Model How To Get There, CleanTechnica

Wind

No free lunch for renewables: More wind power would warm US, AP News

A new study on the side effects of wind energy is almost begging to be misused by climate change deniers, Business Insider

Baker, Gonzalez agree to offshore wind pledge, Gloucester Times

Yarmouth shellfishermen get say on wind cable hearings, Cape Cod Times

Trump’s Import Tariffs Will Make U.S. Wind Power More Expensive, Renewable Energy World

Barnstable, Vineyard Wind officials sign cable agreement, Cape Cod Times

State board to take up Vineyard Wind cable route, South Coast Today

Why this dairy farm may be the last stand for wind energy in Vermont, WindAction

Company plans to build wind turbines along Lake Ontario, Energy Central

Wind farm design calls for 47 turbines, National Wind Watch

Solar

CT Manufacturer Impact Plastics Goes Solar, Solar Industry

75 Attend Community Meeting on New Solar Initiative in Exeter, GoLocalProv

Eversource to hold solar open house, Wicked Local Medfield

Massachusetts Regulators Approve New ‘SMART’ Solar, Storage Program, Renewable Energy World

Con Edison proposes installing solar panels on New York City Housing Authority developments, Daily Energy Insider

Energy Efficiency/Storage

For 8th year, Mass. named most energy-efficient state in the nation, MassLive

Make your home greener—and more resilient, Popular Science

Vermont’s energy efficiency utilities under inspection in new investigation, VTDigger

Stormy weather ahead: Federal agencies begin to roll back efficiency policy, ACEEE Blog

A tiny, beleaguered government agency seeks an energy holy grail: long-term energy storage, Vox.com

New Jersey’s Planned $4.1B Clean Energy Investment includes $180M for Storage, Renewable Energy World

EVs

Electric vehicle advocates urge Connecticut regulators not to forget sector in grid planning, New Haven Register

Nuclear

NRC issues draft safety evaluation for nuclear plant, Daily News of Newburyport

Nuclear panel elects new leaders, but future still unclear, VTDigger

Decision on Vt. Yankee sale expected soon, The Recorder

Trump Signs Legislation to Promote Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology, Greentech Media

Connecticut agencies say Millstone ‘at risk’ as Dominion seeks boost in clean energy RFP, Utility Dive

Entergy’s last layoffs by month’s end, Brattleboro Reformer

Utilities submit proposals for nuclear subsidies, NJ Spotlight

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

ISO-NE to focus on market solutions for winter energy security in 2019, Utility Dive

Demo permits obtained for Brayton Point cooling towers, Herald News

US Will Have 88 Gigawatts of Residential Demand Flexibility by 2023, Greentech Media

Foes of CMP power line gear up for protest in Skowhegan, Kennebec Journal

Connecticut residents want monitoring of new New York power plant, The Register Citizen

A device to track your energy use, right down to the toaster, Boston Globe

Eversource penalized $117,911 for environmental violations in Franklin County, The Recorder

Limited CMP customer data exposed during file transfer, Portland Press Herald

Massachusetts Microgrid Market Gets Even More Interesting with Siemens Plan to Acquire Russelectric, Microgrid Knowledge

Editorial/Opinion

Editorial: Loss of plant would hurt, Providence Journal

Gas pipeline review process is good idea, Lowell Sun

Letter: Safety is top priority of natural gas industry, Concord Monitor

EDITORIAL: Gas leaks, dying trees? It’s a theory worth exploring, Sentinel & Enterprise

Eliminate Carbon-Based Energy, Hartford Courant

Our view: Solar power is a key ingredient, Salem News

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Filed under Natural Gas Pipelines, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, Vermont Yankee Closing, Wind Power

Tagged as Columbia Gas of MA, energy efficiency, energy storage, Eversource, National Grid, natural gas

August 31, 2018 · 10:54 am

Energy News for week ending August 31, 2018

Solar: 20 million in savings | Limiting Range Anxiety | Unsteady Progress

Happy long-weekend Friday!

Here’s what we found interesting in the energy news for this week.

From Utility Dive, Distributed solar saved ISO-NE consumers $20M during July heatwave, report says “Distributed solar reduced New England wholesale power costs by nearly $20 million dollars during a heat wave from July 1 to July 7, according to a new analysis completed by Synapse Energy Economics. During peak hours for electricity demand, distributed solar can reduce load on the New England grid by more than 1 GW, the report found, helping to reduce system-wide costs. The analysis was commissioned by SunCommon, a distributed solar provider…The analysis found solar is expected to produce 2,162 GWh of total annual energy savings in 2018, rising to almost 4,800 GWh in 2027.”

From MassLive, Eversource begins rollout of 400 electric car chargers across Massachusetts; ‘range anxiety’ seen as enemy to emissions progress “…Over the next five years, Eversource will spent [sic] $45 million to install more than 400 charging sites across Massachusetts as part of its Grid Modernization plan. Hunt [Eversource senior vice president and chief communications officer] said Eversource has made great progress in switching from dirty coal to cleaner fuels like natural gas, offshore wind, hydroelectricity and solar power. But 40 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions come in the transportation sector, Hunt said. ‘The trick is getting those clean fuels into the cars,’ Hunt said. ‘Range anxiety is a real limiting factor,’ Hunt said, referring to the fear of being stuck someplace without a charging station to get home. He said a four-hour charge will boost most electric car batteries to 80 percent of their capacity.”

From CommonWealth Magazine, Mass. makes unsteady progress on emissions “Massachusetts greenhouse gas emissions increased for the fourth year in a row in 2015, but state officials are forecasting a downturn when numbers are crunched for 2016, according to an email sent out by the Baker administration. State law mandates that emissions reach a target of 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Data lag by several years, but the numbers suggest the state has been going the wrong way the last few years, with emissions falling to 72 million tons in 2012 before rising in 2013 and 2014 and hitting 76.3 million tons in 2015. The 2015 number was 19.2 percent below 1990 levels, which was not as good as 2014 (21.5 percent below) or 2013 (19.7 percent). Officials are forecasting emission levels to be 20.8 percent below 1990 levels in 2016.”

That’s it for this week. Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend.

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

State: Environmental Impact Report needed for Tennessee Gas Pipeline projects in Agawam and Longmeadow, MassLive

Weymouth compressor opponents to unveil Braintree billboard, Weymouth.WickedLocal.com

Rally to revive Energy East pipeline meets opposition in Halifax, CBC.ca

Oil companies, staff remain liable for spill damage during N.J. home deliveries, WHYY

Portland, Maine, rule blocking pipeline OK’d in court, Boston Globe

European Oil Majors Are Out-Talking American Peers on Climate, Bloomberg L.P.

National Grid workers plan to rally outside Mass. Department of Public Utilities, WHDH

Billerica issues moratorium on future National Grid work, Billerica.wickedlocal.com

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

Regional Environmental Groups Pan Proposed Pollution Rule, WAMC

Mass. makes unsteady progress on emissions, CommonWealth Magazine

Portland tidal energy startup entering rough investment waters, Press Herald

Two roads diverging: Pennsylvania lawmakers rethink their renewables mandate, Utility Dive

Carbon price hits decade high in boost for cleaner fuels, Financial Times

New analyses agree carbon pricing is a powerful solution, Environmental Defense Fund

New “Affordable Clean Energy” Plan Lands With A Thud, CleanTechnica

Facebook says it will be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2020, MSN

How New Jersey can finance its bold new clean energy targets, Environmental Defense Fund

Wind

Barnstable Considered as Possible Home to Vineyard Wind Substation, CapeCod.com

Falmouth Resident Tells Of Lasting Turbine Troubles, Falmouth Enterprise

Petition mobilizes opponents of proposed Yarmouth power line, Cape Cod Times

The Race to Build a Wind Behemoth, Wall Street Journal

Antrim Wind blasting resumes after one day cease and desist, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Neighbors of Plymouth turbines bring health concerns to Bourne board, Cape Cod Times

