New England’s Power Grid Transition: From Coal and Nuclear to Natural Gas and Renewable The Inconvenient Consequences

October 2, 2017

There is a huge shift happening to the power grid in New England- and what you don’t know could impact you- and your utility bill. The power grid in New England is rapidly shifting from coal and nuclear energy to natural gas and renewable energy. Between 2012 and 2020, about 15% of the region’s generating […]

NGRID Electric Default Rates to Increase by 34%

September 24, 2017

National Grid (NGRID) recently filed electric default rates with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) that are set to increase a massive 34 percent starting November 1. Both residential and commercial customers will be affected by the filing. For example, residential customers can expect NGRID’s fixed basic service rate to increase from $0.09432 per […]

Hurricane Jose to Strike New England?

September 20, 2017

As Hurricane Jose makes its way up the east coast, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a tropical storm warning for parts of New England: from Watch Hill, Rhode Island, to Hull, Massachusetts, including Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. A tropical storm watch has also been issued along the coast of Long Island […]

Devastating Harvey Shuts Down Refineries, Power

August 29, 2017

Over the past few days, Hurricane Harvey has devastated thousands of people in southeastern Texas and the surrounding area. The category 4 hurricane has topped 130 miles per hour and dumped 50 inches of rain around Houston. In addition to this unprecedented devastation, the hurricane has also wreaked havoc on the region’s refining industry. According […]

California Aims to Produce 100% Renewable Energy by 2045

August 8, 2017

An ambitious bill introduced by California Senate President Kevin de León (D) aims to increase renewable consumption in California over the next few decades. Under the bill, California would produce 60% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% renewable energy by 2045 within its electric grid. California has the largest GDP of any state in the […]

Regulations Could Count Biomass as a Form of Renewable Energy in MA

August 7, 2017

The Baker administration plans to propose rules that would count woody biomass – a fuel that comes from felling trees and clearing brush in forests – as a form of renewable energy. Under the proposal, users of woody biomass could be rewarded with subsidiaries. The administration claims that biomass is part of the effort to […]

Massachusetts to Get New Offshore Wind Farm?

Last week, Deepwater Wind, an offshore wind and transmission developer based in Providence, Rhode Island, announced plans to bring a new offshore wind farm to Massachusetts. Deepwater developed the country’s first offshore wind project near Block Island, Rhode Island. That project began operations in December 2016 after being initiated nine years ago. (The developer has […]

Solar Eclipse to Threaten Solar Power?

July 17, 2017

Next month’s solar eclipse could threaten solar farms and rooftop panels across the United States, in the process wiping out enough power to supply seven million homes. A total solar eclipse has not occurred in the U.S. since 1979. On August 21, however, the moon will totally obscure the sun and cast a 70-mile-wide shadow […]

Eversource Files New Default Rates in NH

July 10, 2017

Recently, Public Service Company of New Hampshire (Eversource) filed new default energy service rates with the New Hampshire PUC effective January 1, 2018. Currently, all Eversource customer classes are eligible to receive the same fixed default service rate (except for cases of competitive supply). With this new filing, however, Eversource will have two default service […]

MA DPU Proposes to Modify Net Metering Rules

June 16, 2017

On May 16, 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued an order (docket D.P.U. 17-10) instituting a rulemaking process to modify current net metering regulations (220 C.M.R. § 18.00) as they relate to hydropower. The new provisions would, for example: add the definition of “small hydroelectric net metering facility” to the current net […]