Tag Archives: Vermont Gas

February 21, 2020 · 4:19 pm

Energy News for week ending February 21, 2020

Lunch conversation | WSJ Series | Nuclear Waste

Happy Friday folks.

We start this week with an article by Spencer Buell of Boston Magazine that recaps his conversation with Professor Nathan Phillips on his hunger strike over the Weymouth Compressor Station. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, we think it makes for interesting reading.

No recap for this, but if you have access check out the Wall St. Journal’s series on the Future of Everything related to energy. It’s a positive look at the future. All of the links are embedded below but here are a couple that are particularly cool: To store the wind and sun, energy startups look to gravity and What’s next for the energy grid.

And for our new tech feature we bring you a story from Grist, “The power plant of the future could run on nuclear waste. A California-based start-up’s plans to develop a power plant that can turn nuclear waste into energy just took a big step closer to reality. The company, Oklo, got a permit in December to build the next-generation power plant at the Idaho National Laboratory, in Idaho Falls. The lab announced Wednesday that it will also provide Oklo with fuel — the waste products of a nuclear reactor. The Oklo design is for a small plant providing up to 1.5 megawatts of electricity — enough to power about 1,000 homes — which operates like a long-lasting battery, without the need for a team of operators or refueling for 20 years.”

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

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

My Lunch with the Hunger Striker Who Took on Charlie Baker, Boston Magazine

More than a dozen arrested at Weymouth compressor station protest, Patriot Ledger

State regulators won’t do more asbestos testing at Weymouth compressor site, Wicked Local

Bow power plant wins funding through 2024, Concord Monitor

Demonstrators protest National Grid’s fracked gas pipeline in Williamsburg, MSN

Fossil Fuel Emissions Contribute More Methane Than Previously Estimated, Discover Magazine

National Grid is Raising Rates in Order to Build a Fracked-Gas Pipeline in Brooklyn, The Indypendent

Explosions, health risks, higher bills: Why North Brooklyn residents are fighting this project., Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Transocean: The Offshore Drilling Industry Is In Crisis But Is Not Gone, Seeking Alpha

Yale faculty meeting to discuss school’s ethical obligation on fossil fuel investment, WTNH

Climate activists have a target: Harvard’s endowment, Boston Globe

Vermont Gas seeks 2.9% rate increase, VTDigger

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

How Clean Is Massachusetts’ Clean Peak Rule? Not So Much, New Study Says, Greentech Media

Baker’s push to curb emissions draws a familiar foe: his own party, Boston Globe

FERC rules clean energy must pay higher market price in New York, Reuters

Boston harbor brings ashore a new enemy: Rising seas, Washington Post

Methane is a hard-hitting greenhouse gas. Now scientists say we’ve dramatically underestimated how much we’re emitting, Washington Post

Growing bricks and more ways to shrink concrete’s carbon footprint, Wall St. Journal

Researchers Debate Whether Global Emissions Have Peaked, Bloomberg Green

Turning the tide: South Shore legislators are on the front lines of climate change, Patriot Ledger

Baker Administration Planning Rule To Ban Hydrofluorocarbon, WBUR

Google Spinout Dandelion Energy Ramps Up Home Geothermal Installations, Greentech Media

Energy from air: UMass researchers develop device that generates electricity from humidity, Daily Hampshire Gazette

Senators consider requiring utilities to buy more local renewables, VT Digger

ITC Probing Economic Impact of Renewable Goals, Imports to New England, Power Magazine

‘With so much coast and so little land, R.I. is the most vulnerable state in New England’, Boston Globe

ITC To Probe Economic Effect Of Renewable Energy In Mass.. Law360

Wind

Vineyard Wind facing lots of hurdles, CommonWealth Magazine

Report: Utilities raised concerns on Mayflower, CommonWealth Magazine

Plymouth health board reviewing wind turbines on Bourne line, Wicked Local Plymouth

Sununu wants offshore wind farm, The Telegraph

MONTI: Ocean wind farms good for fishing, but dialogue needs balance, Sun Chronicle

In ritzy East Hampton, the biggest hurdle to offshore wind is a single cable, Politico

Right Whale Protection At Heart Of New Vineyard Wind Partnership, WGBH

Wind energy gives American farmers a new crop to sell in tough times, USA Today

Solar

Cash-strapped farms are growing a new crop: Solar panels, Grist

Nautilus Solar acquires 3.5-MW Superfund community solar project, Solar Power World

More efficient photocatalysts could unlock the potential of solar energy, Phys.org

CT solar jobs hold steady as U.S. industry stems losses | Hartford Business Journal, Hartford Business

New world record for conversion of solar energy to electricity using quantum dots, Science Daily

The path to market for perovskites, pv magazine International

Portland council endorses solar initiative with 8-0 vote, Portland Press Herald

Energy Efficiency/Storage

Three Innovations To Upend The Energy Storage Market, YAHOO!

To store the wind and sun, energy startups look to gravity, Wall St. Journal

Yale Divinity School receives $15 million for energy-neutral Living Village, New Haven Register

EVs

The Carmaker Putting Solar Panels on Its Electric Vehicles, Greentech Media

Nuclear

The power plant of the future could run on nuclear waste, Grist

When It Comes to Nuclear Power, Could Smaller Be Better?, Yale Environment 360

France Shuts Oldest Reactors, But Nuclear Power Still Reigns, International Business Times

Market/Grid/Policy/Prices

RTOs need better market signals for using gas, analysts say, as ISO-NE preps related rule, Utility Dive

What’s next for the energy grid, Wall St. Journal

The key to keeping the lights on: artificial intelligence, Wall St. Journal

Public takeover of Maine’s electric utilities could bring higher rates, tax revenue losses, Portland Press Herald

Grid secures future power commitments at low price, CommonWealth Magazine

CMP brings back former CEO with a mission to ‘restore public trust,’ Bangor Daily News

Panel endorses bill requiring CMP to renegotiate lease along corridor route, Portland Press Herald

US State Energy Policies and Power Utility Regulation, Greentech Media

Energy-capacity auction results in record low New England price | Hartford Business Journal, Hartford Business

Consumer-owned utility proposed to replace CMP to be discussed in Kittery, Seacoastonline.com

Northern Pass losses zap Eversource Energy’s 2019 earnings, Stamford Advocate

Utilities don’t see stranded assets as a top risk. Should they?, Utility Dive

Editorial/Opinion

Hunger and the clean energy transition, CommonWealth Magazine

Physicians critique National Grid official’s stance, CommonWealth Magazine

Why States Need to Ban New Gas Hookups in Buildings (in 5 Charts), Greentech Media

Commentary: ‘To get the carbon out,’ Maine should look to energy from wood fiber, Portland Press Herald

Commentary: Regional climate collaboration is a critical policy debate – not just political division, Portland Press Herald

Columnist Johanna Neumann: Proposed gas rule is off the rails, Daily Hampshire Gazette

For gas utilities, voluntary RNG programs can play an important role on the path to decarbonization, Utility Dive

Leave a comment

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

Tagged as Central Maine Power, energy storage, offshore wind, solar, Vermont Gas, Weymouth

January 18, 2019 · 5:13 pm

Energy News for week ending January 18, 2019

No choice | 6.2 million | 20 year extension

Happy Friday folks. It’s been a busy week here so we’re keeping this short.