Paperwork filed to transfer ownership of Antrim Wind Project, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Massachusetts offshore wind farm forecasts incredibly low rates, Institute for Energy Research

DOE Report: Cost of Wind Energy Technology Falls, Engineering News-Record

Offshore Wind Energy Market Projected To Exceed $60 Billion By 2024, epmag.com

U.S. Wind Power Is ‘Going All Out’ with Bigger Tech, Falling Prices, Reports Show, Inside Climate News

In 2017, four US states generated more than 30% of their electricity from wind, Ars Technica

Solar

Distributed solar saved ISO-NE consumers $20M during July heatwave, report says, Utility Dive

Solar supplies more than 10% of electricity in five US states, pv magazine International

As the heat rises, solar drives New England grid savings, VTDigger

M&A Action: Mitsubishi Subsidiary Invests In Massachusetts Energy Companies, Solar Industry

SouthCoast solar field revenues earmarked for New Bedford, Fairhaven housing authorities, Southcoasttoday

Air pollution can put a dent in solar power, Science Daily

Energy Efficiency/Storage

Xcel to Replace 2 Colorado Coal Units With Renewables and Storage, Greentech Media

EVs

Owning An Electric Car & The Neighborhood Effect, CleanTechnica

Eversource begins rollout of 400 electric car chargers across Massachusetts; ‘range anxiety’ seen as enemy to emissions progress, MassLive

Nuclear

The Nuclear Power Plant of the Future May Be Floating Near Russia, New York Times

Researchers use Microwaves to Stabilize Fusion Reactor Plasma, EdgyLabs.com

Board of Public Utilities moves to create zero emission credit program for nuclear plants, Press of Atlantic City

Seabrook residents plea to have water/sewer rates raised, Seacoastonline.com

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Massachusetts hit with power outages as heat sets in, Boston Herald

Sudbury: Eversource can do soil tests, but with conditions, MetroWest Daily News

Eversource completes sale of New Hampshire hydro plants, Utility Dive

Rhode Island approves National Grid modernization plan, rate increase, Utility Dive

Under fire from all sides, CMP losing the power of its word, Portland Press Herald

Energy companies dominate list of top spenders on lobbying in Mass., Boston Globe

SouthCoast solar field revenues earmarked for New Bedford, Fairhaven housing authorities, CommonWealth Magazine

Eversource completes $83m sale of hydro plants, New Hampshire Union Leader

Otis Air National Guard Base Cuts Ribbon on New Energy Grid, Cape Cod

Eversource Cable Route Draws Criticism In Norwalk, WSHU

Editorial/Opinion

Editorial: High tension moment for Seacoast Reliability Project, Seacoastonline.com

Say yes to renewable energy, New Hampshire Union Leader

Lawmakers have more work to do on energy, CommonWealth Magazine

Letter: National Grid pursuing improvements in region, The Eagle-Tribune

Maine Voices: Now is the time for a public electric utility in Maine, Portland Press Herald

Slow and Steady Approach to Clean Energy Protects Ratepayers, AIM Blog

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Filed under Electricity Costs, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, nuclear, solar, Wind Power

Tagged as climate change, electric vehicles, Eversource, ISO New England, Kinder Morgan

July 27, 2018 · 2:44 pm

Energy News for week ending July 27, 2018

Powerwalls pay off | Russians Hack Utilities | 50 Million dollars

Happy Friday afternoon.

Below are a few articles from this week that we found interesting.

Vermont utility says program saved $500K during heat wave (Concord Monitor) “An innovative program in Vermont that uses batteries in customers’ homes as a “virtual power plant” paid off to the tune of almost half a million dollars during the recent heat wave, according to the utility running the project…At times during the heat wave that covered much of the first week of July, the utility – often known as GMP – drew electricity out of about 500 Tesla Powerwall batteries installed in the home of about 400 customers and fed it into the grid. This meant GMP had to buy less electricity from power plants when the wholesale price of power in New England, which changes every five minutes depending on demand and supply, was particularly high. This had a double price benefit. It saves on the momentary energy charge, but more importantly it can reduce the utility’s payment to the bulk transmission system in New England…”

In some disquieting national news we have some local assurance, After Russians hack into US electrical utilities, ISO New England says it constantly upgrades security (MassLive) “After federal officials announced hackers working for Russia gained access to the control rooms of US electric utilities, ISO New England said the company has a myriad of ways to safeguard the region’s power grid against security threats. The company has redundant facilities and continues to change and upgrade security measures as cyber threats evolve, said Marcia Blomberg, senior media relations specialist for ISO New England.”

Here is some good news out of Maine, CMP will give $50 million to help low-income customers in Massachusetts (Press Herald) “Central Maine Power has agreed to give $50 million to energy-assistance programs that will benefit low-income electric customers – in Massachusetts. CMP will provide $50 million over 40 years to several programs and initiatives in Massachusetts, as a condition of winning the bid to build a high-voltage transmission line from Quebec through Maine that will carry hydroelectricity to the Commonwealth. The disclosure comes as CMP is under multiple investigations and lawsuits over allegations it overcharged Maine ratepayers. None of the money for the program will come from ratepayers in Maine or Massachusetts, according to Avangrid, CMP’s parent company. It will be taken out of profits.”

That’s the recap for this week. Have a great weekend.

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Debate over proposed power plant in Burrillville centers on power needs, The Providence Journal

Maine oil dealers begin delivering new, cleaner blend of heating oil, MaineBiz

Trump Says Europe Will Buy More American Gas. Is That Possible?, New York Times

DEP’s overdue Marcellus Shale air study finds few health risks, Pittsburgh Post Gazette

National Grid lockout causing headaches for customers, Boston Globe

Lowell Council won’t act on National Grid gas work during lockout, Lowell Sun

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

Use of renewable energy increasing in NH, WMUR

Group Says N.H. Renewable Energy Mandates Use Too Much ‘Dirty’ Fuel, New Hampshire Public Radio

Audubon Says Carbon Pricing Bill is a “refreshingly bold move”, National Audubon Society

State organization calls for 100 percent renewable energy in Massachusetts by 2035, Valley Advocate

Connecticut Green Bank and PosiGen “Solar for All” Partnership – Bringing the Benefits of Clean Energy to LMI Communities, Renewable Energy World

The 5 most important questions about carbon taxes, answered, Vox.com

Vermont PUC seeks alternative ratemaking proposals to boost renewables, Utility Dive

Massachusetts energy bills stall as deadline approaches, PV Magazine

Solar and wind are coming. And the power sector isn’t ready., Vox.com

Wind

Kingston Wind Independence promises payment of back taxes, Wicked Local Kingston

Judge scraps lawsuit against Maine wind moratorium, Utility Dive

Vineyard Wind to cover Yarmouth costs for review, Cape Cod Times

Between lines on Savoy wind energy project denial, National Wind Watch

Offshore wind hits early turbulence: who will bring the power ashore?, NJ Spotlight

Wind turbines could be on Guilford’s horizon, National Wind Watch

NYS Exposed: NY towns fight controversial wind turbine project, WHEC

Judge tosses challenge of order halting wind turbines, Bangor Daily News

State urged to move fast on offshore wind, but get it right, The Press of Atlantic City

Electric rates will rise due to wind power, The Day

Solar

Massachusetts Legislature Could Overturn Eversource’s New Demand Charge for Resi Solar, Greentech Media

City Hall solar sparks ire from council, Salem News

Fall River trying again to create solar farm off Blossom Road, Herald News

Goldman Sachs Puts a Grim Number on Solar Slump for This Year, Bloomberg

NH Co-ops solar facility adds green energy to the power grid, Energy Central

Molly Kelly Tours North Hampton Brewery That’s Saving Money Thanks to Solar Energy, NHlabornews

