Tag Archives: Orsted

Permit Approved | No difference | Eat ‘em up

Happy glorious summer Friday afternoon!

Let’s see what’s in this week’s energy news.

From the Patriot Ledger, “Opponents of a natural gas compressor station proposed for a site in Weymouth were dealt another blow Thursday as a state adjudicator recommended the approval of an air-quality permit for the project. Hearing officer Jane Rothchild of the state Department of Environmental Protection said the department should uphold a permit issued to gas company Spectra Energy-Enbridge and reject an appeal filed by Weymouth, Quincy, Braintree, Hingham and a citizens group, which together had argued that the proposed station would worsen air pollution in the Fore River Basin and endanger the lives of nearby residents. Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg has the final say on the approval of the permit, but Weymouth Mayor Robert Hedlund said he doesn’t expect Suuberg to deny it. Hedlund on Thursday said he is ‘disappointed but not shocked’ by the decision, and said the town was considering its legal options for further appeal.”

On Monday, Vineyard Wind said it would move three turbines to help preserve fishing grounds, but yesterday according to an article on South Coast Today the fisheries groups basically replied, “Yeah. No.” “Vineyard Wind’s decision to move three turbines farther away from Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket makes no significant difference to the preservation of fishing grounds, fisheries sources say. The offshore wind company announced Monday that it had removed three of the 84 planned turbines from the north end of the grid and placed them elsewhere among its 106 approved turbine locations. The south side of the Islands, where the change was made, is a prime squid fishing ground. Katie Almeida, fisheries policy analyst for Rhode Island squid dealer The Town Dock, told The Standard-Times the move will do little to help the industry. ‘The removal of the turbines gives a very small portion of our traditional fishing grounds back, however we still don’t know how construction and operation are going to affect squid in and around that lease area,’ she said. With spacing of Vineyard Wind turbines starting at eight-tenths of a mile apart, the space represents a few square miles. The wind farm is about 14 miles from shore.”

Lord knows I love my calamari (that just sounds so much more appetizing than squid), but how about Green Eggs and Ham? Scratch that – I meant to write green crabs. From the Boston Globe, “Green crabs are wreaking havoc on our coastal habitat. So let’s eat them. “When life gives you lemons,” the saying goes, “make lemonade.” And when life fills the ocean with invasive green crabs that prey on the local shellfish population and wreak havoc on the coastal habitat, The Green Crab R&D Project says eat them. Not only will you be helping the environment, you will enjoy a culinary specialty that has been celebrated in Venice for generations. Green crabs (which, despite the name can be any color, even multi-hued) are native to parts of Western Europe and North Africa. They first appeared on the East Coast of North America in the early 1800s, but did not proliferate until the late 20th century. Today they have invaded nearly every continent, and their populations and range are expected to increase with climate change. Though relatively small, they are fierce and prey on a variety of shellfish. In their search the crabs cut through eelgrass, damaging essential sea life habitats. Each female can lay 185,000 eggs per year, and according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, a single crab can eat 40 half-inch clams in a day. The Green Crab R&D Project (greencrab.org), established in 2017, is a nonprofit dedicated to developing markets for green crabs, both to remove the predatory creatures from the water and to help fishermen and -women develop alternative sources of revenue. In February the group released “The Green Crab Cookbook,” written by executive director Mary Parks and Thanh Thai and contributors to the Project. All proceeds from the book go to the organization.”

Consider that your tip for your next barbecue.

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

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

State adjudicator OKs Weymouth compressor station air permit, Patriot Ledger

For power plant opponents, EFSB decision was grown on home turf, Breeze Publications

Fed up lawmakers seek air monitoring laws near Weymouth compressor, Wicked Local

Philly refinery explosion set to drive up holiday gas prices in Northeast U.S., PhillyVoice

Activists use art to draw attention to Weymouth compressor controversy, Patriot Ledger

NextEra sees batteries displacing gas-fired peakers, otherwise bullish on gas, Platts

Health officials want studies of natural gas projects, Gloucester Times

Cuomo’s opposition to natural gas hurts environment, report argues,  Crain’s NY Business

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

Senators target 50% national renewable energy standard by 2035, zero-carbon by 2050, Utility Dive