Here are three stories we found interesting this week:

Gov. Baker says he had “no choice” on compressor station permit, Herald News. “Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday he ‘basically had no choice’ but to approve air quality permits for a natural-gas compressor station in Weymouth given federal rules governing the project and results of a state-authorized review. The Baker administration on Friday approved the permits for the Enbridge Energy project, a move that was quickly and fiercely condemned by South Shore lawmakers who, with local municipal officials, had urged Baker to deny the permits because of potential health and safety risks.”

Vineyard Wind offers $6.2M to compensate R.I. fishermen, Providence Journal. “Vineyard Wind is offering to pay Rhode Island fishermen $6.2 million in compensation for lost access to fishing grounds as part of a mitigation plan for its proposed offshore wind farm that also includes the creation of a $23-million fund to research new gear and technology to support safe fishing in and around wind turbines. As expected, the offer to the state’s fishermen who catch squid, lobster and Jonah crab in the project waters south of Martha’s Vineyard falls short of what they wanted.”

Seabrook nuclear plant set to receive 20-year extension, Seacoastonline.com. “The NextEra Energy Seabrook Station nuclear power plant is expected to receive its long-sought 20-year license extension from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by month’s end. NRC notification comes after important recommendations and positive reviews over the past four weeks on both the plant’s application to extend its operating license to 2050, as well as its request to amend that license to accommodate how it will address its unique concrete problem of alkali-silica reaction as the plant ages. The notice comes 8½ years after NextEra began its bid for a license extension.”

Have a great weekend and stay safe and warm during the upcoming storm. And oh yeah, “Go Pats!”

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Climate action relied on natural gas. Then CO2 spiked, E&E News

Vermont Gas Must Show Why It Should Continue Operating New Pipeline, VPR

Power plant would need 16k gallons of water a day, Johnston Sun Rise

Energy Developer Defends Proposal for $1 Billion Power Plant, U.S. News & World Report

Protesters arrested in New Milford for blocking power plant transport, News-Times

Legislators, groups concerned about pipeline project planned for Agawam, The Recorder

Weymouth

Protesting the pipeline: In Weymouth, the fight continues, Wicked Local

Baker Oks permits for natural gas project, MetroWest Daily News

Federal review sought for Weymouth compressor air permit, Wicked Local Braintree

Gov. Baker says he had “no choice” on compressor station permit, Herald News

Baker: My hands were tied on compressor station, CommonWealth Magazine

Fore River residents rally against proposed compression station, Patriot Ledger

Merrimack Valley

Merrimack Valley residents are receiving ‘large backdated bills’ from Columbia Gas, Boston Globe

Judge Consolidates Lawsuits Against Columbia Gas, USA Patch

Lawmakers demand suspension of Columbia Gas rate hike, Eagle-Tribune

Renewables/Climate Change/RGGI

Permafrost Is Warming Around the Globe, Study Shows. That’s a Problem for Climate Change. Inside Climate News

Ice loss from Antarctica has sextupled since the 1970s, new research finds, Washington Post

Legislature Could Give N.H.’s Coastal Towns More Funding, Tools To Address Rising Seas, New Hampshire Public Radio

New Biomass Plant Will Increase Dartmouth’s Sustainability, news.dartmouth.edu

New York Latest State to Set 100% Renewables Goal, POWER Magazine

The best kept secret about clean energy, New Hampshire Business Review

A Regional Push to Clean Up Cars, Trucks and Mass Transit, Pew Charitable Trusts

Wolf’s greenhouse gas reduction vow is part of a bigger regional push to cut carbon emissions | Wednesday Morning Coffee, Patriot-News

New York Gov. Launches ‘Green New Deal’ With Accelerated Clean Energy Targets, Greentech Media

Wind

Vineyard Wind offers $6.2M to compensate R.I. fishermen, Providence Journal

2 turbines will not spin again in Falmouth, Cape Cod Times

Report shows how badly LePage’s wind energy panel fizzled, Bangor Daily News

URI Survey of Fishermen Finds Varied Perceptions of Impacts of Block Island Wind Farm, Energy Central

Vineyard Wind undeterred by government shutdown, Cape Cod Times

Only one wind project proposed in waters off LI, filings show, Newsday

Roxbury wind turbine project draws opposition, Sun Journal

Mass. Looks to Double Down on OSW, Clean Goals, RTO Insider

A Study in Emissionality: Why Boston University Looked Beyond New England for Its First Wind Power Purchase, Renewable Energy World

Impact on ratepayers a factor in evaluating New Jersey offshore wind bids, Daily Energy Insider

Solar

Vermont’s largest solar parking lot has officially started generating electricity, WCAX

Minnesota-Vermont project offers solar power to low-income families, Electric Light & Power

Most Enfield residents spoke in favor of solar project before siting council, Journal Inquirer

Litchfield Community Center is ‘going solar’, Register Citizen

Legislators aim to restore reason to Maine’s rooftop solar policy, PV Magazine

Solar plus batteries aim to retire natural gas plants in 2019, Quartz.com

Energy Efficiency/Storage

Eversource Recognized for Two Energy-efficiency Programs in Massachusetts, BusinessWest

‘Unlayering’ peak demand could accelerate energy storage adoption, Utility Dive

New Hampshire regulators approve utility-owned residential Tesla battery pilot, Utility Dive

EVs

Maryland scales back EV charger program nearly 80%, Utility Dive

How Should EV Owners Pay for Use of the Roads?, Greentech Media

Nuclear

Seabrook nuclear plant set to receive 20-year extension, Seacoastonline.com

Vermont Yankee sale to decommissioning firm complete, VTDigger

Entergy completes sale of Vermont Yankee to decommissioning firm, Keene Sentinel

Pilgrim Nuclear Plant’s Decommissioning Plans Presented to the Public, CapeCod.com

As the US nuclear fleet ages, one lab group hopes to give it a second wind, Ars Technica

MIT Is Pouring Resources Into Commercializing Fusion Power, Futurism.com

Trump’s nuclear revival? It’s a ‘black box’, E&E News

Appeal targets permit change for US nuclear repository, AP News

Some US nuclear industry officials question if new repository strategy needed, S&P Platts

