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 do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Wind turbine budget recommended, disposition process ongoing
The town administration is still trying to figure out how to navigate state regulations in order to dismantle the town’s wind turbines. Falmouth Finance Committee vice chairman Nicholas S. Lowell asked for an update on the disposition of the town’s two wind turbines at the committee’s meeting on Tuesday, January 19. Town Manager Julian M. Suso said the town hired outside counsel to assist with the procurement process. “What we found was it was not fully clear which portions of . . . Complete story »
Check your mail: the city is pulling a switcheroo on your electricity provider
Imagine if the City of Boston negotiated a deal with T-Mobile on behalf of all residents and businesses. And instead of offering it as an option to everyone, the city notified you by letter that unless you objected by January 11, your cell service was going to be automatically switched to T-Mobile. That is exactly what the city is doing with respect to your current electricity provider. A few weeks ago, all Boston households and businesses received a densely-worded “Official . . . Complete story »
Massachusetts legislature passes property tax reform for solar, wind, energy storage and fuel cells
As has been discussed in several posts here, on January 4, 2021, a conference committee of the Massachusetts House and Senate has issued a wide ranging “omnibus” energy bill “An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy (S2995).” The bill still awaits Governor Baker’s signature. Among the many features of the legislation, it would make several significant changes to Massachusetts law regulating cities and towns taxation of wind, solar, energy storage and fuel cell property, the scope of . . . Complete story »
Mayflower Wind cutting its price 10%
Mayflower Wind is cutting its price for delivering electricity to Massachusetts customers by roughly 10 percent with the help of a new federal tax credit included in the recent COVID-19 stimulus package. Under the terms of its 20-year contract with the state’s three utilities, Mayflower agreed to an average price of 7.77 cents per kilowatt hour but also agreed to lower that price if the federal investment tax credit for offshore wind, which was being phased out, was retained and/or . . . Complete story »
Scituate to probe nightly wind turbine shutdown possibilities
SCITUATE – Scituate will ask the company that owns the wind turbine on Driftway if they can cut down on the amount of time it runs after eight years of complaints from residents living hundreds of feet from the 262-foot tall turbine. After a two-hour meeting Tuesday night, members of the board of selectmen agreed they should ask Scituate Wind LLC to calculate the costs to the town of shutting down the turbine when the wind blows from the west and . . . Complete story »
Boston’s ready to join dozens of other municipalities in renewable-energy push
After more than three years of deliberations, Boston is finally ready to join dozens of other cities and towns in the region by pooling its residents together in a bid for greener energy. Households in Boston that don’t choose a different option by Jan. 11 will end up with a plan that would secure 28 percent of their electricity from renewable sources, compared to the state’s mandated minimum of 18 percent for 2021. However, that default plan still will be . . . Complete story »
State lawmakers announce deal on climate change bill
After six months of private talks, legislative negotiators on Sunday afternoon reached an agreement on a major bill to accelerate the state’s pace toward addressing the global problem of climate change. The bill (S 2995) would establish in state law a “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions limit for 2050 and statewide emissions limits every five years over the next three decades. Within that plan, the bill creates mandatory emissions limits for six sectors of the economy: electric power, transportation, commercial . . . Complete story »
Ron Mariano, poised to take over as Massachusetts House Speaker, looks to focus on community hospitals, wind energy in 2021
Coming off negotiations for the state’s health care reform law in 2006, Rep. Ron Mariano explored the possibility of becoming House speaker. But before he could launch a campaign, a battle for speaker was already brewing between Robert DeLeo, then-House Ways and Means chair, and Majority Leader John Rogers. The speaker at the time, Sal DiMasi, hadn’t even acknowledged he would step down and would stave off leaving until early 2009. Still, Mariano changed course and backed DeLeo as DiMasi’s . . . Complete story »
Turbine II future remains ‘up in the air’
IPSWICH – Two wind turbines or windmills stand tall at the end of Town Farm Road. They are visible from Gloucester, but only one works to make electricity. Wind II currently produces no power because of a 2018 fire, but whether the turbine will be torn down or fixed remains an unanswered question. Jon Blair, Ipswich electric manager, believes Wind II doesn’t have much of a future, based on talks with turbine owner Ipswich Wind Independence LLC. The fire destroyed the . . . Complete story »
Vineyard Wind review process terminated by federal agency
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has terminated its environmental review of the offshore wind project after Vineyard Wind withdrew a key plan from review. On Dec. 1, Vineyard Wind sent a letter to BOEM stating it was withdrawing its construction and operations plan from BOEM review to accommodate internal technical review of the project’s new wind turbine, the General Electric Haliade-X. Previously, Vineyard Wind planned to use turbines from another company, but the original . . . Complete story »