Kids suing governments about climate: It’s a global trend, National Geographic

A Whale Of A Problem: Youth Climate Activists Construct Mosaic In Boston, Demand Action, WBUR

How Do You Talk to Children About Climate Change?, New York Times

Green crabs are wreaking havoc on our coastal habitat. So let’s eat them., Boston Globe

Governor wants Pennsylvania to join greenhouse gas reduction program, Reuters

Massachusetts regulators approve state’s largest clean energy procurement, Utility Dive

Lawmakers discuss Brayton Point’s potential as ‘renewable energy headquarters,’ Herald News

Wild Weather Is Endangering World’s Oldest Form of Clean Power, Bloomberg

It’s true: Environmental and business groups are on the same page, Boston Globe

How an Eagle’s Nest Shows the Challenges of New York’s Climate Plan, New York Times

How America’s biggest renewable-energy power line failed, Axios

Wind

Fishermen say Vineyard Wind’s turbine relocation makes no difference, South Coast today

Vineyard Wind moves turbines to aid fishing vessels, South Coast Today

Orsted Wins New Jersey’s First Offshore Wind Solicitation, Greentech Media

Building the Wind Turbines Was Easy. The Hard Part Was Plugging Them In, Wall St. Journal

After Brayton Point visit, Markey backs extended tax credits for wind industry, Herald News

Interior delays, costs may dim offshore wind’s prospects, E&E News

The Push Is On For More Wind Farms Off the South Fork, Sag Harbor Express

Will future sunsets over Lake Erie include windmills?, WBFO

Building an offshore wind industry along the US East Coast: The role of state collaboration, McKinsey & Company

N.J. just gave the green light to build the nation’s largest offshore wind farm, NJ.com

Court rules in favor of Villenova residents in wind turbine lawsuit, Observer Today

Solar

Tufts adds new solar energy systems, expands its commitment to clean energy, Newswise.com

New laws hope to build up solar and fight climate change, NewscenterMaine.com

The reality behind solar power’s next star material, Nature

Charge your phone with solar power as a first step to going green, CNET

Efficiency/Storage

Massachusetts sweetening the deal for energy storage systems, Axios

Haddam home among Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge winners, The Advocate

As Trump Administration pursues wide-ranging attacks on energy efficiency, states, others fight back, Utility Dive

Maine Decides to Go Big on Heat Pumps, Greentech Media

Arizona, New Jersey homes costliest to cool in summer, Sense finds, Utility Dive

Heat Pump Water Heaters Can be Demand Response Assets, Greentech Media

EVs

State plans to scrap electric vehicle rebate, Salem News

In lobbying battle for electric vehicle tax credit, it’s car makers vs. the oil and gas industry, Washington Post

Nuclear

The Latest: US senators look to end nuclear waste stalemate, AP

SNC Lavalin : AMERICA’S $60 BILLION POT OF GOLD, Marketscreener.com

Concrete expert to speak on Seabrook Station, Newburyport Daily News

Regulators Tour Seabrook Nuclear Plant Ahead Of Hearing On Concrete Cracks, New Hampshire Public Radio

A Boston startup developing a nuclear fusion reactor just got a roughly $50 million boost, TechCrunch

Cambridge fusion energy startup completes $115 million funding round, Boston Globe

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices, etc.

Newspaper’s investigation says Maine utility misled public, Associated Press

New operating reserve region to launch in NYISO’s energy markets, S&P Global Platts

Despite emissions concerns, Hydro-Quebec contracts OK’d, CommonWealth Magazine

Residents: Eversource’s plan to spray herbicides must be stopped, Daily Hampshire Gazette

Work on Seacoast Reliability Project moves ahead, Foster’s Daily Democrat

Smart meter swap promised savings that never came, Sun Journal

Large and Unique Mass Transit Microgrid Moves Forward in New Jersey, Microgrid Knowledge

Editorial/Opinion

Letter: Four reasons sununu’s net metering veto harms NH, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Polisena: Board’s decision on Burrillville plant ‘disappointing’, Johnston Sun Rise

As Trump Administration pursues wide-ranging attacks on energy efficiency, states, others fight back, Keene Sentinel

Our View: Customers need real answers from Central Maine Power, Portland Press Heralds