The Brayton Point power plant is being sold again, but new owner will still shut it down (8/22/14)
Brayton Point is getting a new owner, but it still won’t be saved from the wrecking ball.? The massive coal-fired power plant on the South Coast will be acquired by Houston’s Dynegy Inc. in a $3.45 billion deal
All Eyes on Boston: Will the New Commercial Food Waste Ban Lead to a Boom in Waste-to-Energy? (8/13/14)
Will the implementation of the ban be a model for other states? The answer may be an outstanding, yes!
$9.1M waterfront overhaul work begins (8/5/14)
Standing in a sunny gravel lot near the Burlington bike path, Mayor Miro Weinberger heralded the city's new project, called Waterfront Access North, as the most significant infrastructure development on the waterfront in about two decades
Solar bill’s failure on Beacon Hill was a missed opportunity for utilities (8/2/14)
Plenty of people in the clean-tech industry were disappointed that an ambitious bill to overhaul the state’s solar incentives didn’t make it to the finish line last week.
Connecticut
- At the Matrix, amenities play important role in attracting tenants (8/13/14)
To date, Matrix has spent close to $20 million on improvements which include new cooling towers, new chillers, refurbished boilers, 20,000 square feet of solar roof panels and a complete information technology?upgrade.
- Forum: Toledo contamination underscores need to protect land around water supplies (8/12/14)
The majority of people living in the United States do not think about their tap water until there is a problem
- CL&P helicopter installing transmission line (8/12/14)
Berlin electric utility Connecticut Light & Power will have a helicopter flying over the eastern portion of the state intermittently between August and December to install a transmission line
- Save the Sound completes Plainville asphalt project (8/12/14)
Connecticut environmental advocate Save the Sound completed work on a 4,000-square-foot porous pavement this month, preventing rainfall from entering the stormwater management system.
- NRG invests $75M in FuelCell (8/5/14)
New Jersey conglomerate NRG Energy, which operates nine power plants in Connecticut, has invested $75 million in Danbury clean power manufacturer FuelCell Energy.
- St. Francis hires energy overseer (8/5/14)
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford has hired a New York City contractor to monitor all energy use of the 617-bed acute care facility.
Maine
- Tests find humans, not dogs, responsible for Rockland park poop problem (8/12/14)
ROCKLAND — The high level of fecal bacteria on the grounds of a popular Rockland park is from humans, not dogs.
- Maine’s largest power plant taken off the market, reflecting changes in regional demand (8/12/14)
PORTLAND — Wyman Station, the state’s largest power plant, is no longer on the market as its owners saw increasing profits from the oil-fired power plant in the first quarter of 2014, when winter constraints on natural gas supply for electric generation resulted in greater demand for power from the oil-fired generator.
- Pembroke residents question proposed power project (8/9/14)
- $20 million federal grant to fund Maine aquaculture research network (8/7/14)
ORONO — After years of painstaking research, scientists and fishermen have made substantial progress in learning how to grow seaweed, oysters, mussels, salmon and other marine species along the coast of Maine.
- ‘The air is bad’: Mainers support new limits on power plant emissions (8/6/14)
PORTLAND — Dr. Tony Owens stood before a federal environmental regulator Wednesday and described his most recent shift in the emergency department at Maine Medical Center.
- Tidal power company seeks support for Washington County venture (8/5/14)
Halcyon Tidal Power’s plan is the latest project proposed for the Cobscook Bay area, where huge tides draw interest from energy developers
Massachusetts
- Battle lines drawn in Dartmouth over proposed cell upgrades (7/29/14)
DARTMOUTH — Why does AT&T need a 150-foot cell phone tower on Concordia's property at 300 Gulf Road, an area designated as a scenic road?