Solar delivers during New England heatwave, PV Magazine USA

State seeking towns’ input to help develop solar guidelines, Westerly Sun

Residents air concerns over big solar array project, Daily Hampshire Gazette

Rural Westhampton could see 20-acre solar plant, MassLive

Energy Efficiency/Storage

Beyond weatherization: Are utilities doing enough to engage low-income customers?, Utility Dive

Using customer batteries as a power source saved Vt. utility $500K, Granite Geek

Massachusetts power players scramble for deal in critical storage, DER docket, Utility Dive

Efficiency Vermont and Sense Conduct Pilot Study of Advanced Home Energy Monitoring, Energy Central

Vermont utility says program saved $500K during heat wave, Concord Monitor

Rocky Mountain Institute study shows that with heat pumps and smart thermostats, we can live better electrically, Treehugger

Liquid metal battery could lower cost of storing renewable energy, Engadet

EVs

Electric buses are cleaner in all parts of U.S., study finds, Metro Magazine

Nuclear

Study: US Unlikely To See New Nuclear Power Anytime Soon, WABE

Yucca Mountain revival efforts appear dead – for now, Review Journal

WPI receives $600K for nuclear program, Worcester Business Journal

Next-Gen Nuclear Is Coming—If Society Wants It, Wired

Mapped: The US nuclear power plants ‘at risk’ of shutting down, Carbon Brief

Nuclear power looks to shrink its way to success, Financial Times

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Russian Hackers Reach U.S. Utility Control Rooms, Homeland Security Officials Say, Wall St. Journal

After Russians hack into US electrical utilities, ISO New England says it constantly upgrades security, MassLive

How vulnerable is the grid to cyberattacks, really?, Utility Dive

3 utilities seek $426m for negotiating hydro contracts, CommonWealth Magazine

CMP will give $50 million to help low-income customers in Massachusetts, Press Herald

Baker officials tout hydro contract benefits, CommonWealth Magazine

What Will Maine Get Out Of It? Groups Skeptical Over CMP’s Hydropower Plan, Maine Public

Group nixes plan for hydro project at Keene dam, Keene Sentinel

State Argues Budget Sweep of Energy Funds No Big Deal, Hartford Courant

More than 600 customers sue CMP, claiming the company overcharged them, then gave them ‘the cold shoulder’, Portland Press Herald

Class-action lawsuit filed against CMP over alleged overbillings, MaineBiz

Kelly questions Sununu’s energy bill vetoes, Seacoastonline.com

Editorial/Opinion

It’s Time to Stop Investing in New Oil and Gas Pipelines, Scientific American

Renewables, not gas, key to our clean energy future | Opinion, NJ.com

Power prices — and long-term costs, Boston Globe

Mass. must lead on climate change, CommonWealth Magazine

LETTER: Mention of Chernobyl serves as a reminder, Daily News of Newburyport

Go Nuclear For Power Policy Winners Among Utilities, Forbes

Viewpoint: For energy fix in Mass., natural gas capacity must be increased, Boston Business Journal

MA solar hurting, needs legislative help, CommonWealth Magazine

Mass. must lead on climate change, CommonWealth Magazine

A sharp slap of reality, Watertown Daily Times

Opinion: Cape leads the way on renewable energy; state must do more, Taunton Gazette

Clean, Reliable Energy Key to Western Mass Jobs (Guest viewpoint), MassLive

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Filed under Electricity Costs, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, solar, Wind Power

Tagged as Central Maine Power, energy efficiency, Eversource, Green Mountain Power, ISO New England, Maine, National Grid

May 11, 2018 · 2:07 pm

Energy News for week ending May 11, 2018

Grid Mod in MA | Duck Curve Arrives | All Turbines Mapped

Happy Friday afternoon.

This week we begin with grid mod as the topic and a State House News Service story in the Sentinel and Enterprise that Massachusetts “State officials on Thursday issued an order authorizing utilities to spend $220 million statewide on upgrades to the electrical grid over the next three years, and set up a process that could result in some smart meter investments ushering in more dynamic ways of pricing power. The grid upgrades would be targeted at preventing future outages, allowing areas to more quickly bounce back from a power outage, and better accommodating renewable energy generation…Installing smart meters for every residential ratepayer would cost $1.5 billion, according to the Baker administration, which has opted instead to set up a process that could result in using smart meters in situations where they would render the highest benefits for the least cost, according to an official.”

All of those solar installations out there have brought something bird-like to New England that, from a US perspective, is mostly seen in California. From PV Magazine, “As solar comes to more regions of the United States, it is beginning to alter the dynamics of electricity supply and demand. These are most noticeable on weekend days in the spring, when solar output is high but electricity demand is lower than during the week and not inflated by air conditioning use, as it is in the summer.

The result of this is the “duck curve”, as documented in California. There the output of solar is suppressing mid-day demand, with a steep ramp-up in demand that must be met by other resources as the sun goes down. When coupled with a lack of sufficient flexibility in the rest of the electricity fleet and operation of the grid, this can result in negative prices and curtailment of resources…New England’s grid operator has reported that on April 21 behind-the-meter solar met sufficient demand that for the first time net daytime demand fell to a lower level than overnight demand…the increase in solar led to a fall in the region’s wholesale electricity price to -$2.65 per megawatt-hour around 3 PM.”

We end this week with an article from the Washington Post titled, “Every one of America’s 57,636 wind turbines, mapped.” From the article, “To create the database, the USGS partnered with the Department of Energy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the American Wind Energy Association. The organizations merged their individual data sets to create a new database that was more accurate and comprehensive than previous efforts. Once they compiled the new database, researchers attempted to visually verify the precise location of each turbine using satellite imagery. They intend to update it periodically in the coming years as the wind industry grows.” The piece not only gets into geographical reasons for why wind is more popular in some parts of the country than others, but also speaks to political climates that create certain disparities.

As always you can find events at Northeast Energy News. Have a great weekend.

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Energy giant sues Weymouth over pipeline station, saying federal law overrides zoning, Boston Globe

Burner Tips: Collaboration between utilities and environmental groups might not be the norm, but in Massachusetts, the two sides have come together to find mutual solutions, American Gas Magazine

Reducing Methane Emissions Amidst a ‘National Leadership Void,’ BrinkNews.com

CT regulators ignore health and climate destroying methane leaks, Stratford Star

Connecticut Senate votes to gut net metering, extend renewable energy mandate, pv magazine USA

Rick Perry suggests using ‘national security’ to override opposition to pipelines, ThinkProgress

Weymouth compressor station opponents seek stories of illness, Wicked Local

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

State Clean Energy Laws Make New England Grid More Resilient, Natural Resources Defense Council

Commission reduces fees for popular renewable energy program, vtdigger.org

Under the Sea: A Roadmap for Renewable Energy, MarineLink

Scientists Say Ocean Circulation Is Slowing. Here’s Why You Should Care., InsideClimate News

NYSERDA Announces $10 Million Available for Commercial and Industrial Carbon Challenge Initiative, North America Clean Energy

Earth’s atmosphere just crossed another troubling climate change threshold, Boston Globe

Wind

What’s the best bet on wind?, CommonWealth Magazine

Every one of America’s 57,636 wind turbines, mapped, Washington Post

Offshore wind developer, unions partner on workforce training initiative, Boston Business Journal (subscriber content)

Wind-energy meetings scheduled amid concerns about East End, Newsday

US Offshore Wind Can Realize 25 GW through Synergies with Oil & Gas Sector, Renewable Energy World

Council passes bill to encourage wind energy, Queens Ledger

Offshore-wind developers want more details on state straw proposal, NJ Spotlight

Lawyers for wind developer want Hopkinton to increase turbine height to 600 feet, National Wind Watch

Offshore Wind’s Value Exceeds Its Construction Costs In New York And New England, Energy Collective

Bay State Wind signs agreements to build training center in New Bedford, SouthCoastToday.com