Lawmakers push to save nuclear power, Citizen’s Voice (PA)

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Boston Harbor Blasting Project Stalled After Eversource Balks, Law360

New Hampshire Regulators Approve Seacoast Reliability Project, Construction

National Grid awards $428,000 in economic development grants, Buffalo News

Bipartisan Duo Emerges as Senate Panel Sets Course on Energy, Bloomberg Environment

Editorial/Opinion

ISO should call for offshore wind transmission discussion, CommonWealth Magazine

Another year, another chance for RGGI proposal, by Sarah Weck, Keene Sentinel

Eliminating net metering was a huge step backward, Connecticut Mirror

Maine Voices: CMP power line won’t help the environment, and certainly not Mainers, Portland Press Herald

Our View: Maine finishes last in race to keep the lights on, Portland Press Herald

Guest Opinion: Maine wind should be part of Rhode Island’s clean-energy future, Westerly Sun

In the face of climate change, Bostonians need to call a retreat, CommonWealth Magazine

Guest Opinion: Maine wind should be part of Rhode Island’s clean-energy future, Westerly Sun

Leave a comment

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

Tagged as Charlie Baker, Columbia Gas of MA, Nextera, Pilgrim, Seabrook Nuclear, Vermont Gas

April 6, 2018 · 2:22 pm

Energy News for week ending April 6, 2018

Home rating | Drive electric | Hearing on Competitive Suppliers

Good Friday afternoon – albeit a temporarily snowy one. Let’s dive into what we’re reading this week.

What grade will your house get? From the Worcester Business Journal, “A home energy efficiency score would eventually become part of the valuation of all homes on the market in Massachusetts under legislation Gov. Charlie Baker filed on Tuesday to elevate awareness of home energy efficiency and target the residential sector for greenhouse gas emission reductions. Under the bill, [by 2021] home energy auditors would be required to provide homeowners with an easy to understand scorecard that would grade a home’s energy efficiency and provide recommendations for how the home’s energy performance could be improved. While the proposal was cheered by the environmental community, realtors expressed reservations…‘If someone doesn’t have the resources to improve their home it will just be like a scarlet letter on their home,’ said Michael McDonagh, of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.”

Be on the lookout for a new EV ad campaign. According to an article in Green Car Reports, “16 major automakers are joining forces with seven states to promote sales of electric vehicles to consumers. The Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers announced it would launch two separate marketing campaigns – ‘Drive Change, Drive Electric’ and ‘Buyers Wanted’ in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Jersey…EV advocates have long noted that consumers need more education about the benefits of electrics, and these ads will provide it, focusing on performance, affordability, choice, and convenience.”

Last for this week is a follow-up story to last week’s news that Mass AG Maura Healey would like to roll back competitive supply in the residential market. From the Lowell Sun, “House and Senate lawmakers are gearing up to hold an oversight hearing to question companies cited by Healey about what she described as deceptive business practices. The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy…is planning the hearing, according to the committee, to ‘consider immediate protective measures and the implications of those actions,’ learn about best practices in other states and explore issues related to the market that Healey said were beyond the scope of her review…The date for the hearing has not yet been scheduled.”

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

Natural Gas/Oil/Pipeline/Drilling

Utility Regulators Want Review Of Vermont Gas Pipeline Construction, Vermont Public Radio

Cyberattack Shows Vulnerability of Gas Pipeline Network, New York Times

Four Gas Pipeline Data Systems Shut Down as Cyberattack Hits, Bloomberg

Algonquin natural gas pipeline in US Northeast delays significant Apr 4 maintenance, Platts

Kinder Morgan still has NGL pipeline plan on pause, Danville Advocate

TransCanada completes Northwest Mainline Loop-Boundary Lake pipeline expansion, Daily Energy Insider

Residents curious, wary about natural gas expansion, Newcanaannewsonline

Renewables Policy/Climate Change/RGGI, etc.

Carbon taxes can be both fair and effective, study shows, Science Daily

Sometimes Fighting Climate Change Means Breaking the Law, The New Yorker

Local N.H. Conservation, Climate Groups Launch Renewable Energy Campaign, NHPR

Climate change threatens ski industry, Stowe Reporter

Virginia Supreme Court upholds 100% renewable energy option, PV Magazine

Lawmaker tries to steer investments toward renewable energy, WJAR

Beaton: Natural gas not part of Massachusetts ‘clean peak’ standard, Worcester Telegram

Sometimes Fighting Climate Change Means Breaking the Law, New Yorker

Attorney General Maura Healey, other states sue EPA for not enforcing pollution controls, MassLive

ITM Power secures MassCEC’s grant for power-to-gas feasibility study, Power Distribution Utilities Network

Hancock County residents protest Brookfield’s dam operations, MaineBiz

Carbon Tax Bill Moves Slowly Despite Need for Urgency, ecoRI news

Green energy gets cool response at hearing in Exeter, The Providence Journal

Maine regulators approve partial subsidy to keep biomass power plants alive, Press Herald

Biomass owners say director of logging trade group is bad-mouthing business, Press Herald

Wind

Ørsted & Eversource Announce 200 Megawatt Connecticut Offshore Wind Farm, CleanTechnica

Three wind power projects submitted to Connecticut DEEP, New Haven Register

Effort to build offshore wind industry in Maine may hinge on 73 cents, Press Herald

Sara Lee Cake Maker Buys Wind Credits to Offset Your Dessert, Bloomberg

BOEM seeks mariners’ input on East Coast wind energy sites, WorkBoat

AEG plans to build US offshore wind vessel fleet, port facilities, Renewables Now

Atlantic wind boost on US menu, reNews

Offshore wind projects make headway, Cape Cod Times

Offshore wind blows new life into dormant partnership, NJ Spotlight

Federal Agency To Study Effects Of Electric Pulses From Proposed Wind Farm On Fish, 27East.com

Moody’s likes the look of NJ, other northeastern states, for offshore wind, NJSpotlight.com

Turbine parts to be made in MA, Bay State Wind says, South Coast Today

Delays likely in offshore wind procurement, CommonWealth Magazine

Murphy: Danish off-shore wind firm coming to Atlantic City, Penn Energy

Solar

Green Lantern receives CPG for solar array at former Newfane dump, Commons

Town council to reexamine solar ordinance, Ricentral.com

Portland Highlighted for Solar Progress in New Report, Environment Maine

Shining Cities 2018: How Smart Local Policies Are Expanding Solar Power in America, Environment Maine

Maine solar advocates powerless again as House upholds LePage’s veto by 3 votes, Press Herald

LIPA trustees won’t delay new solar energy compensation plan, Newsday

German Developer of Solar + Storage “Smart Flower” Quietly Goes Insolvent, Renewable Energy World

