Tag Archives: RGGI

May 4, 2018 · 3:28 pm

Energy News for week ending May 4, 2018

Shots fired | Energy Flow Chart | Realtors Push Back

Happy Friday afternoon.

This week CommonWealth Magazine reports that new shots were fired in the gas pipeline war. From the article, “A group of natural gas pipeline opponents released a report on Thursday suggesting the operator of New England’s power grid used ‘unreasonable assumptions’ when it concluded that rolling brownouts were possible in 2024 without additional gas supplies. The new report, prepared by Synapse Energy Economics for the Conservation Law Foundation and a handful of other groups, said the power grid operator low-balled renewable energy development, hydro-electricity imports from Quebec, and liquefied natural gas imports to make its case.

Moving to a bigger picture, Vox.com gives us a detailed look at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s US energy use data. Dave Roberts writes, “Perhaps the most striking feature of the spaghetti diagram — what everyone notices the first time they see it — is the enormous amount of “rejected” energy. Not just some, but almost two-thirds of the potential energy embedded in our energy sources ended up wasted in 2017…What’s more, the US economy is trending less and less efficient over time.”

And last for this week, coming back closer to home, is an article by Christian Wade in the Eagle Tribune that MA Governor Baker’s proposal for a new system for grading home energy efficiency is “getting a cool reception from the Massachusetts Realtors Association, which argues that mandating energy audits would impact home sales. They told lawmakers that a mandate could slow turnover in an already tight housing market and negatively affect low-income communities.”

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

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

More shots fired in pipeline wars, CommonWealth Magazine

Invenergy Hearings Focus on Facts, Lies and Hyperbole, ecoRI news

Fracking Waste Ordinance Goes to Clinton Voters May 8, Zip06.com

Final hearing stage on Burrillville power plant begins, Valley Breeze

Proximity to fracking sites affects public support of them, study finds, Science Daily

Study: Fracking Chemicals Alter Immune System in Mice, EcoWatch

Eversource continuing construction for natural gas in Darien, Darien Times

Fore River residents set out to document health issues in the basin, The Patriot Ledger

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

How big can New England’s regional cap-and-trade program get?, Utility Dive

Clean Energy Advocates Reject Regional Fuel Supply Warnings, New Hampshire Public Radio

Going green helps Lanesborough farms save green, Berkshire Eagle

New York grid operator floats carbon pricing proposal, Utility Dive

Wind

Vineyard takes forward step, reNews

Build offshore wind farms, transmission separately, CommonWealth magazine

Offshore Wind May Finally Be Here (Really), POWER magazine

Living near municipal wind turbines has residents on guard, Patriot Ledger

Document from the National Weather Service lists possible radar interference impact from wind turbines, Watertown Daily News

Wind project off Vineyard could power hospitals, Cape Cod Times

Officials reviewing options on wind turbine, WAGM (Maine)

Solar

New York ISO: Distributed solar largely to blame for declining load, Utility Dive

New England colleges form partnership to purchase and use solar energy, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian

New Solar Panel Array Helps RI Reduce Its Energy Consumption, Rhode Island Public Radio

2017 Was Weird For Solar. What’s Coming This Year and Beyond?, Greentech Media

Solar array planned for Southwest Harbor, Mount Desert Islander

Old Sturbridge Village adds 5,400 solar panels, Worcester Business Journal

Solar at the crossroads: Is utility-scale, distributed or both the way to go?, Utility Dive

Energy Efficiency/Storage

Providence Unveils Large Building Energy Efficiency Program, U.S. News & World Report

Realtors push back against Baker’s energy audit plan, Eagle-Tribune

Brockton is lit — city LEDs the way with streetlight project, Enterprise

Lithium-ion domination could block promising storage technologies, MIT finds, Utility Dive

Nuclear

Activists Warn Against Relicensing Seabrook Nuclear Plant, Where Cracks Are Spreading, New Hampshire Public Radio

Port council asks NRC for hearing on Seabrook emergency response plan, The Daily News of Newburyport

