Plugging In

Energy and the Environment

SE Mass. officials seek “tweak’ in wind policy

Say emphasis on price is hurting onshore industry-building

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Mar 15, 2019

NEARLY 50 ELECTED AND BUSINESS officials from southeastern Massachusetts are urging the Baker administration to tweak the contracting process for the next offshore wind procurement to give a greater emphasis to onshore development investments. Gov. Charlie Baker has repeatedly marveled at the low bid Vineyard Wind made to secure the first wind farm contract in(...)

DeLeo proposes $1b in municipal climate investments

Promises money for every city and town using bond funds

By Chris Lisinski Climate change, Energy 0 Comments Feb 22, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOUSE SPEAKER ROBERT DELEO proposed a sweeping $1 billion environmental grant program Friday that, over the next decade, would fund municipal efforts to build renewable-energy infrastructure and invest in climate resiliency programs. DeLeo, speaking alongside members of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy after a tour of Somerville’s GreenTown(...)

Mass. hydro project showers benefits on Maine

Gov. Mills says Massachusetts ratepayers will pick up the $235m tab

By Colin A. Young Charlie Baker, Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Feb 21, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE ROAD HAS BEEN CLEARED of significant hurdles for the New England Clean Energy Connect project to bring clean hydropower from Quebec to Massachusetts, and Maine will get a bevy of economic and environmental benefits for hosting the lines that will deliver the energy. New Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that she(...)

Grid operator laments lack of action on carbon pricing

Says New England states uninterested; New York pushing ahead

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Feb 20, 2019

THE CEO OF THE REGION’S power grid operator indicated on Wednesday that he was surprised at the reluctance of New England states to embrace a price on carbon. Many of the states are pursuing aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals, but so far they have shied away from putting a price on the carbon content of(...)

Vineyard Wind, backed by Baker, plays power politics

Wind farm fails to gain major foothold in electricity auction

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Feb 7, 2019

A SHARP-ELBOWED GAME of power politics surfaced publicly on Thursday as it became clear that Vineyard Wind, backed by Gov. Charlie Baker, had sought and failed to participate more fully in an electricity auction that would have made the wind farm’s backers a lot of money while also driving down the price of electricity in(...)

Homeowners, via Sunrun, participate in N.E. electricity auction

As a group, residents agree to provide 20mw of power in 2022-2023

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Feb 7, 2019

A SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY participated in this week’s New England electricity auction, agreeing to provide 20 megawatts of power from its 5,000 customers in the region. Sunrun Inc, participated in the so-called forward capacity auction, where the regional grid operator ISO-New England solicits commitments to provide electricity three years from now in 2022-2023. Chris Rauscher,(...)

Electricity storage takes key role in energy efficiency plan

Mass Save appears to be shifting focus of the program

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

STATE REGULATORS on Wednesday approved utility plans to spend nearly $2.8 billion of ratepayer money over the next three years on initiatives designed to curb energy consumption in the aggregate and particularly at peak periods, resulting in energy savings of $8.5 billion. While Mass Save will continue to offer efficient light bulbs, insulation, and other(...)

Region’s power generators using more oil, coal

Fuel mix should return to normal as temps rise

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Jan 22, 2019

FRIGID CONDITIONS led the region’s power generators to use more oil and coal than usual over the last few days, but as temperatures edged up Tuesday the fuel mix is expected to return to normal. Typically, coal and oil each account for less than 1 percent of the region’s power generation fuel mix and natural(...)

ISO should call for offshore wind transmission discussion

The deadline for beginning the debate is now

By Edward N. Krapels Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Jan 14, 2019

NEW ENGLAND is in the midst of an energy sea change. Brought about by the people of the region acting through their elected officials, states in the region have passed legislation directing the procurement of large sources of renewable energy, including up to 3,200 megawatts of offshore wind in Massachusetts. The federal government is a(...)

Electricity aggregation success extends beyond Newton

Programs in many cities show the approach works

By Cameron Peterson and Patrick Roche Electricity 0 Comments Jan 5, 2019

THE METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING COUNCIL applauds Newton for taking the next great leap in green aggregation (“Municipal electricity aggregation really works”), and we feel it is important to highlight the pioneering work of other municipalities in this space in recent years. The Clean Energy Department at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council has been helping cities(...)