AWEA 2018: Offshore hubs to spring up on Atlantic coast, Windpower Monthly

Offshore Wind’s Value Exceeds Its Construction Costs In New York And New England, Energy Collective

East Hampton Town Trustees Move Forward With Plans For Joint Hearing On Deepwater Project, 27east.com

Solar

Sun And Solar Power Cut Electricity Demand From New England Grid To Lowest Ever, Hartford Courant

It’s Official. All New California Homes Must Incorporate Solar, Greentech Media

The duck curve comes to New England, pv magazine USA

Solar power helps New England hit historic milestone, Concord Monitor

US Navy leases photovoltaic solar panels near Rhode Island station, Electric Light & Power

Five New England Colleges To Buy Solar From Maine Project, Solar Industry

Vermont reduces incentives for renewable energy program, Penn Energy

Solar-Panel Makers Ramp Up U.S. Manufacturing Plans, Wall Street Journal (Pay wall)

Energy Efficiency/Storage

State Strategic Plan Looks to Boost Energy Efficiency, Cut Customer Costs, NJ Spotlight

Rutland family receives $5K to make their home energy efficient, Mountaintimes

Why The Energy Storage Problem Won’t Be A Problem For Long, CleanTechnica

As energy storage costs decline, market changes needed to increase deployment, Platts

New York City moves to streamline energy storage permitting, Utility Dive

Energy storage, wind, and solar companies are recruiting coal miners for their work ethics and high-tech skills, Environmental Defense Fund

Nuclear

Bill seeks to prioritize nuclear waste removal at Pilgrim, Patriot Ledger

Vermont Yankee resumes fuel move, Brattleboro Reformer

Seabrook officials analyze financial issues, The Daily News of Newburyport

Indian Point task force study urges Entergy to turn over property, The Journal News | LoHud.com

Nuclear Energy Institute Recommends Rejection of PJM Capacity Proposals, Daily Energy Insider

One Thing Trump, Some Environmentalists Both Love: Nuclear Power, Bloomberg

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

New Hampshire rethinks distributed generation-only pilots for non-wires alternatives, Utility Dive

How CMP plans to pipe clean energy to Massachusetts through Maine, Bangor Daily News

Baker, Healey split on electricity sellers, CommonWealth Magazine

Do Healey, Baker have a truce?, CommonWealth Magazine

Connecticut lawmakers pass sweeping energy bill, Utility Dive

Solar, efficiency drive declining peak load in ISO New England, Utility Dive

DPU issues electric grid modernization order, Sentinel & Enterprise

Under Pressure: Steam Pipe System Draws Scrutiny, NBC Boston

Eversource customers can get $3000 rebate on Nissan Leaf electric car, Concord Monitor

Eversource Looks to Offshore Wind, New Rates for Growth, RTO Insider

Eversource pushes ahead with pursuit of Connecticut Water, Journal Inquirer

PUC refuses to intensify inquiry into CMP billing problems, Press Herald

Utilities commission won’t ramp up CMP billing investigation, Bangor Daily News

Maine Lawmakers Signal Opposition to NECEC, RTO Insider

Worried About Grid Resilience? Don’t—You Can Sleep Well, Natural Resources Defense Council

Eversource generation rate to fall July 1, Hartford Business

New Hampshire’s Coming Energy Crunch Is A Job Killer, InsideSources

Colleges To Train Next-Gen Utility Workers, New Haven Independent

Editorial/Opinion

What’s up with the Globe and natural gas?, CommonWealth magazine

SUZANNE TORRES, Weymouth: An issue of credibility in Spectra debate, The Patriot Ledger

Climate Change Shouldn’t Need a Salesman, Wall Street Journal

Maurice Kreis: Rolling blackouts in New Hampshire? Not a chance, Concord Monitor

LETTER: Expanding natural gas pipelines is not the right energy solution, SouthCoastToday.com

Viewpoint: Climate change is here. Boston has no time to waste., Boston Business Journal

Time to hit the off switch on electricity sellers, CommonWealth Magazine

NextEra’s Robo Is Wrong About Offshore Wind, Energy Collective

Connecticut Energy Legislation a Mixed Bag for Clean Energy, North American Clean Energy

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Filed under Climate Change, Electric Grid, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, Wind Power

Tagged as energy efficiency, ISO New England, methane emissions, Pilgrim, smart grid, smart meters, solar, Spectra, Vermont

March 2, 2018 · 4:13 pm

Energy News for week ending March 2, 2018

Russian Meddling | Report Flawed | Miracle Breakthrough

Happy Friday afternoon everyone. We hope you’re staying warm, dry, and safe during today’s storm.

Well, if you’ve had enough news about Russian interference in US elections then you can switch your attention to their interference in US energy markets. The Wall Street Journal (paywall) reviewed a new congressional staff report that states that the Internet Research Agency’s efforts were also focused on “encouraging protests against pipeline construction in the U.S., calling for the abandonment of fossil fuels and stoking American controversy around climate change…Between 2015 and 2017, the IRA posted more than 9,000 times about U.S. energy policy or an energy event, according to the report.”

Also out this week was a FERC announcement “that a report released by the Environmental Defense Fund accusing Eversource Energy and Avangrid Inc. of artificially driving up electricity prices in New England “was flawed and led to incorrect conclusions.” According to the article in CommonWealth Magazine, “FERC said its staff conducted a review of the allegations contained in the report using both public and non-public data and found no evidence of anticompetitive withholding of natural gas pipeline capacity.”

In new energy technology news this week we have an article from oilprice.com titled, MIT’s Miracle Energy Breakthrough. They write, “A black box has been sitting on the roof of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology building for the last few months. Beside it sits a weather monitoring system and a bigger black box to monitor the performance of the first one. That first black box is the first device that can generate power from differences in the temperature of the air—the ultimate clean energy…The team of researchers from MIT’s Chemical Engineering department is calling this device a thermal resonator: a device that draws heat from the air around it and turns this heat into electricity. It does not need to be in the sun, it could actually be put in the perpetual shade below a solar panel, and it would still generate power thanks to the always present temperature fluctuations…it has the hypothetical potential to make batteries obsolete.” Pretty cool!

As always, be sure to check out Northeast Energy News for events. Have a great weekend.

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

FERC calls report on Eversource, Avangrid flawed, CommonWealth Magazine

Rhode Island protesters decry federal offshore drilling plan, Penn Energy

Russian Meddling on Social Media Targeted U.S. Energy Industry, Report Says, Wall Street Journal (paywall)

With Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. build done, Otis State Forest reopens, Berkshire Eagle

Federal agency rebuts environmentalists’ claims about gas pipeline usage, Worcester Telegram

US FERC ends probe of New England gas shippers, calls EDF study ‘flawed’, Platts

Pipelines collide with emissions goal, Albany Times Union

Rhode Island environmentalists and elected officials say ‘No’ to Trump’s offshore drilling proposal, Uprise RI

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

We’ve radically underestimated how vulnerable Americans are to flooding, Vox.com

Optimism and Uncertainty for Rhode Island’s Climate Future, ecoRI news

Over 100 cities around the globe run mostly on renewable energy, Inhabitat

New Report Touts Success Of Regional Carbon Emissions Reduction Program, Rhode Island Public Radio

New Jersey Governor Requests to Rejoin Environmental Pact, U.S. News & World Report

NY Task Force Takes on Carbon Pricing Mechanics, RTO Insider

Mark Jacobson Drops Lawsuit Against Critics of His 100% Renewables Plan, Greentech Media

Solar, Wind Cutting New England Power Demands, But Trouble Expected In Future, Hartford Courant

Report Claims Wood-Based Energy Doesn’t Add Up, EcoRI

Wind

Anti-wind project POWER coalition emerges, Niagara Gazette

Vineyard Wind sweetens pot, Cape Cod Times

Wind industry sues LePage over halting of new permits, Journal Tribune

GE announces Haliade-X, the world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine, Penn Energy

