Plugging In

Energy and the Environment

Sky is not falling with offshore wind

Problems with Avangrid's Commonwealth Wind are mostly about timing

By Joseph Curtatone Offshore Wind 0 Comments Dec 31, 2022

MASSACHUSETTS’ INEVITABLE march toward becoming a wind energy powerhouse suffered a setback recently when the news broke that Avangrid had filed to terminate its contracts to build the 1.2-gigawatt Commonwealth Wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. This past week the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities rejected Avangrid’s bid and it’s claim that it(...)

DPU approves wind farm contracts despite financing concerns

Avangrid says it can’t build project at approved power price

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy, Offshore Wind 0 Comments Dec 30, 2022

A correction has been added to this story. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES on Friday approved 20-year power purchase agreements between the state’s three major utilities and the offshore wind developers behind Commonwealth Wind and Mayflower Wind, rejecting claims and concerns raised by the developers that the contracts are no longer adequate to finance their(...)

Healey plucks AG aide as energy, environment secretary

Tepper served in similar role within attorney general's office

By Sam Drysdale Energy, Environment, State Government 0 Comments Dec 28, 2022

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE REBECCA TEPPER, currently the chief of the energy and environment bureau in the attorney general’s office, will continue working under Maura Healey in the new year, joining the incoming governor’s Cabinet as secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. As EEA secretary, Tepper will oversee the state’s six(...)

Utilities urge DPU to force wind developer’s hand

Say Avangrid shouldn’t be allowed to withdraw its pricing contract

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy, Offshore Wind 0 Comments Dec 27, 2022

EVERSOURCE, NATIONAL GRID, and Unitil are urging state regulators to require Avangrid to push ahead with its 1,200-megawatt Commonwealth Wind project even though the company says the price it would receive for the power is not enough to secure financing for the wind farm. The move by the state’s utilities is the latest twist in(...)

Baker administration fleshes out 2050 climate plan

Calls for major changes in electricity production, carbon sequestration

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Climate change 0 Comments Dec 21, 2022

THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION on Wednesday released a 168-page climate plan for 2050 that follows the same general playbook that’s been outlined in the past – increase production of clean electricity; use that electricity to electrify the energy-intensive transportation, building, and industrial sectors; and achieve net-zero emissions by removing additional carbon from the atmosphere using natural(...)

Santa comes early for offshore wind businesses

Baker administration gives out $180m in grants

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Electricity, Energy, Offshore Wind 0 Comments Dec 20, 2022

CHRISTMAS CAME early for the fledgling offshore wind industry in Massachusetts, as the Baker administration handed out $180 million on Tuesday for infrastructure improvements and businesses in New Bedford, Somerset, and Salem. The money flowed, even though the wind farms the state is counting on to spur the industry are having difficulty financing their projects.(...)

With Commonwealth Wind out, focus turns to Mayflower

Rhode Island officials want wind farm to explain itself

By Bruce Mohl Avangrid, Mayflower Wind, wind farm 0 Comments Dec 20, 2022

AVANGRID PULLED ITS Commonwealth Wind project out of the latest Massachusetts offshore wind procurement on Friday, and now many are wondering what the lone remaining participant, Mayflower Wind, will do. When Avangrid on October 20 asked the Department of Public Utilities for a one-month delay to negotiate adjustments to its power purchase agreement in the(...)

Avangrid pulls out of major Mass. offshore wind procurement

Says power price too low, will submit new contract in next round

By Bruce Mohl Offshore Wind 0 Comments Dec 16, 2022

AVANGRID PULLED OUT of a major Massachusetts offshore wind procurement at the final stage on Friday, saying its previously negotiated power purchase contract was no longer adequate to secure financing for the project given current economic conditions. The company said it intends to resubmit the project with new pricing requirements when the state begins its(...)

How do floating wind farms work?

They will be put to the test with new California leases

By Matthew Lackner Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Dec 9, 2022

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA has some of the strongest offshore winds in the US, with immense potential to produce clean energy. But it also has a problem. Its continental shelf drops off quickly, making building traditional wind turbines directly on the seafloor costly if not impossible. Once water gets more than about 200 feet deep – roughly(...)

Mass. again comes in 2nd on energy efficiency efforts

Scorecard says state’s utility customers face big assessments

By Bruce Mohl 0 Comments Dec 6, 2022

FOR THE SECOND year in a row, Massachusetts came in second behind California on a national scorecard of energy efficiency efforts. Massachusetts earned 44.5 out of a possible 50 points, coming in 2.5 points behind California and 5 points ahead of third place New York. Maine was the most improved state on this year’s list,(...)