Regulators outline nuke-bid timeline, Hartford Business

NASA Tests New Nuclear Reactor For Future Space Travelers, New England Public Radio

House to vote next week to move ahead with Yucca Mountain as nuclear waste dump, Washington Examiner

Bill Gates in Search of Nuclear Nirvana, Scientific American

How the Nuclear Industry Is Fighting Back, Greentech Media

NuScale SMR Becomes First to Complete NRC Phase One Review, Power Engineering

DOE Invests $60M in Nuclear Energy R&D Projects, ExecutiveGov

Port council asks NRC for hearing on Seabrook emergency response plan, Newburyport Daily News

PJM: FirstEnergy nukes can retire without reliability threat, Utility Dive

New Jersey’s nuclear subsidies could go to out-of-state plants, NJspotlight.com

NASA Successfully Tests Portable Nuclear Reactor for Space, Energy Central

EVs

15 minute charge for a 300 mile range? DOE moves to boost EVs, Utility Dive

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

American energy use, in one diagram, Vox

ISO-NE cost recovery proposal opens new front in fuel security debate, Utility Dive

ISO New England hits milestone: More grid power used at night than midday, Utility Dive

‘Cyber Blindspot’ Threatens Energy Companies Spending Too Little, Bloomberg

Utilities must detail tax savings, Salem News

Get ready for the most expensive driving season in years, Penn Energy

‘First time in New Hampshire’ rate system for Liberty gas would compensate for losses due to energy efficiency, Concord Monitor

The Power Market Fix We’ve Been Waiting For, Greentech Media

ISO says New England can meet 2018 summer heat wave electricity demand, MassLive.com

Opponents file arguments with state to scuttle or reshape CMP plan for 145-mile power line, Press Herald

Eversource dives into proxy battle over Connecticut Water, The Boston Globe

ISO-NE Planning Advisory Committee Briefs: April 26, 2018, RTO Insider

Eversource: Filing ‘Fully Addresses’ Northern Pass Criticism, U.S. News & World Report

National Grid’s tunnel vision: Digging below the Buffalo River, Buffalo News

CMP transmission project expected to fatten parent Avangrid’s bottom line, Press Herald

New Hampshire’s Energy Strategy: Lower Costs, Less Focus on Subsidies, New Hampshire Public Radio

Editorial/Opinion

Shocker: Opposition forms to Maine hydro plan, Boston Globe

Is Offshore Wind About To Hit Cost-Competitiveness In New York And New England?, Forbes.com

Build offshore wind farms, transmission separately, CommonWealth Magazine

Fracking is wrecking Pennsylvania, LancasterOnline

Governor, move more quickly on offshore wind, CommonWealth magazine

YOUR VIEW: Powering our march towards a renewable future, SouthCoastToday.com

Infrastructure Necessary for Energy Independence, Revere Journal

YOUR VIEW: Powering our march towards a renewable future, SouthCoastToday.com

In Mass. energy pipeline, must there be more pipelines?, The Boston Globe

Letter: RGGI is good for the earth and the economy, Albany Times Union

State Sen. Kevin Avard: Energy diversity can help reduce rates, Concord Monitor

Are Public Objections to Wind Farms Overblown?, Renewable Energy World

Leave a comment

Filed under Energy Efficiency, Natural Gas Pipelines, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, nuclear, offshore wind, solar

Tagged as energy efficiency, ISO New England, RGGI

April 20, 2018 · 4:12 pm

Energy News for week ending April 20, 2018

RGGI Pays Off | Palm Trees | Sox Go Green

Happy Friday Afternoon.

First up in the news this week is from Inside Climate News where we learn that our friends at the Analysis Group released a report Tuesday about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) that showed some unexpected benefits. They report, “The nine Eastern states gained $1.4 billion in economic benefits from RGGI over the past three years because of the way they invested proceeds from the cap-and-trade program…The biggest payoff came in investments in energy efficiency programs, which have led to more businesses and jobs in activities such as energy audits and installing energy-efficiency equipment. The analysts also found that the cap-and-trade system has not undermined the reliability of the electricity grid, and it has not led to a net increase in electricity bills.”