Maine House stalls LePage’s effort to block wind energy development, Bangor Daily News

World’s First Floating Offshore Wind Farm Achieves 65% Capacity Factor After 3 Months, Greentech Media

Falmouth wind turbine spinning again, Cape Cod Times

Plans for world’s ‘largest and most powerful’ offshore wind turbine unveiled, CNBC

One Small Step for BPU, One Small Step for Offshore Wind in NJ, NJ Spotlight

Energy forecast: Wind power will rival gas, Berkshire Eagle

Article on area warrants aims to gather support for studying offshore wind development, The Keene Sentinel

Solar

Clouds form over state’s solar future, Cape Cod Times

Connecticut solar industry wants a clawback, Post-Chronicle

M&T finances major solar project in Maine, Buffalo Business First

Massachusetts solar groups say policy changes needed to stem job loss, Energy News Network

Energy Efficiency/Storage

Vermont utility, city to give away fossil-fuel free home, Caledonian Record

FERC’s Historic Energy Storage Ruling: A Doomsday Countdown for Natural Gas Peakers?, Greentech Media

Brattle: US storage market could reach 50 GW if costs keep declining, Utility Dive

Battery Storage Could Boost Coal Consumption, Greentech Media

New interactive map shows the economic impact that solar, wind, and energy efficiency have on US communities, Environmental Defense Fund

Ridgefield joins state clean-energy program, Danbury News Times

NY attorney general wins energy efficiency lawsuit, Long Island Business News

Nuclear

Connecticut nuclear plant guard falsified record, failed to test weapons Shoreline Times

After Months Of Negotiation, Settlement Days Away On Vermont Yankee Sale, New England Public Radio

Power restored to Indian Point reactor after shutdown caused by electrical failure, The Journal News | LoHud.com

Northern Pass/RFP

Eversource Asks NH To Reconsider Northern Pass Denial, New Hampshire Public Radio

Eversource appeals NH ruling on N. Pass, CommonWealth Magazine

Is Mass. shortchanged on clean energy procurement?, CommonWealth Magazine

Electric Vehicles

Team of rivals: Utilities, enviros unite to push electric vehicles, Utility Dive

How To Prevent Electric Vehicles From Stressing The Grid, Forbes.com

Global tech giants bet on a Massachusetts battery startup, Axios

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

New England grid operators, regulators combat vulnerabilities, theday.com

Energy costs to drop for Eversource customers, Manchester Ink Link

Van Welie: ISO-NE in ‘Race’ to Replace Retirements, RTO Insider

Maine may face brownouts, higher electric prices, Lewiston Sun Journal

Non-Payments to Eversource Nearly Double Over 2-Year Period, U.S. News & World Report

Eversouce pulls back on gas gate project in Hopkinton, MetroWest Daily News

National Grid rate hike hearings underway, Ricentral.com

After rising for 100 years, electricity demand is flat. Utilities are freaking out., Vox.com

Editorial/Opinion

Mass. dragging its feet on grid modernization, CommonWealth Magazine

Time to part ways with traditional utility business model, CommonWealth Magazine

Utility rate design needs reform, CommonWealth Magazine

Just for the Record: Why New York’s Offshore Wind Plan Works, Renewable Energy World

Gas pipelines built now will be with us for decades, The Boston Globe

Letter: An acceptable level, Brattleboro Reformer

Letter: Wrong assumptions on Northern Pass, Concord Monitor

Viewpoint: Why is New England importing LNG from Russia?, Boston Business Journal

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Filed under Climate Change, Electricity Costs, Natural Gas Pipelines, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, solar, Wind Power

Tagged as Avangrid, Eversource, FERC, Northern Pass, nuclear, Rhode Island, Vermont Yankee

November 4, 2017 · 12:23 pm

Energy News for week ending November 4, 2017

Protests take new turn | Storm creates havoc | Natgas Moratorium News

Happy Saturday folks!

We had a “wicked busy” day yesterday so this newsletter is a day behind its normal schedule but it’s filled with an extra day of stories so it’s more a like a “Bonus edition!”

Out in western Mass, WAMC reports that Kinder Morgan protests are turning more aggressive. “Massachusetts State Police said in a statement three pipeline opponents were arrested Wednesday. State police say one man trying to escape arrest pushed a trooper and was hit with a stun gun. Further from home, but incredibly disturbing, is a story from KWWL where it is suspected a wind power opponent placed more than a dozen dead rabbits at the base of a wind turbine. A local environmental consultant believes the rabbits were likely placed under the turbine to attract eagles and other birds into the path of the propellers. Just awful.

Big news this week was the wind storm that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people around New England. Some still remain without power. The response, or slowness of it, has caught the attention of government leaders in Massachusetts (Boston Herald), Rhode Island (ProJo) and Connecticut (NBC Connecticut).

Last for this week, is news from the Daily Hampshire Gazette where Columbia Gas laid out plans to lift the moratorium on new gas connections in Northampton and East Hampton along with several other projects to improve reliability and reduce gas leaks in its Springfield territory.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Natural Gas/Pipeline

Bill aims to protect consumers in pipeline expansions, Daily Hampshire Gazette

Columbia Gas outlines solutions to natural gas logjam, Hampshire Gazette

Natural gas industry seeks expanded infrastructure, Lowell Sun

Spectra defends Weymouth compressor plan amid new concerns, WickedLocal Weymouth

There’s a new tool in the fight to seal the state’s gas leaks, Boston Globe

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. cleared to start flow through Otis State Forest spur, Berkshire Eagle

Police: Kinder Morgan Pipeline Protests Have Turned More Aggressive, WAMC.org

Northeast pipeline controversy exposes gas markets as ‘a recipe for chaos,’ researchers say, Utility Dive

Kinder Morgan denies claims about Otis forest project; TD Bank says it’s not involved, Daily Hampshire Gazette

Power grid operator disqualifies proposed Burrillville plant from electricity auction, The Providence Journal

Public forum in Concord on gas leaks, The Boston Globe

Chelmsford board backs gas leaks bills, Wicked Local Chelmsford

Company says it knew of pipeline coating damage 3 years ago, PennEnergy

Now it’s oilmen who say fracking could harm groundwater, E&E News

How a 672000-Gallon Oil Spill Was Nearly Invisible, New York Times

The Fracking Boom’s Midlife Crisis, Bloomberg

U.S. Energy Regulator Says Coal More Reliable Than Natural Gas, Bloomberg

Climate Change

Dual bills call for climate change action, Lowell Sun

Massive Government Report Says Climate Is Warming And Humans Are The Cause, WBUR

UN environment chief: US likely to live up to Paris accord, CT Post

Atmospheric CO2 Levels Are Now The Highest In 800,000 Years, IFL Science

October 2017 was second warmest on record in Worcester, Telegram.com

Renewable Energy/Policy/etc.

