Environment/ Politics

Baker pushes regional energy approach

Plans to rely on utilities for purchases of gas, renewables

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THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION said on Wednesday it plans to work with utilities in Massachusetts and neighboring states to purchase renewable energy and expand the region’s natural gas pipeline infrastructure.

In a brief, vaguely worded statement, the governor said electric distribution companies operating in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut have agreed to put out a request for proposal for clean energy. The statement described the RFP as “a competitive bidding process for wind, solar, and other non-carbon emitting sources.” The latter reference presumably includes hydroelectricity from Canada, although hydro wasn’t mentioned in the press release.

The three states share many of the same utilities (Eversource and National Grid, among them) and have similar mandates for renewable energy development.

With one key difference, the Baker strategy is similar to the approach outlined in legislation filed by Rep. Patricia Haddad of Somerset, one of House Speaker Robert DeLeo’s top lieutenants. Haddad’s bill calls for expansion of natural gas pipeline infrastructure and the importation of hydroelectricity from Canada, but it would also require utilities to purchase a set amount of offshore wind power in a bid to give the industry a boost. Haddad represents a region of the state hoping to provide support services to offshore wind developers. Baker’s statement makes no mention of giving any special preference to offshore wind, which is generally more expensive than other forms of power.

The Baker administration statement also said the Department of Public Utilities will be asked to launch a public process “to consider how the electric utilities can pursue gas capacity contracts that would improve winter reliability and lower winter electricity costs.”  The statement said the Baker administration would pursue projects that could be accomplished under existing law.

The statement offered no details on the gas capacity contracts, but it comes at a time when many energy analysts are suggesting the best way to finance natural gas pipeline infrastructure is to have electricity ratepayers pay for it. Some environmental groups, meanwhile, are questioning whether additional gas pipeline capacity is even needed.

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About Bruce Mohl

Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

About Bruce Mohl

Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

Baker administration officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Officials with the Green Line Infrastructure Alliance, a company seeking to build transmission lines to bring wind power from Maine and hydroelectricity from Canada to southern New England, said Baker’s three-state, competitive RFP process makes sense. Ed Krapels, the CEO of Anbaric Transmission, and Stan Blazewicz, vice president of business development at National Grid, both said they were encouraged by the Baker administration approach even though they were eager to see more details.

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