Home Solar Dims as Tesla, Others Curb Aggressive Sales, Wall Street Journal (pay wall)

Longmeadow to participate in solarize program, The Reminder

Solar farms now allowed outside of industrial-zoned areas, The Reminder

Energy Efficiency/Storage

Baker proposal would rate homes on energy efficiency, Worcester Business Journal

Energy efficiency, rooftop solar to trim New England power usage, draft report says, Utility Dive

As DC retreats, NY goes all-in on energy efficiency, Crain’s New York Business

Efficiency Vermont recognized as Energy Star partner by EPA, Vermont Biz

Nuclear

Vermont Yankee’s fuel move is still on hold, Rutland Herald

Amid arguments and warnings, nuclear subsidy bill clears committee, NJ Spotlight

Auction pushes forward for zero-carbon resources, including Millstone, The Day

FirstEnergy Seeks Bankruptcy Protection for Ailing Coal and Nuclear Subsidiaries, Greentech Media

EVs

Buyers in seven Northeast states urged to consider electric cars, Green Car Reports

Gas stations pivot to address the threat from electric vehicles, Teslarati

Pennsylvania Driving Toward an Electrifying Win, NRDC

Eversource to Invest $45 Million in Electric Vehicle Charging Ports, CapeCod.com News

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Legislature plans hearing into competitive electric supply market, Lowell Sun

Electric supply exec blasts Healey’s ‘one-sided report,‘ Lowell Sun

How to Build a Foundation for New Utility Business Models, Greentech Media

The Microgrid Way: Going Green with Solar & Supercapacitor-based Energy Storage, Microgrid Knowledge

Exelon plays power politics, CommonWealth Magazine

Sandwich power plant sold, Cape Cod Times

New York is changing the face of energy innovation, Utility Dive

Spring forward: European grid fixes lag that slowed clocks, Penn Energy

Baker treads softly on Healey proposal, CommonWealth Magazine

Grid operator raises alarm at Mystic shutdown, CommonWealth Magazine

Updated: ISO-NE seeks to keep 1,600 MW of gas generation from retirement, Utility Dive

Somerset power plant closure will raise water and sewer fees, Southcoastonline.com

CMP customers disputing high bills must pay a portion of them, Press Herald

State lawmakers say customers shouldn’t have to pay for CMP investigation, WGME

I-Team: PUC changes disconnect rules during CMP investigation, WGME

Cyberattack Bleeds Into the Utility Industry, Bloomberg

Emissions and Dispatch Top Talk at NY Task Force, RTO Insider

Connecticut grid test planned for May, Thehour.com

Hydro-Québec partner plans appeal in New Hampshire for Northern Pass project, Montreal Gazette

National Grid names new New York president, Albany Times Union

Editorial/Opinion

Editorial: Renewable energy’s challenges and challengers, Worcester Telegram

Op-Ed: New Jersey’s Path to Zero-Subsidy Offshore-Wind Bids, NJ Spotlight

All Americans want cleaner, safer sources of energy to be encouraged, The Laconia Daily Sun

Lawmakers have third chance to avert higher electricity costs for all Mainers, Bangor Daily News

Hildt’s view: Remembering TMI, thankful for C-10, The Daily News of Newburyport

Op-Ed: Why Private Investors Must Fund ‘New Nuclear’ Power Right Now, Harvard Business School Working Knowledge

My recipe for embracing renewables, CommonWealth Magazine

Tony Giunta: The ripple effect of high electricity prices, Concord Monitor

The simple argument for keeping nuclear power plants open, Vox.com

Letter to the Editor: Pushing for a clean energy future, Daily Free Press

Lawmakers have third chance to avert higher electricity costs for all Mainers, Bangor Daily News

Push back against Central Maine Power, Press Herald

Letter: Stephen J. Nelson: Raise National Grid’s costs when customers lose power, Providence Journal

Tweak needed for clean peak standard, CommonWealth Magazine

Leave a comment

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

Tagged as biomass, Charlie Baker, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, Eversource, Maine, Orsted, solar, Vermont Gas

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

DOE Grid Study

The Energy 202: Here’s the bottom line on the Energy Department’s grid study, Washington Post

Energy Dept: Government should ease rules on power plants, CT Post

DOE’s Grid Reliability Study Is a Rorschach Test for the Future of Electricity, Greentech Media

U.S. Energy Department study says more coal, nuclear needed to secure grid, Reuters

Do coal and nuclear need a helping hand? 5 essential reads, The Conversation

DOE Releases Much-Awaited Grid Study to Mixed Reviews, Microgrid Knowledge

Breaking: The US power market is cracking, Bloomberg

Oops: Rick Perry may have stumbled upon the solution to going 100 percent renewable, Think Progress

RGGI Agreement

RGGI Agrees to Cut Power Plant Pollution by Another 30%, Natural Resources Defense Council

Maine agrees to deeper cuts in carbon emissions, Press Herald

Group of nine states announces aggressive plan to cut emissions, Boston Globe

NE states propose 30% cut in power plant emissions, CommonWealth Magazine

Environmentalists React To Regional Proposal To Cut Carbon Emissions, RIPR

Scott agrees to carbon dioxide emission reductions, VT Digger

Chris Christie Has Plenty to Be Embarrassed About, But This One Really Matters, Mother Jones

Northeastern States Vow to Cut Carbon Emissions 30% by 2030, Governing

Eclipse

US grid untroubled by total eclipse despite plunge in solar output, Utility Dive

Eclipse Causes Less Power Loss Than Expected for Solar Generation, Power Engineering

Storage Didn’t Play a Primary Role During the Eclipse, but It Helped in Its Own Quiet Way, Greentech Media

New England Power Grid Operations During August 21 Partial Eclipse, (ISO-NE Release) Energy Central

Renewable Energy

Going solar now will save you more, The Recorder

Wind-power opponents dominate comments at Savoy hearing, Berkshire Eagle

In England, new offshore wind farms mean jobs, Boston Globe

Maine Business Park Seeks Partners for Green Microgrid Development, Microgrid Knowledge

Deepwater Wind Could Create 6000 Jobs in New England, GoLocalProv

Wood, Landfill Gas Dominate RI Renewable Energy, ecoRI news

America’s first US-built offshore wind installation vessel, SouthCoastToday.com

In Solar Trade Dispute, Will Proposed Tariffs Cost Industry Jobs?, Rhode Island Public Radio

We really can run the world on renewable energy – here’s how, New Scientist

Community group aims to bring more solar energy systems, education to Bangor area, Bangor Daily News

Killingworth lavender farm one of 1st in nation to get SmartFlower solar energy system, Middletown Press