NY Green Bank seeks $1B in private sector investment for clean energy projects, Utility Dive

HomeBiogas 2.0: Ready-to-use biogas solution for the home, Treehugger

New York Stakeholders Question Carbon Pricing Process, RTO Insider

Wind

Bay State Wind opens downtown New Bedford office in wind power bid, South Coast Today

Moosehead-area lawmakers oppose wind projects, Press Herald

Public back New England offshore, REnews

Wind mill tax program not worth the ‘headache,’ Sun Journal

US Bill targets offshore boost, renews

Wind Power Set a New Renewable Energy Record in Europe Last Week, Futurism

US and Denmark sign deal for offshore wind cooperation, Energy Digital

Dead rabbits found on local wind farm, KWWL

Solar

Is solar+storage eligible for net metering in Massachusetts? Tesla and others want to know, Utility Dive

Solar permitting data shows residential market woes, pv magazine USA

New England Solar and Storage Symposium 2017: The Presentations, Greentech Media

Energy Efficiency

Town of Maynard reduces energy use by 22 percent, Wicked Local Bolton

Time to Change Our Clocks Back and Our Lightbulbs Forward, Natural Resources Defense Council

New Hampshire House committee votes to end RGGI-funded efficiency investments, Utility Dive

Nuclear

Malloy signs Millstone bill, then questions its need, The Day

Connecticut governor calls for Dominion cooperation, World Nuclear News

Consultant airs Vermont Yankee contamination concerns, Brattleboro Reformer

NARUC, other energy organizations urge Congress to fund Nuclear Waste Program, Daily Energy Insider

Crews restoring power to Seabrook nuke plant sirens, Seacoastonline.com

Storm knocks out Pilgrim power line, Cape Cod Times

Storm

AG eyes utility’s power restoration efforts after storm, Boston Herald

Following outage, Grid wants to bill ratepayers $39M for tree-clearing, Boston Herald

National Grid under fire for slow response to outages, The Providence Journal

State reports 31000 still without power, Lowell Sun

Utility’s storm prep called into question, Boston Herald

Frustration Mounts As Thousands Remain Without Power, Hartford Courant

Ledyard Mayor, Frustrated With Eversource Response, Postpones Trick or Treating, NBC Connecticut

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Healey fights Eversource’s $4.9M reimbursement request, Boston Globe

Eversource touts N. Pass ‘certainty,’ CommonWealth Magazine

Eversource Seeking $336.8M Electricity Rate Increase Amid Criticism Over Recent Storm Response, Hartford Courant

Sudbury: Eversource power line proposal faces state hearings, Wicked Local Sudbury

Sixty-Four House Members Tell Pruitt RFS has Failed, DTN The Progressive Farmer

Mayor Carpenter: Brockton Power is dead, Enterprise News

Budding marijuana sector brings big load growth, efficiency challenges for utilities, Utility Dive

Fall back no more? Commission moves time zone issue forward, WCVB Boston

Thoughts for fuel: Bringing new technology to home-heating delivery, Boston Globe

Why You Should Fear a Cyberattack on the Grid, Greentech Media

In private meeting Cuomo administration pushes utilities for more REV investment, Politico

What Is Grid Modernization? An Explainer, Conservation Law Foundation blog

Why We Need Microgrid Cybersecurity: The Threat is Real, Microgrid Knowledge

Editorial/Opinion

Budget Hurts Environment, Hartford Courant

Lessons from first campus carbon-pricing scheme, Nature.com

Opinion: Approve Vermont Yankee plan, BurlingtonFreePress.com

Paying environmental tribute to neighboring states, Commonwealth Magazine

Guy Page: ‘Residential standards’ for VY decommissioning make little sense, VT Digger

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Filed under Climate Change, Electricity Costs, Natural Gas Pipelines, solar, Wind Power

Tagged as climate change, Columbia Gas of MA, Eversource, Kinder Morgan, National Grid, natural gas, Northern Pass, power outages, Spectra

October 20, 2017 · 12:11 pm

Energy News for week ending October 20, 2017

LNG boom | Delayed Report | Where’s the gas

Happy sunny Friday folks.

We start this week with a story from the New York Times about the US’s move from an energy importer to an exporter – specifically related to natural gas. They write, “A shale gas drilling boom over the last decade has propelled the United States from energy importer to exporter, taking the country a giant leap toward the goal of energy independence declared by presidents for half a century. Now the upheaval of the domestic energy sector is going global. A swell of gas in liquefied form shipped from Texas and Louisiana is descending on global markets, producing a broader glut and lower energy prices.”

DOE’s NOPR filing with FERC has caused ISO-New England to delay the release of its much-anticipated fuel security study, according to an article in CommonWealth Magazine. “ISO-New England has been working on its fuel security study since late 2016 and planned to release it Oct. 24. Few details have been released about the study, but it appears to focus on whether New England’s heavy reliance on natural gas for generating electricity could eventually put the grid at risk without the construction of additional pipeline capacity. The study is expected to analyze fuel security for the winter of 2024-2025 ‘because challenges to power system reliability are expected to be manageable in the near term.’ The grid operator decided to hold off after US Energy Secretary Rick Perry ordered the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to develop and issue grid resiliency rules.”

Last story for this week is a story from Greentech Media noting that “A review of Europe’s top wind-powered countries seems to refute the idea that gas peaking capacity is required to balance out intermittent generation. But partly it’s because these high-wind nations have unique balancing acts, and partly because gas is not the answer after all.”

As always, be sure to check out Northeast Energy News for regional energy events. Have a great weekend, the weather looks to be spectacular!

Natural Gas/Pipeline

Study accusing Eversource and Avangrid of pipeline manipulation ‘ridiculous,’ says industry trade group, MassLive

Charlestown Gets Say in Burrillville Power-Plant Saga, ecoRI news

EFSB Grants Invenergy Motion To Exclude Resolutions From Evidence, Rhode Island Public Radio

Water supply pact means delay for final hearings on Burrillville power plant plan, Projo

PURA to review CT utilities’ pipeline practices, Hartford Business

Massachusetts reviews natgas manipulation claim, Argus Media

Sen. Asks FERC To Probe $3.6B Market Manipulation Claims, Law360

Fossil Fuel Misinformation Helps Quash Community Effort to Ban Fracking in Youngstown, Ohio, DeSmog

Senate bill would fast-track ‘small-scale’ natural gas exports, The Hill

‘This is a really big deal’: Canada natural gas emissions far worse than feared, The Guardian

Judge Allows ‘Necessity’ Defense by Climate Activists in Oil Pipeline Protest, InsideClimate News

Boom in American Liquefied Natural Gas Is Shaking Up the Energy World, New York Times

Pipeline backers, New York duel over water quality certificates, Utility Dive

Renewable Energy

Lawmakers Debate How To Attract More Renewable Energy In Mass., WAMC

How the US might fulfill its Paris pledge without the White House, Phys.Org

What It Will Take to Rebuild the Caribbean With Clean Energy, Greentech Media

In the Future, Your Home May Be Powered by a Tesla Battery, Futurism

Governors Push Clean Energy Technology, U.S. News & World Report

LePage invites bio-based businesses to call Maine home, Press Herald

Wood pellet boilers at Sanderson opposed, Greenfield Recorder

Vermont Landfill Plans to Build Greenhouses Powered by Geothermal Heat, Waste 360

State’s clean energy sector remains hopeful in a climate of uncertainty, (subscriber content), Boston Business Journal

Wind

Delaware Wants In on the US Offshore Wind Market, Greentech Media

First floating wind farm, built by offshore oil company, delivers electricity, Ars Technica

Can deepwater wind farms power the world?, USA TODAY

US Energy Dept. Shows Love For Teeny Tiny Micro Wind Turbines, CleanTechnica

Maine city struggles to get rid of windmill that never produced energy as promised, Bangor Daily News

This Controversial Law Could Stifle the US Offshore Wind Market, Greentech Media

Solar

South Portland power grid soaks up the sun, WCSH-TV

DEEP taking heat on its proposed changes to solar policy, The CT Mirror

Newport Looks to Move Toward Solar, New Hampshire Public Radio

Solar buy proposed for Manchester, NewHampshire.com

Chelmsford solar project latest as panels continue march across region, Lowell Sun
Three companies bid on Fall River solar farm, Herald News

Solar power project brings a crowd to informational meeting, Daily Bulldog

Moscow Board of Selectmen advocates for solar power project, centralmaine.com

Solar Will Help N.H. Soup Kitchen ‘Get More Food To Hungry People,’ Solar Industry Magazine

Energy Efficiency

The Proposed Repeal of the Clean Power Plan Shortchanges the Benefits of Energy Efficiency, Energy Collective

Energy efficiency as a resource: The power of getting more from less, Utility Dive

