Wind Power News: Massachusetts
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
APCC seeks more environmental studies for Vineyard Wind proposal
DENNIS – The Association to Preserve Cape Cod is seeking additional study on potential environmental impacts of the proposed Vineyard Wind project. The 800-megawatt wind farm proposal south of Martha’s Vineyard, which could generate enough electricity to power 400,000 homes, was chosen last month as the state’s first offshore wind development. The proposal was selected by the Commonwealth’s Electric Distribution Companies to move forward into contract negotiations. In 2016, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bipartisan energy bill that authorized . . . Complete story »
Alliance watchful on cable-laying proposal
Both supporters and opponents of Vineyard Wind’s plan to bring its offshore wind farm cable to land on Cape Cod have emerged in two state decision-making arenas. But at least one well-known advocacy group is remaining noncommittal but watchful. “We’re not taking a position against the project,” Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound President Audra Parker said. “We’re preserving our right to participate.” The alliance, which worked to defeat the never-built Cape Wind project in the Sound, is one of five . . . Complete story »
Massachusetts Senate passes ambitious clean energy bill
BOSTON – Massachusetts would run on 100-percent renewable power by 2047 under comprehensive energy legislation passed by the state Senate Thursday night. The idealistic goal would be reached by increasing the state’s renewable portfolio standard by 3 percent every year, instead of the current 1 percent. The RPS dictates how much renewable energy electrical utilities such as Eversource and National Grid must buy. The ambitious Senate bill not just lifts – but removes – caps on non-governmental solar net metering. It sets new . . . Complete story »
Massachusetts utilities sign deal key to CMP power line project through Maine
Massachusetts utilities signed an agreement Thursday to bring hydropower from Quebec through Maine via a new 145-mile transmission corridor. The agreement is a necessary step for Central Maine Power Co.’s New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project. The Augusta-based company wants to build a transmission corridor to bring renewable power from Hydro-Quebec to markets in Massachusetts, where regulators have adopted strict clean-energy goals. Key to that proposal is the agreement with Massachusetts electric distribution companies to buy the power at . . . Complete story »
Senate bill would ramp up clean energy development
The Senate is preparing to take up legislation that would dramatically ramp up the state’s development of clean energy, but many of the provisions in the bill have been derided as costly or unwise by the business community. The bill, which is expected to come up for a vote in the Senate next week, would sharply increase the amount of renewable energy electricity sellers must purchase every year on behalf of their customers. Under current law, the requirement for 2018 . . . Complete story »
Senate tees up bill to accelerate clean energy
BOSTON – Utilities would need to ramp up renewable energy purchases, the state could dramatically expand its support of offshore wind, and commercial solar endeavors would be freed from existing restrictions, under legislation the Senate plans to take up next week. The bill is sure to please the renewable energy industry and will likely raise concerns among other business interests in the electricity sector. The 32-section legislation would also require the state to create “market-based compliance mechanisms” to achieve greenhouse gas . . . Complete story »
Cape Wind weather tower to come down
As Vineyard Wind moves forward with negotiations to build a wind farm south of the Vineyard, the last symbol of the failed Cape Wind project may soon come down. Cape Wind has applied for a permit to dismantle its nearly 200-foot meteorological tower on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers confirmed last week. “The Corps is currently reviewing the permit application and anticipates a permit decision no later than mid-June 2018,” said Christine . . . Complete story »
Lesson of wind resistance
It was reported last week that the town’s turbine Wind 1 may be relocated to a new site, but definitely not in Falmouth. It was also reported that Wind 1 might even benefit Falmouth from the next host community’s generated wind power, depending on potential provisions of the contract. Let’s hope Falmouth selectmen won’t authorize Wind 1’s next owner to “shoe-horn” it into an unsuspecting neighborhood in the next community for the proverbial “30 pieces of silver.” Even though Mass . . . Complete story »
Falmouth settles wind turbine lawsuits
The Town of Falmouth has settled 10 nuisance complaints with residents regarding the two wind turbines located at the wastewater treatment facility on Blacksmith Shop Road. In total, the town will pay $255,000 to the 10 complainants. Eight complainants, Mark J. Cool of Fire Tower Road, Terri L. Pentifallo-Drummey and Todd A. Drummey of Blacksmith Shop Road, Kathryn L. Elder and Brian W. Elder of Blacksmith Shop Road, Robert S. Laird of Blacksmith Shop Road, John J. Ford of Blacksmith . . . Complete story »
Falmouth wind litigation winds down
FALMOUTH – An eight-year legal battle between the town and residents who live near two controversial wind turbines at the municipal wastewater treatment plant off Blacksmith Shop Road has been brought to a close with the recent settlement of three remaining court cases involving monetary damages. The town’s insurer paid the 10 complainants named in the suits a total of $255,000, according to Town Counsel Frank Duffy. Eight litigants agreed to settlement amounts in March and have already been paid. Linda . . . Complete story »
