Merrimack Valley tragedy offers climate change opportunity

Rebuild where necessary, but let’s go greener where possible

By John DeVillars and Daniel Sosland Energy 0 Comments Oct 29, 2018

IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, we have once again witnessed the human and financial impact of the world’s addiction to fossil fuels: forest fires in the Arctic; devastated communities and lives in the Carolinas and Florida; and, sadly, here at home, the loss of life and treasure from the explosions in Lawrence, Andover, and North(...)

Regional grid operator too protective of industry

Policies are driving up electricity prices that consumers pay

By Utility organizations Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Oct 25, 2018

THIS SUMMER, governors from five of the six New England states joined together to issue a statement acknowledging the challenges the region faces in maintaining reliable, affordable electricity. The governors pledged to work within their jurisdictions to carry out policies that ensure both a robust and reliable system and keep prices as low as possible.(...)

Vineyard Wind signs $9m lease with New Bedford facility

State-owned terminal, completed in Jan. 2015, to rev up in Dec. 2020

By Bruce Mohl Energy, State Government 0 Comments Oct 22, 2018

THE STATE’S STAGING TERMINAL for offshore wind development got its first major customer on Monday, nearly four years after it opened for business in New Bedford. Vineyard Wind, with power contracts in hand to build an 800-megawatt wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, signed an 18-month lease that starts December 1, 2020. The(...)

On climate change, more than RGGI is needed

Cheap natural gas played biggest role in reducing emissions so far

By Jonah Kurman-Faber Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Oct 21, 2018

YOU MAY HAVE CAUGHT wind of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s disturbing new report on climate change. The message is clear––keep man-made global warming impacts to 1.5 degrees Celsius or suffer dire consequences. We are currently at about 1-degree Celsius, and if we are to remain below 1.5 degrees of warming, fossil fuel use(...)

Utility to run line under Kennebec Gorge

MA project will bring hydro-electricity into New England

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Oct 18, 2018

THE UTILITY UNDER CONTRACT with Massachusetts to import Quebec hydro-electricity into New England said on Thursday that it now plans to run the transmission lines under rather than over the Kennebec Gorge in Maine. The transmission line has stirred opposition in Maine for a variety of reasons, but the prospect of high-voltage transmission wires running(...)

Sizing up Baker, Gonzalez on T, energy, environment

Forum highlighted sharp differences in approach, philosophy

By Bruce Mohl Energy, MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Oct 12, 2018

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER and his Democratic challenger Jay Gonzalez have a lot in common. Baker grew up in Needham and Gonzalez lives there now. Both ran health insurance companies and also took turns heading up the state’s Executive Office for Administration and Finance – Gonzalez under former governor Deval Patrick and Baker under former governor(...)

We need more, not less, competition for offshore wind

With ranks of competitors shrinking, government must intervene

By Edward N. Krapels Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Oct 12, 2018

THE OFFSHORE WIND ERA in the United States is here. With no need to burn fossil fuel, to enrich uranium, to dam rivers, or to build thousands of acres of solar panels, offshore wind is the most benign form of bulk power available to mankind. Plans to seize the potential of offshore wind already have(...)

Ørsted to buy Deepwater Wind for $510m

Danish firm eliminates competitor; retains Grybowski as co-CEO in US

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Oct 8, 2018

TWO OF THE BIGGER PLAYERS in the emerging US offshore wind industry are combining forces, as the Denmark-based Ørsted announced an agreement on Monday to purchase Deepwater Wind of Rhode Island for $510 million. The deal eliminates one of Ørsted’s leading competitors along the East Coast and creates a company with offshore wind contracts or(...)

Gas explosions show how dangerous the fuel is

It’s time to break our addiction to fossil fuels

By Bradley M. Campbell Energy 0 Comments Oct 6, 2018

THE CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION in late September held a meeting in Lawrence to highlight the work of our community partners there. Just as these groups began their presentations, natural gas-fueled explosions and fires began to erupt in South Lawrence and the neighboring towns of Andover and North Andover. Amidst the ensuing chaos, one person was(...)

Hydro-Québec’s greenwashing game

No guarantees Massachusetts deal will lower emissions

By James M. Speyer Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Sep 28, 2018

IN A RECENT COMMENTARY PIECE, “Sierra Club fires back on Québec hydro,” the Sierra Club explained why electricity imported from Québec is not clean. The focus was on the adverse environmental impacts directly related to flooding large areas of land for hydroelectricity. But that’s only part of the story. As a result of Hydro-Québec’s ability(...)