Europe will be spending $112 billion on energy efficient building technologies in 2026, Climate Action Programme

MA Ranked Among Most Energy Efficient States in US, GoLocal Worcester

World’s most sustainable office space opens in London, Curbed

Connecticut Town Goes LED, Saving $338000 Per Year, Energy Manager Today

Nuclear

Conservative think tank: Plan to help coal, nuclear power ‘arbitrary’, The Hill

Rick Perry’s plan to subsidize coal and nuclear plants is bonkers, Vox

US should incentivize the development of small modular reactors: Moniz, Platts

Opponents say premature closing of Millstone would cost Dominion $1B, The Day

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

PUC Sides With Public’s Right-to-know On Eversource $100 Million Question, InDepth NH

Without Action, Northern Pass to Cut Straight Through Plymouth, PSU The Clock

LaFleur: DOE NOPR likely not detailed enough to form final rule, Utility Dive

Report: New England paying more than necessary for its electricity, The Recorder

Plan to ‘bury the power lines’ dealt another blow, Turn to 10

Eversource case: Protect Sudbury scrambles after expert quits, MetroWest Daily News

Eversource Protest Draws a Crowd, The Vineyard Gazette – Martha’s Vineyard News

Pack Monandock utility pole project may cause snag for hikers, NewHampshire.com

Connecticut regulators approve two grid modernization proposals, Electric Light & Power

Intermittent Renewables Are Up. So Where Is All of the Gas?, Greentech Media

Citing Trump initiative, grid operator delays report, CommonWealth Magazine

Connecticut regulators open investigation on Eversource, Avangrid pipeline practices, Utility Dive

What FERC Commissioners Are Saying About the DOE NOPR, Greentech Media

What’s Electric Resilience Worth to You?, Microgrid Knowledge

Moniz: Utilities should prepare for very low carbon future, Utility Dive

4 signs that Trump’s furious efforts to save coal are futile, Vox.com

Climate change impacts coming to Crane Beach, Salem News

Editorial/Opinion

Beyond public safety, fixing aging gas pipelines is good for our economy | Opinion, NJ.com

Natural gas supply critical to keeping CT manufacturers competitive, Hartford Business

Time to put pedal to the metal, CommonWealth Magazine

Mass. citizens point the way on climate change, CommonWealth Magazine

Editorial: Eversource must quickly connect Bar-Way project to the grid, Going Green

Why Cap and Invest Is the Right Solution for Massachusetts Transportation, Union of Concerned Scientists Blog

A way New York can cut electric bills, Albany Times Union

How America Should Promote Energy Innovation in the Face of Extreme Weather, Greentech Media

Sunny days: Gatsas gets a solar deal, Union Leader

My Turn: A windfall for utilities at taxpayers’ expense, Concord Monitor

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Filed under Energy Efficiency, nuclear, solar, Wind Power

Tagged as Eversource, ISO New England, LNG, Northern Pass, Rhode Island

September 22, 2017 · 2:04 pm

Energy News for week ending September 22, 2017

FERC Priorities | Seaweed Biofuel | Green Hospitals

Happy Friday to All,

Commonwealth Magazine reports on a recent FERC ruling that signals the agency is “willing to take a more activist role in state pipeline battles.” In other news from our nation’s capital, the Department of Energy says US offshore resources could support enough seaweed production to supply up to 10% of the current demand for transportation fuel and they have awarded $22 million in grants to accelerate the development of seaweed as a next-generation biofuel. And for some good green news, the Boston Business Journal has a story on how Boston hospitals have made great progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions–a 9 percent reduction since 2011.

Thank you for reading! Enjoy your weekend.

Natural Gas/Pipeline

Could feds pave way for new Mass. gas project?, CommonWealth Magazine

Gas leaks delay tree planting, Salem News

‘Lost gas’: Pipelines known to leak methane, Berkshire Eagle

Gas pipeline protesters turn up heat on FERC, Utility Dive

‘Lost gas’: Pipelines known to leak methane, Berkshire Eagle

Senate Bill Would Streamline FERC NatGas Pipeline Permitting, Natural Gas Intelligence
Hundreds Of Vertical Oil Wells Damaged By Horizontal Fracking, OilPrice.com

Renewable Energy

Trump Admin. Pitches Seaweed For Biofuel-Powered Car Of The Future, CleanTechnica

California’s Plan for 100% Renewables Falls Flat in the 11th Hour, Greentech Media

Why Solar Advocates Are Crying Foul Over New York’s Latest REV Order, Greentech Media

After slide, prices tick up in latest RGGI auction, Hartford Business

Two RGGI offset protocols to bite the dust as states publish more details on proposed market changes, Carbon Pulse

Bill Would Commit Massachusetts To 100 Percent Renewable Energy, WGBH

Fishing industry takes more action against New York offshore wind lease, National Wind Watch

Deepwater Wind Installs Wildlife Tracking Station on Offshore Block Island Wind, Power Engineering

Boxford’s Municipal Solar Power Generation Facility, Valley Patriot

Oakham Farm Inspires Central Massachusetts’ 100 Percent Renewable Energy Goal, GovTech.com

Connecticut unions, environmentalists want more wind power, New Haven Register

Activists urge legislators to support ‘Green Bank,’ Greenfield Recorder

Fall River solar farm near North Watuppa Pond moving forward, Herald News

Canada has too much clean electricity. Anybody want it?, E&E News

States pick up the clean energy torch, The Boston Globe

Energy Efficiency

Six climate change solutions we can all agree on, Phys.Org

Blockchain: Coming to a Smart Building Near You?, Greentech Media

Derby Residents Can Upgrade To New LED Bulbs, Patch.com

National Grid gives King Brothers Dairy $120000 for energy-efficient gear, The Daily Gazette

Nuclear

Seabrook nuclear plant watchdog’s request rejected, Portsmouth Herald

Vernon seeks ‘unrestricted’ future for Vermont Yankee site, VT Digger

Tribes seek voice in nuclear plant cleanup, land restoration, Penn Energy

Dominion’s lips remain sealed on Millstone financials, Hartford Business

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Why utilities don’t move power lines out of hurricanes’ way, Vox.com

As Brayton Point taxes wither, residents say they’d be willing to pay more for some services, Herald News

Medway: Work begins on Exelon expansion, MetroWest Daily News

Harvard University: A Valedictorian of Microgrids and Distributed Energy, Microgrid Knowledge

Boston area hospitals cut greenhouse gases by 9% since 2011, BBJ

Upton selectmen seek cheaper energy, Wicked Local Upton

Changing Massachusetts time zone could improve health, boost retail sales, save energy, commission finds, MassLive

A ‘Tax’ Or ‘The Cost Of Pollution’? Mass. Debates Surcharge On Fossil Fuels, WBUR

Heating Prices Rise in Maine as Fall Weather Nears, US News and World Report

State committee says Northern Pass plans have ‘potential inaccuracies’, The Union Leader

Budget Crisis Leads to Proposed Electric Bill Changes, NBC CT

Worcester crew part of National Grid aid efforts in Florida, Worcester Telegram

Siting Board Denies Latest Appeal to Halt Power Plant, ecoRI news

ISO-NE Forecast Sees Flat Loads, More Solar, No Congestion, RTO Insider

Raimondo establishes a Chief Resiliency Officer to combat climate change effects, RI Future

Eversource says fewer people have lost power this year, cites system improvements, Concord Monitor

Editorial/Opinion

States pick up the clean energy torch, Boston Globe

Milton Eaton: Defending Vermont Yankee decommissioning, VT Digger

Hydrogen fueling stations central to CCAT-hosted events, Hartford Courant

Carbon fee is our climate ‘moon shot,’ and it’s well within reach, The Boston Globe

Our View: Global warming needs political climate change, Press Herald

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Filed under Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, Natural Gas Pipelines, nuclear, Renewables, solar, Wind Power