- Springfield seeking options for old fire stations (7/24/14)
As city officials consider potential reuses of four long-closed fire stations in Springfield, their hopes are boosted by a recent report outlining success stories from around Massachusetts and beyond
- Grid overseer seeks federal help to keep plans for Salem power plant alive (7/24/114)
The overseers of New England’s power grid have reached out to the federal government for help in ensuring a massive natural gas power plant planned for Salem can get off the ground
- Greenfield uses power-buying plan to help Kennametal expand (7/24/14)
- Industry group rejects plan that would help ensure Salem power plant’s financing (7/1/14)
Building a major power plant in New England isn’t necessarily easy for anyone. But it’s becoming particularly tough for Footprint Power, the developer behind the nearly 700-megawatt gas plant that would replace the coal- and oil-fired dinosaur in Salem that shut down a month ago.
- More Ocean off Massachusetts Open for Wind Energy (6/18/14)
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell say a large area off the coast is being opened for commercial wind energy leases.
- Massachusetts Pushing to Expand Electric Car Use (6/18/14)
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts drivers buying or leasing new electric cars can begin applying for rebates from the state worth up to $2,500, according to Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration.
- Legislature (MA) weighing fossil fuel divestment (5/8/14)
New Hampshire
- Videos emerge that drive petitions against Northern Pass (8/2/14)
Three two-minute videos on YouTube have helped conservation groups drive nearly 7,000 people to sign a “Bury or Stop Northern Pass” petition online.
- N.H. Composters Say Rule Change Could Stir Growth In Business (7/28/14)
Compost has long been the domain of farmers and gardeners, not city-folk, but with both Vermont and Massachusetts pushing ahead with bans on throwing away food waste, curb-side pickup of compost is set to become more commonplace.
- Concord (NH) hearing gives the public a chance to comment on EPA Clean Power Plan (7/28/14)
Because of climate change, New Hampshire’s moose population is struggling – fighting a longer tick season and higher quantities of parasites – and over the past decade it has declined more than 40 percent, said Eric Orff, a New Hampshire wildlife biologist. That’s why Orff said he supports the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent proposal to cut carbon emissions.
- Groton Wind sound tests pass muster for committee (7/28/14)
GROTON — The amount of sound emitted by the Groton Wind facility in town and in surrounding towns is within the state’s guidelines for such projects, according to a contractor that just conducted tests for the owners of Groton Wind. But two of the original complainants, a Rumney couple, about the sound from the plant’s 400-foot towers, says the sound tests were not done in the right spot.
- Developer says proposed LNG plant in Groveton ‘on hold’ (7/27/14)
Plans to build a $100 million liquefied-natural gas (LNG) production plant in Groveton Village are on “hold,” according to the developer, Clear Energy of Marlborough, Mass.
- Members of Congress Worry Propane Rail Shipments Could Harm Great Bay (7/24/14)
Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte along with Congresswoman Carol-Shea Porter want to take a closer look at the potential environmental impacts of propane rail traffic through the Great Bay Estuary.
- Lister waiting on response from Hassan regarding Sea-3 (7/23/14)
PORTSMOUTH — Mayor Bob Lister is tired of waiting for a response from Gov. Maggie Hassan's office to a request he made in a June 18 letter sharing his concerns about the expansion of the Sea-3 propane facility in Newington.
- Peterborough OKs state’s largest solar array project (7/23/14)
PETERBOROUGH — Within 30 minutes of the start of the Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, voters cheered and applauded their unanimous vote to OK construction of what will be the largest solar array in the state.
Rhode Island
- Warwick residents urged to help city win energy-savings grant (7/29/14)
Mayor Scott Avedisian’s office reminded residents that they have until the end of August to sign up for energy-saving tips online and if the city gets 5 percent of its residents and local businesses to take part in the program, Warwick will receive a $7,500 grant from National Grid to help the community further its energy-saving efforts.
- A ‘symbol of embarrassment’ could be spinning again in Portsmouth (7/29/14)
PROVIDENCE — The wind turbine at Portsmouth High School that has sat idle since its gearbox broke in May 2012 could be spinning again within three to six months, ending what Governor Chafee said Monday? has been one of a few “symbols of embarrassment” in the state that bother him.