Who doesn’t love palm trees? Greentech Media reports “A team of researchers is working to complete the design for a novel 50-megawatt offshore wind turbine…The blades for the so-called Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotor (SUMR) wind turbine would…face downwind. The “go-with-the-flow” design was inspired by palm trees, which have evolved to withstand hurricane gales. Just as palm fronds bend and yield to the direction of the wind, the segmented blades for the SUMR turbine will fold together, aligned with the wind direction, in strong winds.”

The Red Sox are on quite a roll this season. For some activists though the chant of “Let’s Go Red Sox” should be “Sox Go Green.” From the Eagle Tribune, “Fenway Park already has its Green Monster — and now environmental activists want the whole ballpark to ‘go green’… activists from Environment Massachusetts and MASSPIRG Students have announced the launch of their “Sox Go Green” campaign. They’re asking the franchise to obtain 100 percent of the energy used for Fenway Park, team operations, and the team’s spring training facility in Florida from renewable resources like solar and wind power within five years.” Whatever the Red Sox decide, we certainly don’t want them to change whatever energy they have going in their bats right now.

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

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

FERC issues NOI seeking comments on gas pipeline evaluations, Utility Dive

Zinke hints at Maine exemption for offshore gas drilling, Penn Energy

For public hearing on fracking, public shows up, but hearing is delayed, Thehour.com

Oil leaking into Mystic River in Boston believed to be coming from Eversource pipe, The Boston Globe

Footprint cuts ties with Iberdrola, The Salem News

Two years after pipeline shelved, opposition groups continue fighting fossil fuel development, The Keene Sentinel

Columbia Gas seeks rate hike, MassLive.com

As FERC Review of NatGas Pipeline Policy Nears, House Lawmakers Divided Over Priorities, Natural Gas Intelligence

FERC Whipsawed on Pipeline Policy in House Hearing, RTO Insider

Parents Didn’t Want Fracking Near Their School. So the Oil Company Chose a Poorer School, Instead., Mother Jones

The Secret of the Great American Fracking Bubble, DeSmog

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

Greenhouse gas emissions from power plants plunge, EPA report shows, Washington Examiner

Going Green? Activists push Red Sox to use 100 percent renewable energy, Eagle Tribune

Bills setting 100 percent renewable energy goal for Pa. draws bi-partisan support, PennLive

Carbon Markets Pay Off for These States as New Businesses, Jobs Spring Up, InsideClimate News

Green Mountain Power’s Distributed Energy Business Isn’t Scaling Fast Enough, Greentech Media

Danbury-based company submits seven fuel cell proposals for energy procurement, New Haven Register

Wind

Fishermen air concerns about Vineyard Wind, MV Times

Connecticut Evaluates Bids for First Offshore Wind Farm, Engineering News Record

Concerns, support aired at offshore wind hearings in Hyannis, on Nantucket, Cape Cod Times

Fate of Fall River waterfront waits on offshore wind decision, Herald News

How fishermen could thwart Cuomo’s offshore wind master plan, City and State NY

US East Coast Offshore Wind Benefits Vary Significantly Depending On Location, Finds Berkeley Lab, CleanTechnica

Design for 50-MW Offshore Wind Turbine Inspired by Hurricane-Resilient Palm Trees, Greentech Media

Cape Cod Chamber Supporting Competitive Offshore Wind Development, CapeCod.com News

Construction unions back Bay State Wind project, SouthCoastToday.com

New Massachusetts offshore wind energy auction, and New Jersey project gets a boost, WorkBoat

Solar

WorkinCT: Greenskies bringing solar energy to Connecticut schools, FOX 61

Bifacial Plus Tracking Boosts Solar Energy Yield by 27 Percent, Greentech Media

Low-income housing represents huge solar opportunity, new study from NREL finds, Solar Power World