Massachusetts jail gets $545K grant to install solar panels, CT Post

Dartmouth and Hanover pledge renewable energy goals, The Dartmouth

Emerson Center in Topsfield wins solar array, Wicked Local Topsfield

Ameresco, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and BlueWave Solar Celebrate 6.9 MW Renewable Power and Community Solar Initiative, Energy Central

Nexamp Completes 2.4 MW Community Solar Project in Dudley, MA, Energy Central

Energy Efficiency

Connecticut utilities drop interest rates on energy efficiency improvements, New Haven Register

Orange discussing Green Community designation, The Recorder

Regional energy saving program now open to Kensington, Seacoastonline.com

Energy Efficiency: The Stealth Competitor, T&D World

Nuclear

Vermont Yankee settlement money to be used for wood boiler projects, vtdigger.org

Millstone Owner Digs In On Finances, Possible Shutdown, Hartford Courant

Commenters Seek Broader Response on Millstone, RTO Insider

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Governor Baker is offering Hydro-Quebec another helping hand, The Boston Globe

How One Massachusetts City Came To Bear Environmental Burdens For The Region, New England Public Radio

Proposal for Somerset power plant gets attention, more questions, Herald News

Unmoved by public testimony, PUC approves ‘outrageous’ National Grid rate increase, RI Future

Fung, residents rebuke electricity rate hike, Cranston Herald

European company hopes to build $80 million plant in Western Massachusetts, bringing new trash-to-energy technology to US, MassLive

Northern Pass transmission project gets DOE environmental nod, Utility Dive

Eversource seeks to conceal Berlin biomass plant fiscal info, New Hampshire Business Review

Green Mountain Power stumping for rate increase, Brattleboro Reformer

Getting the Most Out of Vehicle Electrification for Both Customers and the Grid, Greentech Media

Follow the Patents: New Technologies Address Balancing Peak and Off-Peak Power Demand, Electric Light & Power

Eversource transmission project gets DOE impact statement, needs final OK, Electric Light & Power

MAP: How Much Climate Change Will Cost Each U.S. County, Governing

Mansfield hydrogen to have many safeguards, Sun Chronicle

Editorial/Opinion

Letter: Civil disobedience our only hope at this time, Berkshire Eagle

Your View: Pipelines, compressors, LNG tanks — suspended not canceled, SouthCoastToday.com

Get excited about city’s solar project, Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

To the Editor: Clean energy is good for business, Boston Business Journal

Councilors’ column: Advantages of Community Choice Energy, Wicked Local Roslindale

Bill McKibben: 100% Renewables Needed ‘As Fast as Humanly Possible’, EcoWatch

Toward a climate economy, Rutland Herald

Maine Voices: Aggressive caps on carbon emissions would benefit regional greenhouse gas efforts, Press Herald

Sorting out our perverse electricity markets, CommonWealth Magazine

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Filed under Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, Renewables, solar

Tagged as Eversource, National Grid, Northern Pass, nuclear, offshore wind, RGGI, Spectra, Vermont Gas, Vermont Yankee

June 2, 2017 · 3:09 pm

Energy News for week ending June 2, 2017

Good Friday afternoon.

The big news this week was President Trump pulling the US out of the Paris climate agreement. We’ve devoted a whole section to it below that contains stories and analysis from near and far. Close to home, Boston Magazine reports on Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s tough-talk tweets going viral. And, in the home of the Paris accord, Vox.com reports on French President Macron responding to Trump with a twist on his favorite phrase, “Make our planet great again.”

Eversource found its way into a number of articles this week. The Berkshire Eagle reports that Eversource still wants a $96 million rate increase next year, but it expects to reduce the share that would be paid by customers in Western Massachusetts. That made those folks happy, but according to CommonWealth Magazine, the rate case has had an opposite effect in seven metro suburbs. Bruce Mohl writes the “massive $96 million rate request filed by Eversource in January, would cut the so-called net metering rate from 22 cents a kilowatt hour to 13 cents a kilowatt hour, a 41 percent decrease. The details were included in a letter sent by the seven communities to the state Department of Public Utilities on Wednesday. The letter said Lexington stands to lose $372,000 in annual revenue under the proposal. Newton would lose nearly $365,000, Natick $300,000, and Weston nearly $284,000. Wayland, Westwood, and Arlington would lose lesser amounts.”

On a more positive note for solar, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy blogs about the wonderful opportunity for solar to help pollinators – especially bees. They say, “Swapping out gravel and turf grass, often located underneath solar panels, for native flowers and grasses, is a great way to provide pollen and nectar (2 main food sources) for nearby bees and other pollinators.” They even provide a link to lists of the best plants for your growing region. To help you out, here’s a link to the northeast plant list.

Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend.

Climate Change/Paris Climate Accord

The 5 biggest deceptions in Trump’s Paris climate speech, Vox.com

Marty Walsh’s Viral Climate Moment, Boston Magazine

The Paris Climate Deal: How to Understand Trump’s Decision, New York Times

Read Obama’s statement on the Paris climate agreement, The Boston Globe

RI is vulnerable if US pulls out of Paris Accord, says scientist, The Providence Journal

Analysts: Leaving climate deal likely wouldn’t add US jobs, CT Post

Mass. critics slam Trump ditching climate accord, Milford Daily News

Three Coal Plants Close the Same Day Trump Said to Exit the Paris Agreement, Greentech Media

Energy Companies Urge Trump To Remain In Paris Climate Agreement, New England Public Radio

Defiant US Mayors Vow To Uphold Paris Climate Accord, Fast Company

Blumenthal: A Trump decision to exit Paris climate accord would cost CT jobs, The CT Mirror

French President Emmanuel Macron responds to Trump: “Make our planet great again,” Vox.com

Natural Gas/Pipeline

Vermont Gas introduces mobile home plan to save homeowners money, Vermont Biz

Weymouth to appeal DEP approval of Algonquin waterways permit, Wicked Local Weymouth

Toxins detected in air near Fore River Basin, doctor says, The Patriot Ledger

Report: Military-style tactics used against Dakota Access Pipeline Protestors, Des Moines Register

Appeal Filed over 2nd Pipeline Expansion Project, Patch.com

Renewable Energy

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Auction Prices Lowest Since 2014, Power Engineering Magazine

Borrego Solar Completes 5 MW Solar Array on Decommissioned Landfill in Palmer, Mass, PV Solar Report

Scottish Power Wins Right to Build Two U.S. Offshore Wind Projects, Power Engineering

