Plugging In

Energy and the Environment

Mass. should accelerate solar development

State is facing a fork in the road on clean energy

By Peter Rothstein and Jeff Cramer Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Sep 5, 2019

MASSACHUSETTS IS IN THE MIDST of a success story when it comes to solar energy. At a time when the effects of climate change are becoming more obvious to us all, our state has made tremendous progress in lowering the cost of solar and expanding access to a broad spectrum of consumers. This week and(...)

Mayflower Wind promises lowest US price yet

Offers other options with higher prices plus onshore investments

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Aug 30, 2019

ONE OF THE COMPANIES seeking to win the state’s second offshore wind procurement offered regulators a choice between the lowest price ever in the United States or proposals that come with a higher price but include major onshore investments. Most analysts had expected prices to rise on the state’s second procurement, partly because the bid(...)

Baker presses for March Vineyard Wind decision

Refuses to criticize Trump; may seek accommodations for project

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Aug 28, 2019

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER pressed the Trump administration on Wednesday to wrap up its environmental review of Vineyard Wind by March 2020, and indicated he is seeking accommodations for the wind farm in regard to federal tax credits and project timetables. Even though President Trump appeared to disparage wind power at a summit in France earlier(...)

3 firms competing in 2d offshore wind procurement

Vineyard Wind, its 1st project in limbo, is bidding again

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Aug 23, 2019

THREE COMPANIES SUBMITTED proposals on Friday for the state’s second offshore wind procurement, an indication that a last-minute budgetary maneuver by Gov. Charlie Baker succeeded in spurring a competitive bid process. Officials with Vineyard Wind, Bay State Wind, and Mayflower Wind Energy confirmed they submitted bids. Officials at a fourth company, Equinor Wind, could not(...)

Over objections, feds approve transfer of Pilgrim station

Healey, Markey, and Baker had raised concerns about decommissioning firm

By Colin A. Young Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Aug 23, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE DESPITE THE OBJECTIONS of Attorney General Maura Healey, the Baker administration, and local advocacy groups, federal regulators approved the transfer of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station license to a company that plans to decommission the plant on an “accelerated basis.” Entergy, which bought the Plymouth plant from Boston Edison in 1999,(...)

2 views on Vineyard Wind delay

Markey, Kennedy tone down rhetoric; fishing group urges caution

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Aug 19, 2019

INITIALLY, MEMBERS of the Massachusetts congressional delegation were harshly critical of the Trump administration for putting off a decision about the environmental impact statement of Vineyard Wind, the 800 megawatt wind farm proposed for the waters off of Martha’s Vineyard. Sen. Ed Markey said the move to delay the decision showed the Trump administration “will(...)

Vineyard Wind review could extend into 2020

Federal agency says final environmental report not likely until next year

By Colin A. Young Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Vineyard Wind 0 Comments Aug 13, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WITH A CRITICAL permit for the Vineyard Wind project on hold so the federal government can launch a new study of the burgeoning offshore wind industry and its potential consequences, the agency conducting that study said Tuesday its review could stretch into 2020. The US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean(...)

Vineyard Wind vows to move forward despite fed hold-up

New timeline uncertain after delay from environmental review

By Colin A. Young 0 Comments Aug 12, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE VINEYARD WIND ON Monday vowed that it will move forward with its $2.8 billion, 84-turbine wind farm project despite a new delay caused by the federal government, though the project will take shape on a new, yet-to-be-determined timeline. The US Department of the Interior and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on(...)

Vineyard Wind layout tough issue for regulators

Fishing groups want changes, but changes mean delays

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Aug 11, 2019

VINEYARD WIND’S TURBINE LAYOUT is likely one of the sticking points that prompted federal regulators late last week to expand their environmental review of the wind farm to include an analysis of how it would interact with a host of other projects in the planning stages along the East Coast. While Massachusetts politicians accused the Trump(...)

Feds call for more study on Vineyard Wind

Delay could be fatal; developer said it needed approval by end of August

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Aug 9, 2019

IN A DECISION that could derail Vineyard Wind, federal regulators on Friday put their review of the project on hold temporarily while they seek to better understand the cumulative impact of the many wind farm projects being proposed along the eastern seaboard. A spokeswoman for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a statement saying(...)