Plugging In

Energy and the Environment

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(...)

Time to put an end to whack-a-mole electricity sellers

Companies promise savings, but customer bills actually go up

By Maura Healey Attorney General Maura Healey, Electricity 0 Comments Aug 1, 2019

Attorney General Maura Healey’s office issued a new report on Thursday indicating that consumers who signed on with competitive electricity suppliers between July 2017 and June 2018 paid $76.2 million more than if they remained with their existing service carrier. An earlier report reached similar conclusions. Healey has filed legislation that would bar competitive suppliers(...)

Offshore wind price protection eliminated

Baker amendment does away with declining cap for now

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Electricity, Energy, Massachusetts Legislature 0 Comments Jul 31, 2019

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER and the Legislature on Wednesday rushed through a measure that eliminates the state requirement that the next offshore wind contract come in at a price lower than the last one. The so-called declining price cap was approved in 2016 because of fears the price of offshore wind power would be high, with(...)

Baker developing ‘cure plan’ for Vineyard Wind

Governor meets with Interior Secretary David Bernhardt

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Energy 0 Comments Jul 29, 2019

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said on Monday that his administration is working with Vineyard Wind to develop a “cure plan” to address the concerns of federal agencies as they review the offshore wind project’s environmental impact statement. Baker met Monday morning with officials at the Interior Department, including, according to his schedule, Secretary David Bernhardt, and(...)

Lawmakers hike assessment on utilities 50%

Money will be used to fund DPU budget, which is increasing 54%

By Colin A. Young Department of Public Utilities, Energy 0 Comments Jul 24, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THOUGH LAWMAKER LEFT a handful of proposed taxes on the cutting room floor when they compromised on a budget, the fiscal year 2020 spending plan being reviewed by Gov. Charlie Baker includes a 50 percent increase in the annual assessment imposed upon gas and electric utility companies. The assessment of a(...)