New Brunswick’s first solar farm located near Sussex, Global News

Energy Efficiency

From Lenox to Nantucket, 36 Massachusetts communities get state energy efficiency grants; see how much your city or town got, MassLive

Rigorous Energy Standards Should Put Massachusetts Growers on Alert for Best Practices, Compliance, Cannabis Business Times

Eversource agreement with Lindt could serve as energy saving template for state, Seacoastonline.com

New York state unveils energy efficient standards, CT Post
Over 100 Groups Call on Gov to Lead Nation on Energy Efficiency, Artvoice

Shining new light on Smith Hill: RI shows off new State House lighting system, WPRI 12 Eyewitness News

Grafton sees cost savings from energy contract, Worcester Telegram

Energy Storage

Energy storage problem dates back to the ol mill pond, Energy Central

Graphene Could Be Next Battery Breakthrough, Renewable Energy World

New Jersey Gets 40 MWh of New Utility-Scale Energy Storage, Renewable Energy World

Report: Gravity-based energy storage could prove cheaper than batteries, Business Green

Tesla is teaming up with BP on an energy storage project, Business Insider

New Jersey could get 2GW of storage to help reach 50% renewables target, Energy Storage News

New York advances REV, moves to bring more energy storage online, Utility Dive

Nuclear

States Are Breathing New Air Into Nuclear Energy To Preserve Jobs And Environment, Forbes

EPSA rails against FirstEnergy emergency request, New Jersey nuke subsidies, Utility Dive

Report: Losing FirstEnergy’s Nuclear Fleet Would Wipe Out Two Decades of Solar and Wind Progress, Greentech Media

C-10 allowed to challenge Seabrook nuclear plant relicensing, Seacoastonline.com

Debate over Millstone rages on, theday.com

Environmentalists and Nuclear Power? It’s Complicated, New York Times

Feds seek financial data on sale of Vermont nuke to private decommissioning firm, MassLive.com

Exelon, FE nuke closures would reverse PJM wind, solar benefits: Brattle report, Utility Dive

MIT Spin-off Faces Daunting Challenges on Path to Build a Fusion Power Plant in 15 Years, IEEE Spectrum

Electric Vehicles

Short term pain for long term gain: EPRI assesses expanding US electrification, Utility Dive

Wireless Charging Seen as a Game Changer for EV Infrastructure, Renewable Energy World

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Electricity Demand, Prices Heat Up After 2017 Slowdown, Commercial Property Executive

New State Energy Policy Aims to Lower Rates, Let Nuclear & Gas Compete With Renewables, NHPR

Connecticut utility regulators slash Eversource Energy’s distribution rate hike request, New Haven Register

New Hampshire governor’s energy plan leans on nuclear, gas, Utility Dive

Sen. Murphy calls for investigation into Eversource’s high shutoff rates, The Ridgefield Press

Central Maine Power responds to higher-than-average electricity bills, Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

Utility Could Set Standard for Reducing Energy Costs, U.S. News & World Report

Exelon, ISO Hopeful on Stopping Proposed Closure, Everett Independent

Northern Pass Back Before NH SEC Next Month, New Hampshire Public Radio

RI regulators ask PUC to slash National Grid’s requested rate hikes, The Providence Journal

Over 500 National Grid Employees to Volunteer on Earth Day, GoLocalProv

Editorial/Opinion

LETTER: Closure of Pilgrim Power Plant would result in additional CO2 emissions, Wicked Local Yarmouth

American energy dominance means Mass. Wind, Boston Globe

Costly infrastructure is driving up Maine’s electricity costs, Bangor Daily News

Getting to grid modernization, CommonWealth Magazine

Editorial: Wishing away our energy challenges, The Providence Journal

My Turn: Matt Brown: Wind turbines off coast can provide energy RI needs, The Providence Journal

Letter: The high price of fracking, Concord Monitor

Op Ed: Offshore Wind Competition Benefits Massachusetts, Cape Cod Today

Letter to the editor: Maine PUC should back offshore wind development, Press Herald

Letter: State, utilities need to take energy strategy seriously, Concord Monitor

Shame on legislators who voted against solar, Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

Letter: Richard H. Lee: Governor’s criticism of National Grid ignored facts, The Providence Journal

Leave a comment

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

Tagged as climate change, electric rates, energy efficiency, energy storage, Footprint Power, offshore wind, RGGI

January 19, 2018 · 2:42 pm

Energy News for week ending January 19, 2018

Fuel Security Risk | Climate solution | New EV infrastructure | KRUSTY

Happy Friday Afternoon.

