IMAGINE WIND POWER delivering electricity at prices well below today’s rates. It’s not the fantasy of some wildly idealistic environmentalist: In fact, it’s happening today in Texas, and the potential […]
Electricity
Posted inPolitics
Healey to DPU: Cut Eversource rates
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY is pushing state regulators to reject a bid by Eversource for a $96 million increase in electricity rates and instead order the utility to cut its […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
The invisible hand of Gordon van Welie
OUR GRID OPERATOR, ISO New England, celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. For two decades, the ISO has been in charge of keeping the lights on throughout the region, coordinating […]
Posted inEnvironment
Access Northeast pipeline put on indefinite hold
THE COMPANIES BEHIND the $3 billion Access Northeast natural gas pipeline said on Thursday that they are putting the project on hold indefinitely. The project faced long odds in Massachusetts […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment
Round three on renewable energy
A RECENT OPINION PIECE in Commonwealth (“The Upside of Renewables” by Peter Rothstein and Michael Behrmann) attempts to rebut an earlier piece by me which pointed out the high cost […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
The upside of renewables
A Commonwealth opinion piece (“The downside of renewables”) published on May 11 provided a flawed argument against renewable energy and its implications for the New England electricity grid by picking […]
Posted inOpinion
Exports explain interest in gas pipeline
AFTER MANY SIGNIFICANT LEGAL and legislative defeats, it’s tempting to think that the massive Access Northeast gas pipeline is dead. That project would transport natural gas from the fracking fields […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Paris withdrawal won’t deter wind, solar
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S WITHDRAWAL from the Paris climate agreement, and the reactions to that retreat, are more theater than substance. Whether the United States is in or out does little to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Baker all talk on regional carbon limits
AS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP moves forward with his efforts to dismantle the Clean Power Plan and accelerate the extraction of coal, oil, and gas on federal lands, it’s worth taking […]
Posted inEnvironment
Seven suburbs blast Eversource solar proposal
SEVEN WESTERN SUBURBS of Boston are crying foul about an Eversource proposal that would cut the amount of money they receive for selling solar energy to the power grid, resulting […]
Posted inEnvironment
In shift, Eversource backs W. Mass. rate relief
EVERSOURCE IS PROPOSING significant changes to a $96 million rate hike request that would have the effect of lowering bills for customers in western Massachusetts and raising them for customers […]
Posted inOpinion
Offshore wind moving too slowly
“GOOD THINGS COME to those who wait” is an old phrase extolling the virtues of patience. When it comes to bringing offshore wind energy to Massachusetts, it is advice we […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Brayton Pt closing ups need for gas
AS BADLY AS ALL OF US in Massachusetts have been needing improved access to natural gas, Wednesday at midnight our need–and the challenge to our economy and energy security–grow even […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
The downside of renewables
MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN about New England’s electricity markets and the distortions caused by policy makers. There are many lessons that elected officials and bureaucrats can learn by looking overseas […]
Posted inEnvironment
Vineyard Wind brings in a big player
A BIG INTERNATIONAL ENERGY PLAYER is jumping into the competition for offshore wind power contracts with Massachusetts. Through a company in which it is the major shareholder, Iberdrola S.A., a […]
Posted inEnvironment
Utilities unveil RFP for offshore wind power
THE STATE’S UTILITIES on Monday set in motion a first-of-its-kind procurement for 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind power by asking Massachusetts regulators to approve a bid process that gives companies […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Eversource electric vehicle proposal worth pursuing
RECENT ACCOUNTS OF THE EVERSOURCE rate case have understandably focused on the utility’s request for a controversial rate increase. However, at risk of getting lost in the shuffle is a […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics
Natural gas shouldn’t be the boogie man
IT’S IRONIC THAT SEVERAL DAYS after Emily Norton’s op-ed in CommonWealth (“Kill the Northeast pipeline”), the Department of Environmental Protectiion announced that greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts decreased from 2013 to […]
Posted inEnvironment
Offshore wind firms split on size of initial contract
THE THREE COMPANIES vying for Massachusetts offshore wind contracts sharply disagree on how big the initial procurement should be, but they are united in their belief that electricity generation and […]
Posted inEnvironment
US planning more offshore wind leases off MA coast
IN ANOTHER SIGN the offshore wind market is heating up, the federal government indicated on Friday that it intends to lease more ocean tracts off the coast of Massachusetts after […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics
Sparks fly on electric vehicle provision
A FIGHT IS BREWING on Beacon Hill over how far the state should go in promoting the adoption of zero emission vehicles. Environmental advocates and many state lawmakers want new […]
Posted inEnvironment
Wholesale electricity prices drop to 13-year low
New England’s wholesale electricity prices plunged to their lowest level in 13 years in 2016, propelled by cheap natural gas and lower consumer demand for power. The operator of the […]
Posted inEnvironment
Utility raises concerns on emission targets
A TOP OFFICIAL WITH EVERSOURCE ENERGY said on Wednesday that Massachusetts was in danger of not meeting its carbon emission reduction targets for 2020. In a conference call with financial […]
Posted inEnvironment
Eversource facing big Beacon Hill challenge
EVERSOURCE ENERGY FACES a monumental lobbying challenge this year – convincing Beacon Hill lawmakers to pass legislation allowing electric ratepayers to finance the construction of a natural gas pipeline into […]