- Brown, RISD students say participation in international house-building competition was valuable (7/26/14)
The super-efficient soft-shelled house built by students at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design may not have been one of the top scorers at a recently completed international competition in France, but those who worked on the Techstyle Haus said the experience was valuable.
- Cape Wind developer awarded lease option for staging area at Quonset Business Park (7/15/14)
NORTH KINGSTOWN — The Quonset Business Park could be the assembly and staging area for the first two offshore wind farms in the United States after a lease option was awarded on Tuesday to the developer of the Cape Wind project in Massachusetts.
- R.I., Mass. on leading edge of offshore wind power development, study says
Rhode Island and Massachusetts are leading the way in supporting the development of offshore wind power, according to a new report from the National Wildlife Federation.
- Wind farm developer seeks lease at Quonset Business Park (7/10/14)
The developer of a wind farm proposed for the waters of Nantucket Sound is seeking to lease property at the Quonset Business Park for a staging and assembly area for the 130-turbine project.
- PolitiFact R.I. rules Sen. Whitehouse claim on solar, coal jobs is True (7/6/14)
PROVIDENCE -- For more than a year, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has delivered weekly Senate speeches about the dangers of climate change. He frequently denounces climate-change deniers, and urges growth of green jobs and technologies to reduce America’s reliance on foreign fossil fuel.
- Trash backlash: Mandated containers in Cranston an election issue / Video (7/2/14)
CRANSTON — Every residence gets two 65-gallon durable wheeled plastic containers in the city’s new “automatic trash collection” system. Each has a serial number and is only intended to be a loaner to a particular residence.
Vermont
- Vermont Gas kept quiet for months on pipeline price hike (8/12/14)
Vermont Gas knew in March that the first phase of its pipeline expansion project in Addison County would cost 40 percent more than the utility originally estimated, but the utility failed to tell the Public Service Board or the public until July because of an "overabundance of caution," the company says.
- Vermont Gas upbeat on pipeline mediation (8/12/14)
Monkton resident Claire Broughton, who has resisted Vermont Gas' earlier overtures, said late Tuesday afternoon that she hadn't been notified of the latest offer. Compensation for a right-of-way is a non-issue for Broughton.
- Methane from Quebec landfill to help heat Vermont (8/7/14)
Biogas, derived from waste products, was introduced to the distribution system of Vermont Gas on Aug. 1, the company announced Thursday.
- PSB starts utility poles probe (8/6/14)
MONTPELIER — The Public Service Board has started a statewide investigation into the use of a chemical to treat utility poles after advising Vermont Gas Systems not to lay pipeline near transmission lines
- State seeks $35,000 Vermont Gas fine (8/1/14)
MONTPELIER — State regulators Thursday asked for a $35,000 fine against Vermont Gas Systems for being slow to file a new and higher cost estimate for phase one of a natural gas pipeline expansion in western Vermont
- State seeks $35,000 Vermont Gas fine (7/31/14)
MONTPELIER- State regulators on Thursday asked for a $35,000 fine against Vermont Gas Systems for being slow to file a new and higher cost estimate for phase one of a natural gas pipeline expansion in western Vermont
- Sit-in briefly disrupts Vermont Gas worksite (7/30/14)
WILLISTON – Bearing banners, protest songs and a symbolic "stop-work order," unexpected visitors to a Vermont Gas pipeline work site on Wednesday prompted a 90 minute pause in operations.
- Litterbugs look out: Green Up Day is here (4/27/14)
It’s time for Vermont’s annual spring cleaning. This Saturday volunteers will pick up litter all over the state in observance of Green Up Day
- Germany’s Expensive Gamble on Renewable Energy (8/27/14)
Companies Worry Cost of Plan to Trim Nuclear, Fossil Fuels Will Undermine Competitiveness
- New England needs to secure more natural gas capacity, pipeline operator suggests (8/6/14)
NEW YORK — New England power generators need to lock into more natural gas pipeline capacity to avoid a supply squeeze and record prices seen last winter, Spectra Energy Corp.’s chief executive officer said Wednesday.