Just when I think, “Gee it’s been a quiet week for energy news…” BOOM! ISO-New England drops its Operational Fuel-Security Analysis and the energy news board lights up. RTO Insider writes, “The report highlighted the concern that New England’s system reliability is heavily dependent on LNG and electricity imports. While dual-fuel capability for plants can provide a key contribution to reliability, permitting for construction and emissions is difficult. All but four scenarios resulted in fuel shortages requiring rolling blackouts, indicating the trends affecting the system may intensify the region’s fuel security risk.”

The report generated no shortage of opinions about what it all means and how it affects the future of New England’s energy grid. CommonWealth Magazine reported, “The two sides fighting over whether the region needs additional natural gas pipeline capacity both took comfort on Thursday from a fuel security study by the operator of the region’s power grid. The Baker administration, meanwhile, issued a statement that appeared to fall somewhere in the middle while supporting ‘additional natural gas capacity.’” According to the article, the pro- gas pipeline side says rolling black outs “would wreak havoc on the economy and New Englanders’ lives.” Those not in favor of pipeline development say, hold on, the scenarios outlined in the report “are perhaps possible but highly unlikely.” I’m sure we’ll have a lot more articles and opinion pieces on this topic in the week ahead.

Also out this week was an announcement reported by the AP in Time Magazine that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United Kingdom’s meteorological office said that 2017 was the third hottest year on record. At the same time, NASA and researchers from a nonprofit in Berkeley, California, called it the second. So what’s a state or nation to do? Utility Dive takes a long look at cap and trade initiatives in New England and California to see if those programs are having a positive effect, but ultimately decides, the jury is still out.

One way to help ease climate change is to get more EVs on the road. The New Hampshire Business Review brings us a great read titled, “New Hampshire, Northeast states mull building Quebec-to-D.C., EV charging network.” The money to pay for this 734 mile network would largely come from Volkswagen settlement funds. Journalist Liisa Rajala writes, “In New England alone, approximately $214 million was paid by Volkswagen to fund programs that reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, with up to $32 million available for investment in electric vehicle charging stations over the next 10 years, should states choose to do so.” They include some great infographics in the article as well. Check it out.

Last highlight for this week is a story from Reuters about KRUSTY and it’s out of this world! “Initial tests in Nevada on a compact nuclear power system (The Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology — KRUSTY) designed to sustain a long-duration NASA human mission on the inhospitable surface of Mars have been successful and a full-power run is scheduled for March…The technology could power habitats and life-support systems, enable astronauts to mine resources, recharge rovers and run processing equipment to transform resources such as ice on the planet into oxygen, water and fuel. It could also potentially augment electrically powered spacecraft propulsion systems on missions to the outer planets.” Wow! Now that’s cool.

That’s it for this week. As always, be sure to check out Northeast Energy News for events. Have a great weekend and Go Pats!

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Generators burned 2m barrels of oil over 15 days, CommonWealth Magazine

Pipeline advocates renew calls for expansion as grid operator warns of future blackouts, Wicked Local Scituate

Upset over Burrillville’s opposition to proposed power plant, Invenergy withholds fee payment, The Providence Journal

RI Attorney General Speaks Out Against Proposed Burrillville Power Plant, Rhode Island Public Radio

Regunberg introduces resolution opposing Trump’s off-shore drilling plans, Uprise RI

FERC: Rhode Island tribe missed its chance to intervene in Massachusetts pipeline fight, MassLive.com