Tagged as biofuel, climate change, energy efficiency, ISO New England, National Grid, Northern Pass, nuclear, offshore wind, renewable, RGGI, solar

September 1, 2017 · 12:38 pm

Energy News for week ending September 1, 2017

Gas Pump Pain | Giant Batteries | Northern Pass Delay

Hopefully many of you are headed out of the door to start your long weekend so we’ll keep the news highlights short. Our thoughts go out to all those impacted by Hurricane Harvey–it has been hard to wrap our heads around the scale of devastation and destruction. Damage to energy supplies in Texas combined with the normal increase in Labor Day holiday travel is already leading to higher gas prices throughout New England. In better news, giant batteries are starting to make a positive mark on the electric grid reports WNPR. And depending upon which side of the Northern Pass issue you are on, you may or may not be happy to learn NH State regulators announced they will delay their final decision on the Northern Pass by another six months to March 30, 2018. We hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Hurricane Harvey: New England Impact

Hurricane fuels gas-price hike as reserves tapped, Lowell Sun

Energy Dept. taps into emergency oil reserves after Harvey, The Hill

Colonial Pipeline to shut US Northeast fuel lines due to Harvey, Reuters

Harvey’s impact in Southern New England might be at the pump, Turn to 10

EPA waives emission rules in 38 states amid fears of fuel shortages, Washington Examiner

Natural Gas/Pipeline

Discharge water from Tennessee Gas Co. pipeline testing worries environmentalists, Berkshire Eagle

State drops charges against 4 pipeline protesters arrested for blocking access to Otis State Forest, Berkshire Eagle

Putin-linked steel company supplies pipes for Kinder Morgan’s expansion project in Otis State Forest, Berkshire Eagle

FERC Denies Request To Halt Kinder Morgan’s Pipeline Expansion, Again, WAMC

Smell Natural Gas Outside? Report It, But Don’t Always Expect A Fix, Cape Cod Chronicle

Gas Co. Challenges NY Pipeline Permit Denial At 2nd Circ., Law360

Weymouth: Sen. Warren Reaffirms Opposition to Compressor Station, 95.9 WATD-FM

Natural Gas Upgrade: Eversource Begins $2.2M Project In East Norwalk, Norwalk Daily Voice

Renewable Energy

Gigantic Batteries Help Grow Renewable Energy In Maine, New England, WNPR News

RI Wastewater Treatment Authority To Reach 100% Renewable Energy By 2018, Rhode Island Public Radio

Solar power microgrid goes online in Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts, Electric Light & Power

History-rich Maine island goes green, WLBZ-TV

Chemetal taps into solar with 560-panel roof array, GazetteNET

Possible tariff puts NH solar firms on edge, New Hampshire Business Review

From Fenway Park to Wembley, these stadiums are going big on renewable energy, CNBC

No anti-competitive behavior in RGGI secondary market, report finds, Utility Dive

Sununu Satisfied With Latest RGGI Proposal, New Hampshire Public Radio

Policymaker support key to offshore wind prospects in US, Utility Dive

World’s Biggest Wind Turbine Maker Waves Goodbye to Oil Industry, Bloomberg

Narragansett Bay Commission Adding Solar, Will Be Nearly 100% Renewable, GoLocalProv

Energy Efficiency

How Does the United States Rate in Energy Efficiency?, Energy Collective

Making data centers more energy efficient, MIT News

Heating Camden’s new middle school from town’s sewer plant: What’s the cost and can it be done?, PenBayPilot.com

500 cities have committed to going big on clean energy this year – now what?, Into the Wind

Nuclear

If nuclear is not in the future US energy mix, what will replace it?, Utility Dive

Newburyport City Council to review letter to NRC calling for hearing, The Daily News of Newburyport

Opponents launch petition against Millstone “deal”; Dominion says group “misleads” consumers, theday.com

Environmental Group Seeks Added Financial Protections In Vermont Yankee Sale, Vermont Public Radio

Vermont Yankee companies expand request to seal documents, vtdigger.org

No new pollution at Vermont Yankee, Brattleboro Reformer

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Eversource dealt 6-month setback for Northern Pass transmission line, MassLive.com

State committee delays Northern Pass decision until 2018, The Union Leader

Northern Pass dealt regulatory blow, Commonwealth Magazine

Eversource Asks PUC To Conceal Fiscal Info On Berlin Biomass Plant, Caledonian Record

Utilities Grapple with Rooftop Solar and the New Energy Landscape, Yale Environment 360

Executive Councilor: Sununu Needs To Do More Outreach On Northern Pass, New Hampshire Public Radio

National Grid, Hydro-Quebec snipe over hydro power, Commonwealth Magazine

RI approves rate hike for National Grid, The Sun Chronicle

Could Success Spoil ISO-NE?, POWER magazine

Editorial/Opinion

States Dare to Think Big on Climate Change, New York Times

Misinformation being spread about Northern Pass project, Foster’s Daily Democrat

My Turn: Michael F. Sabitoni: Natural gas plant vital for RI, The Providence Journal

Foss: Proposed energy rate increase is too much, The Daily Gazette

My Turn: Hydro-Quebec cannot rewrite history, Concord Monitor

Letter: Colin Nagle: National Grid ought to modernize energy infrastructure, The Providence Journal

Renewing RGGI: Do nothing, but more of it, The Union Leader

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Filed under Energy Efficiency, Natural Gas Pipelines, Renewables, solar, Wind Power

Tagged as electric rates, electricity, energy efficiency, Eversource, ISO New England, National Grid, natural gas, New Hampshire, Northern Pass, RGGI, solar

August 18, 2017 · 3:29 pm

Energy News for week ending August 18, 2017

Eclipse Effect | Worcester Flips Switch | Mass policy bad for Moosehead

Happy Friday folks.

We’re ending this week by talking about next week – Monday to be specific – and the total lunar eclipse. Here in Massachusetts the sun is going to be about 60 percent covered by the moon. The eclipse is making great fodder for energy sector news and opinions. So much so that we’ve dedicated a special section to it below. Folks from the natural gas industry say, “Natural gas will shine as it always does,” (Energy Tomorrow) and Microgrid Knowledge asks, “Can a national demand response event fill in the solar gap?” Regardless, the folks at Think Progress tell us that even though the sun will disappear Monday, your electricity won’t.

Speaking of the sun, this week the Telegram tells us how Worcester, MA flipped the switch on New England’s largest municipally-owned solar farm. Encompassing 25 acres (about 19 football fields) and 28,600 solar panels, the solar farm is expected to save Worcester $60 million over its 30-year lifespan. Cool.

Up Maine, some folks aren’t so happy with Massachusetts’ energy policy. According to the Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel, people in the Moosehead Lake regional are worried about proposals to build up to 204 new wind turbines generating 703 megawatts of power to meet the needs of clean energy RFPs for their neighbors in southern New England. At stake, they say, is the potential for damage to the rich aquifer that feeds Moosehead Lake and the long, deep Shirley Bog.

Have a great weekend.

Eclipse

An Eclipse Is Just What the US Power Sector’s Been Waiting For, Bloomberg

Can a National Demand Response Event Fill in the Solar Gap for Monday’s Eclipse?, Microgrid Knowledge

Eclipse Mania: Natural Gas Will Shine – As It Always Does, Energy Tomorrow

What Happens to Solar Power in an Eclipse? We’ll Find Out Monday, New York Times

The solar eclipse may knock 9000 Megawatts of solar power offline, TreeHugger

When the sun disappears Monday, your electricity won’t, Think Progress

Amidst Solar Eclipse’s Test On Clean Power, One Smart Grid Solution Offers A Cautionary Tale, Energy Collective

Natural Gas/Pipeline

Kinder Morgan paid Massachusetts State Police $115 thousand to defend controversial pipeline, MuckRock

Compressor foes tell Braintree council about worrisome air-test results, Wicked Local West Roxbury