THE HEALEY ADMINISTRATION unveiled a new mapping tool on Thursday that suggests the state has the potential to generate an enormous amount of solar power. In a press release, the governor’s administration said the mapping tool indicates that “Massachusetts has more than enough solar potential to support its decarbonization requirements – about 15 to 18 […]
Electricity
Posted inOpinion
Oil is not a good bridge fuel to the future
THE FEDERAL ENERGY Regulatory Commission (FERC) came to Portland, Maine, this week to discuss with policymakers from across the region the challenge of keeping the lights on while reducing the region’s skyrocketing energy costs and advancing clean energy goals. It’s no easy task. While scalable clean energy sources like offshore wind, solar, and power storage […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment
Big decisions looming on offshore wind
EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS a picture surfaces out of New Bedford showing ships bringing in the giant parts needed to assemble Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first commercial-scale wind farm. The eye-catching images are a reminder that offshore wind is coming, but of late the news about the fledgling industry suggests the rollout is going to […]
Posted inEnergy
R.I. official: Offshore wind regulators facing ‘Hobson’s choice’
A TOP REGULATOR in Rhode Island is raising concerns about the way offshore wind developers are seeking to renegotiate the financial terms of their projects, saying policymakers are facing “a veritable Hobson’s choice” between protecting the interests of ratepayers and promoting the generation of electricity considered vital in the battle against climate change. Ronald Gerwatowski, […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment
NY offshore wind developers also seek price relief
MAJOR OFFSHORE wind developers in New York say their projects may no longer be financially viable unless regulators amend their power purchase agreements to include adjustments for inflation and interconnection costs. In petitions filed with state regulators on Wednesday, the New York wind farm operators followed the same script as developers in Massachusetts, who say […]
Posted inEnergy
SouthCoast Wind report suggests pricey future for offshore wind
A REPORT COMMISSIONED by SouthCoast Wind indicates the cost of building and operating US offshore wind farms has risen by more than 20 percent since 2019, suggesting the Massachusetts procurement scheduled for next year could be pricey. SouthCoast Wind on Monday said it was seeking to terminate the power purchase agreements it previously signed with […]
Posted inEnergy
Healey seeking $250m for grid upgrades
THE HEALEY ADMINISTRATION announced on Monday that it has filed an application for $250 million in federal matching funds to help build connections to the power grid in Massachusetts for offshore wind and solar power developers. State officials portrayed the grant proposal as an attempt to “jumpstart state and regional collaboration on necessary transmission infrastructure,” […]
Posted inEnergy, State Government
Energy storage facilities hit regulatory black hole
THE STATE’S Energy Facilities Siting Board concluded on Wednesday that it lacks authority to approve large energy storage facilities, which means two projects in Carver and Medway may be in jeopardy. Energy storage facilities are becoming an integral part of the regional power grid. The facilities help the grid deal with fluctuations in demand by […]
Posted inEnergy, Government
Connecticut taking different approach to utility regulation
CONNECTICUT IS CHANGING the way it regulates utilities, and the new approach has the companies and investors scared. The new approach, called performance-based regulation, is intended to compensate utilities based on how well they perform tasks rather than on how much money they spend. Many states, including Massachusetts, incorporate some element of performance into their […]
Posted inOpinion
End the DPU’s stall on municipal electricity aggregation
AS FOLKS ACROSS Massachusetts confront the consequences of a changing climate and emerge from a winter of extraordinarily high energy costs, it’s clear that we need cleaner, more affordable power. Expanding municipal aggregation programs would increase demand for clean energy, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and lower energy costs for ratepayers – yet the Department of […]