Fight is on to block Maine pipeline — ex-Texan says: Good luck with that, The Boston Globe

Rover Pipeline Spills Another 150000 Gallons of Drilling Fluid Into Ohio Wetlands, EcoWatch

Grid operator says new study shows need to expand access to natural gas in New England, New Haven Register

Compressor station foes encouraged by feds’ response to New York project, Patriot Ledger

Governor: Scrub NY from plan to expand offshore oil drilling, Penn Energy

Fixation on timing of peak oil is ‘misguided,’ Financial Times

Renewables Policy/Climate Change/RGGI

2017 Was One of the Hottest Years Ever, Time Magazine

Is cap and trade the climate solution? The jury’s still out, Utility Dive

Northampton officials show support for local goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy, MassLive

RGGI States Set a New Standard for Climate Action in 2017, Natural Resources Defense Council

Massachusetts agrees to slash power plant emissions under 9-state system, MassLive.com

Maryland, northeast states accelerate carbon pollution reduction, Baltimore Sun

Power generators contest state greenhouse gas rules, Boston Globe

Gov. Murphy plays to NJ environmentalists from day one, NJ Spotlight

The Force Is With Clean Energy: 10 Predictions for 2018, Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Competition Moderates Clean-Energy Costs for Ratepayers, AIM Blog

New York, Connecticut sue EPA for failing to act on smog pollution from upwind states, Utility Dive

US Utility-Scale Solar, Wind Capacity Could Double by 2020, Renewable Energy World

Global emissions ‘will plateau by 2030,’ Energy Live News

Wind

Turbines blow hot, cold on financial benefits for local towns, Worcester Telegram

Why Some Fishermen Are Wary Of Offshore Wind Farms, WBUR

US Working Hard to Boost Wind Energy, Adviser Says in Denmark, Bloomberg

Wind Industry Embraces Robots to Boost Safety, Cut Costs, Greentech Media

Vineyard Wind to hold open house on proposed offshore project, Cape Cod Times

Solar

On Haverhill landfill-solar proposal, council wants results, Eagle Tribune

CMP’s New CEO: If They Want, ‘Everyone Should Put Solar Panels On Their Roof’, Maine Public

Developer for proposed solar project in New Marlborough wants public’s input on project, Berkshire Eagle

Outer Cape Energize encourages use of solar panels, Cape Cod Times

New warehouse now biggest green energy provider in Peabody, The Salem News

Electric Vehicles

New Hampshire, Northeast states mull building Quebec-to-D.C., EV charging network, NH Business Review

North America’s largest transit system is the acid test for electric buses, Quartz

Energy Efficiency/Storage

State money helps Massachusetts towns improve energy efficiency, SouthCoastToday.com

There once was an energy storage system on Nantucket…, Utility Dive

Energy Storage Can Drive Future Tesla Growth, Not Just Autos, Seeking Alpha

Nuclear

U.S. tests nuclear power system to sustain astronauts on Mars, Reuters

PUC sticks with Yankee hearings postponement, Rutland Herald

Merrimac seeks NRC hearing on Seabrook plan, Gloucester Daily Times

Indian Point Utility Workers Will Strike If Contract Talks Break Down, WAMC

Offsetting Loss of Indian Pt Revenue Still Challenge One Year Later, The Examiner News

War of words over Millstone escalates as final regulatory decision nears, Litchfield County Times

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Energy study draws divergent reactions, CommonWealth Magazine

Report: Fuel Security Key Risk for New England Grid, RTO Insider

What Will Become of the Electric Utility in the Age of Microgrids?, Microgrid Knowledge

Oversubscribed northern Vermont power grid costing utilities millions, VT Digger

D-Day Approaches for Northern Pass, IndepthNH.org

National Grid’s Northern Pass Competitor To Talk Low-Income Benefits In Concord, New Hampshire Public Radio

Eversource Ranked Among Nation’s Greenest Companies, CapeCod.com News

Conn. Consumer Counsel, Eversource Energy strike deal to reduce size of distribution rate increase, Litchfield County Times