SouthCoast suppliers vie for piece of the offshore wind pie, SouthCoastToday.com

Seven suburbs blast Eversource solar proposal, CommonWealth Magazine

Low carbon prices hang over RGGI as June auction approaches, Utility Dive

Six Things You Didn’t Know About the Offshore Wind Power Sector, POWER magazine

Wind projects a possible turning point for 18 ports, Boston Herald

Factcheck: Whale Strandings and Offshore Wind Farms, EcoWatch

What are the connections between solar power and honeybees?, Clean Energy News

Energy Efficiency

Report: Clean Energy Growing in States and Cities Nationwide, Natural Resources Defense Council

Energy Efficiency: The Foundation of Our Clean Energy Future, Natural Resources Defense Council

Predictions About Global Energy Efficiency Since the 1980s Have Been Wildly Conservative, Greentech Media

Residential Energy Efficiency: Taking It To The Next Level, CleanTechnica

Release—Finally—of Appliance Efficiency Standards Applauded, Bloomberg BNA

Nuclear

Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Shut Down In 2019, NPR

NRC holding public meeting on Seabrook nuclear plant, Seacoastonline.com

Vermont Yankee fuel move into more-secure storage is delayed, vtdigger.org

Millstone nuclear power and police accountability, CT Post

Connecticut Seeks to Support Nuclear Energy, Energy Collective

New Law Could Declare Nuclear Reactors To Be ‘Green Energy’ To Save Them, The Daily Caller

Fragile future for US nuclear power, BBC News

Feds face questions about redevelopment at Vermont Yankee, Brattleboro Reformer

Gas May Be Killing the Nuclear Option, Bloomberg

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Utility plans jolt Sudbury, Hopkinton, and Needham, The Boston Globe

Study: New Resources Could ‘Crowd Out’ Old in ISO-NE, RTO Insider

Vermont utility offers $1,200 electric vehicle rebate, Utility DIVE

Cambridge ditches standard electric service to embrace green power, WickedLocal Cambridge

Eversource to cut rate increase in Western Massachusetts. Berkshire Eagle

New sewer concept would make energy, fertilizer from wastewater, MetroWest Daily News

State backs herbicide plan for 13 towns, Cape Cod Times

Medway: Grid operator would not allow Exelon postponement, Milford Daily News

Brayton Point powers down, Fall River Herald News

Northern Pass trek leads to $124 fines for 2 in Millsfield, NewHampshire.com

Northern Pass predicts financial windfall for towns, The Union Leader

National Grid, GE, 3M make power grid greener with gas-insulated switchgear, Electric Light & Power

Former power plant manager sentenced for emissions fraud, Penn Energy

Editorial/Opinion

Pass SB 129, save 900 jobs in New Hampshire, Energy Central

Offshore wind moving too slowly, CommonWealth Magazine

Brayton Pt closing ups need for gas, CommonWealth Magazine

Tom Perry: Energy Efficient Building and Retrofitting, Shelburne News

Facts show Millstone bill would fleece ratepayers, theday.com

Stay the course on climate, for the planet, Boston Globe

MICAHEL LANG, Braintree: Despite governmental layers, we’re not protected from compressor station, Patriot Ledger

Maine’s solar industry can employ the next generation, Bangor Daily News

Baker all talk on regional carbon limits, CommonWealth Magazine

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Filed under Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, Uncategorized, Vermont Yankee Closing

Tagged as electric rates, Eversource, nuclear, Vermont Gas

April 14, 2017 · 2:27 pm

Energy News for week ending April 14, 2017

Happy Friday everyone. The weather forecast looks great for what is for many a holiday weekend, the start of school vacation week and of course Patriots Day/Marathon Monday. However, before we kick into “off mode” let’s take a brief look at this week’s energy news.

To western Mass first where there is good news. MassLive reports that Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is nearing an agreement with Holyoke Gas & Electric that would bypass a bottleneck in the region’s network of gas pipelines and end a two-year-old ban on new hookups in Easthampton and Northampton. It might take some time and some new infrastructure to get it done, but once Holyoke has a new way to get gas, Holyoke Gas & Electric would have less need of capacity on the Northampton lateral, freeing up capacity for Columbia to get more gas to Northampton and Easthampton. When and if this happens, it will make many people happy.

Heading north to New Hampshire, the Union Leader reports that more than 100 people, including dozens of [Northern Pass] project opponents, converged for the leadoff hearing for the state’s Site Evaluation Committee, which will decide in July whether to issue the certificate required for the $1.6 billion project. The story concludes with a vocal critic, Jack Savage saying, “The hearing ‘was really a clash of Northern Pass’ marketing and the reality of what the project is.’” Time will tell if Mr. Savage is right, or if the “marketing” does meet the sniff test.

On the energy efficiency front, we have two stories with alerts. One story from Bloomberg notes that lobbyists are working to amend a decades old conservation law that sets minimum efficiency standards for many household and commercial appliances and bars them from being weakened. However, efficiency proponents aren’t backing down, “An average American household spends about $500 less per year on utility bills because of the efficiency gains in our every day appliances,” said Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, a Boston-based organization that organizes energy efficiency proponents to advocate for standards. “Rolling back standards or weakening the law to make it harder to improve standards in the future would lead to more energy waste and hurt consumers.”

The other efficiency story from Seven Days Vermont shows a side-by-side comparison of two boxes of LEDs. Same brand. Same watts. One has the Energy Star label the other doesn’t. They wrote, “One of the packages held four highly energy-efficient, reliable bulbs that had been certified by a third-party lab. The other held four lower-quality, uncertified bulbs. An inferior product, they’d be quicker to fail and more likely to give off the wrong shade of light.” I love Energy Star and always look for the label, but it’s easy to see how a less aware consumer might grab a box and think they’re getting the best bang for their buck when in fact they’re not. Buyer beware! And, all the more reason to keep the Energy Star program around.

That’s it for today. Have a great weekend.

Natural Gas/Pipeline

Natural gas moratorium in Easthampton, Northampton nears resolution, MassLive

Vermont Gas Completes 41-Mile Expansion, Begins Serving Customers in Addison County, Press Release

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. given green light to begin tree cutting in Otis State Forest, Berkshire Eagle

DEC denies permit for Northern Access Pipeline, Olean Times Herald

Kinder Morgan wins OK to construct Connecticut Expansion pipeline, MassLive.com

Renewable Energy

Europeans Get Serious About America’s Offshore Wind Potential: ‘We are here for a market’, Greentech Media

Students urged to ‘take action now’ on climate change, Cape Cod Times

Proposed Bill Would Halt University of Maine Wind Research Project, Government Technology

Americans used more clean energy in 2016, Science Daily

California’s solar energy set power supply record in March, ABC News

Trump Once Railed Against Offshore Wind but Is Now Embracing It, MIT Technology Review

City of Pittsfield, Massachusetts switches on second solar power plant, Electric Light & Power

