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.
Vineyard Wind has a big selling point for its power: cheaper prices
The first major offshore wind farm to be built off New England’s coast has at least one big selling point, compared to the doomed Cape Wind project that preceded it: much cheaper electricity. The new project, known as Vineyard Wind, is slated to begin construction next year, some 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. Vineyard Wind has generated less opposition than Cape Wind, which succumbed to years of litigation because of its proposed location in Nantucket Sound, as close as . . . Complete story »
Buzzards Bay residents raise issue with turbines
Buzzards Bay residents plagued night-and-day by four Future Generation wind turbines operating on Mann cranberry bog in South Plymouth have returned to the Bourne Board of Health seeking intervention and relief. The board, however, says its jurisdiction does not extend across the town line. The board has been legally advised not to consider out-of-town matters already adjudicated by the Barnstable Superior Court. Board Chairman Kathy Peterson on August 8, however, did say she and Health Agent Terri Guarino would contact . . . Complete story »
Bay State Wind alters layout for offshore wind farm, but fisheries call foul
Bay State Wind LLC is changing the turbine layout of its 800-MW Bay State Offshore Wind Project to accommodate the U.S. commercial fishing industry’s ability to work between turbines. But fisheries say the changes are too little, too late and underscore their growing frustration with the offshore wind sector. Bay State Wind, a partnership between Danish energy developer Ørsted A/S and New England utility Eversource Energy, announced on Aug. 6 that the new plan reorganizes wind turbines in rows running . . . Complete story »
Bay State Wind alters proposal to allow more distance between turbines
NEW BEDFORD – As offshore wind companies jockey for position in preparation for Massachusetts’ next round of bidding, Bay State Wind announced an adjustment to its proposal earlier this week. According to Lauren Burm, the head of public affairs for Bay State Wind, after speaking with “key stakeholders including the fishing community,” the company altered its proposal in terms of spacing between turbines to a nautical mile in rows running east to west.. “Based on their helpful feedback we have adjusted . . . Complete story »
Eversource offered to drop out of offshore wind procurement team
Eversource Energy in February offered to withdraw from the team evaluating the bids of companies seeking to supply electricity from wind farms off the coast of Massachusetts because the utility was also involved in bidding on the contracts. According to the report of an independent evaluator hired to monitor the fairness of the contracting process, Eversource made the surprise offer on February 21, nearly two months after the bids were submitted and toward the beginning of the review process. “Eversource . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind prices look competitive
The developer of the nation’s first major offshore wind farm is promising to deliver wholesale power to Massachusetts at prices that are far below what Cape Wind was offering nearly a decade ago and not much more expensive than hydro-electricity just procured from Canada. According to contracts filed with the state Department of Public Utilities on Wednesday, Vineyard Wind agreed to deliver electricity at an average price of 8.9 cents a kilowatt hour over the 20-year life of the contract, . . . Complete story »
Breaking down the new clean energy bill
The clean energy bill approved by the Legislature on Tuesday adopted the go-slow approach favored by many of the state’s business groups and utilities, leaving a price on carbon and stronger support for solar and wind on the cutting room floor while greenlighting a number of less flashy provisions designed to give renewable energy a bigger role in the region’s energy future. The legislation adopted the House’s less aggressive position on renewable energy subsidies and provided no additional incentives for . . . Complete story »
Clean energy bill architect hungry for next bill
BOSTON – Fresh off the filing of compromise clean energy legislation, one of its architects is looking ahead to the next bill and calling for more to be done. The bill (H 4857), expected to pass Tuesday in the last formal legislative sessions of 2018, authorizes an additional procurement of offshore wind power, increases the renewable portfolio standard that governs the amount of clean energy utilities must purchase, establishes an energy storage target, and requires gas companies to collect and report . . . Complete story »
Facing blowback, Vineyard Wind hires fisheries liaison
Vineyard Wind, the company that won the bid to locate an 800-megawatt wind farm off the southern coast of Martha’s Vineyard, announced Monday that it has hired a fisheries liaison. Crista Bank, who previously worked as a fisheries biologist with the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at UMass Dartmouth, will lead Vineyard Wind’s work with the region’s fishing industry. “We’re pleased to have Crista lead our efforts to address the important questions the fishing industry has raised about . . . Complete story »
Kingston Wind Independence promises payment of back taxes
KINGSTON – By agreeing to pay back taxes, Kingston Wind Independence has warded off possible revocation of site plan approval for its Independence wind turbine. The Planning Board hearing scheduled for Monday night has been continued to October after turbine owner KWI agreed to pay approximately $200,000 in back taxes to the town. Town Administrator Tom Calter said Tuesday that he and Town Counsel Jay Talerman met Monday with representatives from KWI and reached an agreement in good faith. KWI . . . Complete story »