- Ag tourism touted as way to boost rural economies
(AP) Working farms attract visitors with farm stands, pumpkin patches, barn dances, zip-line rides, pick-your-own berries, corn mazes and even weddings.
- N.H. Composters Say Rule Change Could Stir Growth In Business (7/28/14)
Compost has long been the domain of farmers and gardeners, not city-folk, but with both Vermont and Massachusetts pushing ahead with bans on throwing away food waste, curb-side pickup of compost is set to become more commonplace.
- Eastern Canadian Premiers And New England Governors Meet Amid Energy Protests (7/14/14)
New Hampshire is hosting the latest summit between the governors of the New England states and the Premiers of Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.?The conference takes place Monday at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, and follows a similar meeting held in Quebec last September.?
- PSNH president eyes energy crunch (7/10/14)
PORTSMOUTH — The new president of Public Service of New Hampshire said he sees a rocky few years ahead for New England — a time during which, at least for the short term, he expects the company's oil- and coal-fired plants to play a significant part.
- Waste Management Signs Definitive Agreement for $1.94 Billion Divestiture of Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. to Energy Capital Partners
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 29, 2014-- Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) has agreed to sell Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. (“WTI”) to an affiliate of Energy Capital Partners (“ECP”) for $1.94 billion in cash. - See more at: http://investors.wm.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=119743&p=irol-recentnewsArticle&ID=1952329&highlight=#sthash.ZYVb6mS7.dpuf
- Maine Department of Environmental Protection Announces Food Scrap Recovery Program and Trainings (5/2/14)
The Sustainability Division at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection is offering free workshops to encourage the recovery of food scraps and the beneficial reuse of those materials either through composting, anaerobic digestion or other applications. 40 percent of Maine's municipal solid waste is organics and could be diverted from a landfill and beneficially reused.
- RWA (CT) and SolarCity Commemorate Major Solar Installation (4/28/14)
“This solar photovoltaic system, one of the largest of its kind in Connecticut, will allow the Authority to be more efficient and lower our energy costs. These savings are passed on to our customers in the form of reduced rate increases,” said Larry L. Bingaman, the Regional Water Authority’s President and CEO.
- Fuels America Releases New Footprint Analysis (4/24/14)
The data are in:? The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is driving billions of dollars of economic activity across America.? This is the result of years of investment by the biofuel sector to bring clean, low carbon renewable fuels to market.
- Article: FloDesign’s Jet-Engine Turbine Will Change The Way You Think About Wind Power (FastCompany.com 9/2013)
A radical new turbine design makes a debut in an industry that's already green, growing, and highly innovative.
- Book: The Great Texas Wind Rush: How George Bush, Ann Richards, and a Bunch of Tinkerers Helped the Oil and Gas State Win the Race to Wind Power
Millions of people are asking how or if the country can transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy — and ironically Texas is leading the way in actually doing it. In "The Great Texas Wind Rush," Kate Galbraith and Asher Price tell the strange, inspiring and at times funny story of how a culture known for Big Oil came to embrace Big Wind.
- Book: The End of the Suburbs: Where the American Dream is Moving
For nearly 70 years, the suburbs were as American as apple pie. As the middle class ballooned and single-family homes and cars became more affordable, we flocked to pre-fabricated communities in the suburbs, a place where open air and solitude offered a retreat from our dense, polluted cities. Before long, success became synonymous with a private home in a bedroom community complete with a yard, a two-car garage and a commute to the office, and subdivisions quickly blanketed our landscape. But in recent years things have started to change.? (a Fortune Magazine excerpt of Leigh Gallagher's book, scheduled for an August 1, 2013 release)?