Portsmouth completes two solar energy projects, Seacoastonline.com

Biomass plant to close, The Laconia Daily Sun

South Mountain Company advancing Martha’s Vineyard toward energy neutrality with SunPower, Penn Energy

Trump Can’t Stop This: Climate Action in the Northeast, Natural Resources Defense Council

Energy Efficiency

State of the Energy Efficiency Industry: The Utility Story, Natural Resources Defense Council

Greenwich, Eversource Announce Energy Efficiency Efforts, Patch.com

Your Fridge May Be Washington’s Next Regulatory-Rollback Target, Bloomberg

Beware of Imposter LED Bulbs! Look for the ENERGY STAR®, Seven Days

Pownal Selected as First Climate Economy Model Community, vtdigger.org

Nuclear

Nuclear plant owners press lawmakers in Connecticut, other states for subsidies, New Haven Register

States moving to promote clean energy through pro-nuclear policies, Daily Energy Insider

In nuke debate, dueling claims fly, Hartford Business

Questions dominate Vermont Yankee sale debate, Brattleboro Reformer

Pilgrim nuclear plant prepares to refuel, The Patriot Ledger

Interest in 1,500 acre Entergy property heats up, Wicked Local Plymouth

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Will Massachusetts Emerge as the Hub of the Microgrid Industry?, Microgrid Knowledge

American energy use, in one diagram, Vox.com

Residents, businesses, officials decry Eversource rate hike at Department of Public Utilities hearing, Berkshire Eagle

Newport, Rhode Island’s Microgrid Ambitions: Small City, Small State, Big Plans, Microgrid Knowledge

Eversource executive: Northern Pass ratepayer billing ‘unlikely,’ Union Leader

Vermont bill would direct PUC to draw up energy storage recommendations, Utility DIVE

Higher gas prices add to ISO-NE power costs in February, Utility DIVE

Eversource grilled over why the plan isn’t to bury all of Northern Pass, The Union Leader

Kane: National Grid due for $400000 tax break if town’s tangibles rate isn’t changed, Valley Breeze

Northern Pass gets day in court Thursday as committee hearings start, Concord Monitor

Four carbon bills proposed, Vermont Biz

Mass. AG Calls For DPU To Reject Eversource Request, WAMC

AG Maura Healey set to testify in Pittsfield against Eversource rate hike proposal, Berkshire Eagle

Mass. request boosts northern energy projects, Concord Monitor

At NH House committee hearing, jobs become focus of key energy bill, New Hampshire Business Review

Maine’s Health at Risk from Dirty Air Days, Bangor Daily News

Eversource proposes rate hike after reported revenue shortage, wwlp.com

Editorial/Opinion

Not So Strong After All: Climate Change Is Trump’s National Security Weakness, WBUR

Our Opinion: Eversource rate increase would be bad for business, Berkshire Eagle

William J. Eccleston: Savings overestimated for proposed Burrillville plant, Providence Journal

Help more Mainers use solar power, Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

Your View: Maximizing offshore wind’s benefits for Massachusetts, South Coast Today

Massachusetts’ Biggest Utility Seeks Crippling Demand Charges for Customers, Renewable Energy World

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Filed under Electricity Costs, Natural Gas Pipelines, offshore wind, solar

Tagged as biomass, electric rates, energy efficiency, Eversource, Northern Pass, nuclear, Vermont Gas

February 17, 2017 · 2:21 pm

Energy News for week ending February 17, 2017

Happy Friday. This week’s energy news brings us more response to a pipeline study released last week that claims the Access Northeast pipeline will cost twice what proponents claim. According to MassLive, Eversource Energy called the report “a disservice to communities.”

During last week’s ISO-NE energy auction Invenergy’s proposed Burrillville, RI gas plant only managed to sell half its expected capacity. EcoRI reports that Jerry Elmer of the Conservation Law Foundation, said, “the lack of demand for the electricity shows there is more than enough power generation to meet future energy needs and, thus, the proposed Clear River Energy Center is unnecessary and shouldn’t be built.”

But natural gas advocates, should not dismay! The American Gas Association released its 2017 playbook touting all of the benefits that natural gas brings to the US. Specifically, the playbook offers a concise, fact-based narrative detailing how the industry and utilities are helping increase our energy security, improving our environment and boosting our economy.

Lastly, on the gas front, WGBH talks with Governor Baker about how much he can or can’t influence the Weymouth gas compressor station. His response, “In the end, these decisions get made by the federal government.”

In other news, Maine is starting to look like Washington; or is it that Washington is starting to look like Maine? Regardless, the Sun Journal tells us that Gov. LePage is telling utility commissioners to resign over “their absolutely horrendous decision” that rolled back net metering but didn’t eliminate it. And the Bangor Daily News reports he seeks to replace at least one of them with a solar energy critic.

New Hampshire also has its fair share of renewable critics. Utility DIVE reports on legislation that would remove the state from RGGI and repeal the renewables mandate.

Speaking of renewables mandates, MassLive reports that more than 50 Massachusetts lawmakers have signed on to a bill that would require Massachusetts to get all of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035. All of its heating, transportation and other sectors would have to be powered by renewable energy by 2050. No word yet on the cost, but we can look to Vermont where the Energy Collective said a study released this week found its 90 percent renewables mandate would cost $33 billion by 2050. They did the math and found if the US were to adopt Vermont’s 90% RE goal, the capital cost would be $17,316 billion, which is in the same ballpark as the US national debt. Ouch.

There is much more news below. Have a great weekend.

Natural Gas/Pipeline

Can Gov. Baker Actually Block A Controversial Gas Compressor?, WGBH.org

Is NED pipeline back on the table?, Nashua Telegraph (pay wall)

AGA Releases 2017 Playbook, True Blue Natural Gas

Eversource and activists at odds over latest New England pipeline study, MassLive.com

New report questions need, cost of Access Northeast gas pipeline project, Utility Dive

Reports Conflict on Need for New Gas Power Plant, ecoRI news

Air battle looms over proposed Weymouth compressor station, Wicked Local Weymouth

Pope appears to back native tribes in Dakota Pipeline conflict, Reuters

Company Behind DAPL Reported 69 Accidents, Polluting Rivers in 4 States in Last Two Years, EcoWatch

Fracking Rule Text Disappears From Interior Department Website, EcoWatch

Vt. Gas Takes Financial Hit, Pipeline Protests Continue, Middlebury Campus

Germany largely bans fracking with new laws, Deutsche Welle

Refugio pipeline explosion shakes homes 60 miles away, KHOU.com

Renewable Energy

New Hampshire bills would withdraw state from RGGI, repeal renewables mandate, Utility Dive

Vermont’s 90% Renewable Energy Goal to Cost $33 Billion by 2050, Energy Collective

Wind Power Now Generates More Than 10 Percent of Electricity for 13 States, Power Engineering

