Plugging In

Energy and the Environment

Legislature should commit to offshore wind power

Massachusetts can be national hub of new industry

By Collin O'Mara Electricity 3 Comments Mar 18, 2016

THERE’S A CONVERSATION UNDERWAY right now on Beacon Hill that has the potential to unleash the next American energy revolution and create tens of thousands of jobs here in the Commonwealth and across the country. As communities up and down the eastern seaboard search for clean, reliable, and affordable sources of energy, offshore wind presents(...)

Study prices out offshore wind

Lower prices come from big 2,000-megawatt commitment

By Bruce Mohl Electricity 4 Comments Mar 15, 2016

A UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE STUDY suggests offshore wind off the coast of Massachusetts can yield electricity at much lower prices than previously forecast, but only if policymakers green-light the development of at least 2,000 megawatts. The 2,000-megawatt number happens to be the exact number that some House lawmakers are pushing for in the omnibus energy(...)

100 reps break ranks on solar

Lawmakers flip-flop on net metering cuts

By Bruce Mohl 21 Comments Mar 15, 2016

A GROUP OF 100 state representatives broke ranks with House leadership on Tuesday, urging six lawmakers trying to broker a legislative compromise on solar energy to hew more closely to the Senate approach on the bill. A letter, signed by the 100 lawmakers, was sent to the three House members of the legislative conference committee(...)

The case against gas pipelines

There’s too much risk and not enough need

By Peter Shattuck and Jamie Howland Electricity, Energy 7 Comments Mar 14, 2016

This is the first in a three-part series of opinion pieces that will appear on consecutive Mondays. ON MARCH 20, 1886, the world’s first alternating current electric grid was powered up in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The steam generator, power lines, and transformers were revolutionary and, in the 130 years since, the electric grid has transformed(...)

DeLeo officially backs offshore wind

Promises competitive procurement process for renewables

By Bruce Mohl Electricity 4 Comments Mar 2, 2016

HOUSE SPEAKER ROBERT DELEO on Wednesday made official what his lieutenants have been saying, that the omnibus energy bill scheduled to come up for a vote in April will include provisions to encourage the development of offshore wind power. “We have the opportunity to launch a new industry that is successful in other parts of(...)

Beaton offers no commitment on offshore wind

Says it’s coming down to working out the price points

By Bruce Mohl Electricity 3 Comments Mar 1, 2016

THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION’S POINT PERSON on energy told an offshore wind conference on Tuesday that the governor is very interested in the technology, but offered no commitments. Matthew Beaton, the governor’s secretary of energy and environmental affairs, sounded optimistic about offshore wind’s potential, but suggested it was premature to commit to the technology without first(...)