New Central Maine Power CEO Lays Out His Vision For The Company, Maine Public

National Grid asks for $26 million less in Rhode Island rate hikes, Electric Light & Power

Fuel banks seek $25M in state assistance, Cape Cod Times

Editorial/Opinion

EDITORIAL: Enviro-zealots are wrong on natural gas, Lowell Sun

A bad deal for NH, (Northern Pass) The Union Leader

Letter: Wind, solar, biofuel should power Maine, The Forecaster

Offshore drilling catastrophic for Maine economy, Biddeford – Saco – OOB Courier

Lawmakers have one more chance to fix nonsensical solar rules, Bangor Daily News

Wind And Solar Energies Could Peter Out If Transmission Grid Is Not Expanded, Forbes

Our electricity grid gives us a wake-up call in New Hampshire, Manchester Ink Link

Letter: Industrial wind turbines threaten our way of life, Dansvilleonline.com

Guest Opinion: Broken energy market leaves Mass. consumers in the cold, Herald News

Mass. needs to think bigger on offshore wind, CommonWealth Magazine

Leave a comment

Filed under Climate Change, Natural Gas Pipelines, New England Energy News, Northeast Energy News, offshore wind, Renewables, solar, Vermont Yankee Closing

Tagged as electric vehicles, energy storage, fuel security, GHG, ISO New England, Northern Pass, RGGI

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 25, 2017 · 4:44 pm

Energy News for week ending August 25, 2017

RGGI Agreement | DOE Grid Study | Chelsea’s Burden

Happy Friday everyone. First, let me say let’s all keep the good folks from the State of Texas in our thoughts and prayers. Harvey looks to be unrelenting for days. One forecast from Dave Epstein writing for the Boston Globe called the expected rainfall potential to be “biblical in proportion.” We have one story below from Fox4KC about what Hurricane Harvey may mean for the oil and gas sectors given its expected landfall in the Corpus Christi area. We may be seeing more of these stories over the next weeks; we’ll keep you posted.

Two other stories led the headlines this week and we have sections for each below. First, the RGGI agreement where nine participating states agreed to reduce power plant emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Second was the release of the DOE Grid reliability report. There are so many different perspectives on what each of these mean that I’m not even going to try to create a synopsis. I’ll leave that to each of you to decide. I must say though the Mother Jones piece on Chris Christie is pretty scathing.

We also call your attention to a somber story from New England Public Radio about how Chelsea, Massachusetts bears many of the environmental burdens for the region. From heating fuel to jet fuel and road salt – many of the area’s energy and safety needs are placed on that one community and they say there are resulting negative health effects.

Lastly, there’s this article from the Herald News about how some energy developers came to Somerset with proposals, but no real plans for reusing the closed Montaup and Brayton Point power plants. As the headline notes they created more questions than answers. And, as one attendee stated, “they were all over the place.” After reading the article, I have to agree. One has to wonder what the heck these companies were thinking with this approach.

Have a great weekend.

Natural Gas/Pipeline

All state reviews of Weymouth compressor plan now on hold, Patriot Ledger

Federal court upholds state’s right to stop natural gas pipeline under the Clean Water Act, MassLive.com

Kinder Morgan’s Pipeline Expansion Is A Likely Topic At Connecticut DEEP’s Public Hearing, WAMC

US Court of Appeals upholds New York rejection of Constitution pipeline permit, Utility Dive

Whitehouse facing multiple attacks over Burrillville plant stance, The Providence Journal

Kinder Morgan paying Massachusetts State Police hundreds of thousands to quell Berkshire pipeline protests, MassLive.com

Kinder Morgan has ponied up $115K to state police for Sandisfield pipeline security detail, Berkshire Eagle

Nonprofits, pols, utility companies work to plug Cambridge’s 250-plus gas leaks, Wicked Local Cambridge

In 5 months Vermont Gas signs up over 500 in Addison County, Vermont Biz

Hurricane Harvey has strengthened to a Category 3 storm, Fox4KC