State incentives in the offing as more companies, communities adopt solar power, MassLive.com

LePage eyes replacing utilities commissioner with solar energy critic, Bangor Daily News

Gov. Paul LePage urges Maine utility regulators to resign over solar decision, Lewiston Sun Journal

Here’s an early look at how Maine’s biomass bailout money is being spent, Bangor Daily News

Fight over renewable energy comes to New Hampshire, Penn Energy

Trump urged to back offshore, reNews

Vineyard Power vying for offshore wind farm, Cape Cod Times

Deepwater Wind opens Massachusetts office in New Bedford, SouthCoastToday.com

Solar and wind energy propel growth in US renewables, Nature.com

Victory: These Two Cities Just Committed to 100% Renewable Energy, EcoWatch

Environmentalists push for 100% renewable energy use in Massachusetts, MassLive.com

Wind turbines inspired by insect wings are 35% more efficient, Science Magazine

US Solar Surged 95% to Become Largest Source of New Energy, Bloomberg

UPS Announces $18 Million Investment In Onsite Solar Energy, 5x Onsite Solar Growth, CleanTechnica

Governor’s letter to Trump — Support solar and wind energy, Digital Journal

Companies Collaborates with Beaumont Solar on New 680,305 sq ft LEED Certified Headquarters, Incorporating a 2.2 Megawatt Solar System, Energy Central

The crisis at Oroville Dam, explained, Vox.com

Energy Efficiency

Portman-Shaheen Energy Efficiency Bill Reintroduced in Senate, Lexology

Report: HI, CT, MA, RI, and AK Households Save Most On Overall Utility Bills Due To Appliance Standards, (Press Release), Appliance Standards Awareness Project

Carbon-Cutting Success Stories, (Report) Environment Maine

Massachusetts Green Communities Program Continues to Grow, Energy Manager Today

An Energy Storage Target for Massachusetts: Go Bigger, Bellwether?, Microgrid Knowledge

Vermont Churches Awarded Grants for Energy Audits, vtdigger.org

National Grid launches its first commercial & industrial demand response program, Utility DIVE

Nuclear

Entergy Addresses Critical Report (video), ‘The Take’ NECN

Connecticut lawmakers again asked to consider nuclear energy, New Haven Register

Federal application filed for Vermont Yankee sale, vtdigger.org

Pilgrim nuclear power plant back online after shutdown, The Boston Globe

Public hearings planned on proposed Vermont Yankee sale, The Keene Sentinel

NRC starts comment clock on Seabrook amendment to rent extension, The Daily News of Newburyport

Markets/Grid/Policy/Prices/Etc.

Rules to cut carbon emissions in Mass. may increase them in New England, critics say, Boston Globe

New review is critical of Northern Pass project, The Union Leader

Massachusetts Plans to Identify Microgrid Opportunities Statewide, Microgrid Knowledge

Prices plummet in ISO-NE capacity auction, raising questions about new generation plans, Utility Dive

Expanded Use Of EVs in CT, MA, MD, NY & PA Could Yield “Multi-Billions” in Savings and Benefits, CleanTechnica

Plymouth triangle lot could produce new revenue (underwater cables), Wicked Local Plymouth

Utilidata, National Grid announce Volt/VAR optimization project, Electric Light & Power

Energy executives, secretive nonprofit raise money to back Pruitt, Politico

Citing ownership change, Brockton Power asks for six-month permit extension, Enterprise

Brady to state board: Deny Brockton Power 4th extension after it sat out auction, Enterprise

Editorial/Opinion

Power Precursor, New Hampshire Magazine

Reviving the Keystone Pipeline is one of Trump’s foolish acts, Ricentral.com

Eversource solar hikes unwarranted, CommonWealth Magazine

Commentary: PUC’s mishandling of solar rules will hurt industry, utilities and ratepayers, Press Herald

Letter to the editor: SMCC is all talk, no action on renewable energy future, Press Herald

Markey, Kennedy Statement on Results of New England Electricity Capacity Auction #11, Energy Central

Ronald C. DeCurzio: Massachusetts municipal utilities doing their part to reach clean energy milestones, MassLive

Letter to the Editor: Unnecessary pipeline project would do damage, New Haven Register

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Filed under Electricity Costs, Energy Efficiency, Natural Gas Pipelines, Renewables, Vermont Yankee Closing

Tagged as Charlie Baker, Entergy, Eversource, Maine, National Grid, natural gas, Northern Pass, nuclear, pipeline, Rhode Island, solar, Spectra, Vermont Gas

February 3, 2017 · 3:13 pm

Energy News for week ending February 3, 2017

Good afternoon. It’s Super Bowl Weekend! With that in mind let’s start off with a fun infographic from Penn Energy that describes what it would take for certain types of renewable energy to power a 60 inch plasma for the duration of the game. Any guesses on the number of potato batteries required?

In other news, MassLive reports that Senators Markey and Warren have asked FERC to rescind the Atlantic Bridge pipeline, but they may be out of luck with their request. Why you ask? Well it seems that despite “loving pipelines” the Washington Post reports that Trump’s personnel moves at FERC left them without a quorum, pretty much stopping them from getting anything done any time soon.

There was a lot of solar news this week from all around the region. The Union Leader reports the largest solar array in New England is planned in Hinsdale, NH – 65 MW total. Eversource, according to CommonWealth Magazine, is seeking higher fees on customers with solar. Bob Rio, writing on the AIM Blog says Massachusetts’ new solar subsidy program “gets it right.” And in Maine, Greentech Media reports that solar customers are going to receive lower bill credits.

Lastly, the NRC tells the Boston Globe that Pilgrim Nuclear in Plymouth is safe. In fact, it can refuel this spring and remain in operation until their planned shutdown date in May 2019.

Have a great weekend. And, Go Pats!

Natural Gas/Pipeline

Trump loves pipelines. But he just accidentally froze a bunch of them, Washington Post

Sens. Ed Markey, Elizabeth Warren call on FERC to rescind Atlantic Bridge natural gas pipeline authorization, MassLive

Burrillville seeks more time to analyze Invenergy proposal, Valley Breeze

Rhode Island GOP leader asks Trump to jumpstart pipeline, Greeneville Sun

Ruling on Kinder Morgan pipeline proposal may be delayed, Danville Advocate

Tax hike to be on Rehoboth ballot, The Sun Chronicle

New analysis suggests ways for landowners to limit fracking and mineral extraction without regulations, Stanford University News

Florida Fracking Ban Bill Draws Bipartisan Support, InsideClimate News

New data: Pipeline leaks caused by human error are increasing, Digital Journal

US energy official’s resignation not expected to change Spectra decision, The Patriot Ledger