WHEN MASSACHUSETTS AND Rhode Island began exploring the construction of wind farms off the coast, there was a lot of debate about whether to start big or start small. Those who wanted to go big said a large wind farm would yield a lower price and send a signal that the region was serious about […]
Eversource
Posted inThe Download
R.I. offshore wind price bit higher than Mass.
When Massachusetts and Rhode Island began exploring the construction of wind farms off the coast, there was a lot of debate about whether to start big or start small. Those who wanted to go big said a large wind farm would yield a lower price and send a signal that the region was serious about […]
Posted inThe Download
The Codcast: No pass for Northern Pass
Environmental advocates for years have been eagerly awaiting a clean energy procurement from Massachusetts, but now that it’s actually happened they’re not jumping for joy. State officials announced on Thursday that they had selected a project called Northern Pass to import a massive amount of hydro-electricity from Canada, enough to supply between 15 and 20 percent […]
Posted inEnvironment
Northern Pass hits another obstacle
THE TROUBLED NORTHERN PASS power line project was dealt another blow as the federal Environmental Protection Agency called for an additional 40-mile stretch of the transmission line to be buried underground rather than disrupting wetlands and wildlife through northern New Hampshire. In a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Competing strategies emerge on offshore wind
TWO VERY DIFFERENT strategies are beginning to emerge as three offshore wind companies prepare to vie for up to 1,600 megawatts of contracts with the state of Massachusetts. The powerhouse partnership of DONG Energy and Eversource Energy, operating under the name of Bay State Wind, has adopted what might be described as a go-it-alone, bigger-is-better […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Clean energy intrigue alleged
Environmental advocates say a 1,200 megawatt clean energy solicitation developed by the Baker administration is biased in favor of large-scale hydro projects favored by some of the state’s utilities. The energy diversity legislation authorizing the clean energy procurement was approved last year on Beacon Hill with a provision giving preference to hybrid projects that deliver […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Eversource seeks higher fees on customers with solar
Eversource is proposing special charges for customers with solar installations to make sure they pay their share of the cost of operating the power grid. The proposed charges are contained in Eversource’s rate filing, which is under review at the state Department of Public Utilities. The utility says the charges are needed because many solar […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Utilities seek cut of hydro, wind contracts
Tucked inside the House energy bill is what industry folks call an adder, a special add-on fee paid by electric ratepayers to their utilities to compensate them for carrying out the Commonwealth’s energy policy. Eversource Energy and National Grid play key roles under the legislation. The two utilities are assigned the task of negotiating long-term […]