Alert: Peak Energy Days Possible This Week

With hot temperatures expected in ISO-NE, NYISO, and PJM in second half of this week, particularly on Thursday, we may see peak energy days. If you can, we recommend that you limit your electricity usage as much as possible during this timeframe, especially during peak usage hours (2:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.). This reduction can….

House Overwhelmingly Approves Hydro, Wind Bill

In a near unanimous vote last Wednesday, the House backed a bill that would require utilities to enter into long-term contracts (15-20 years) for large-scale (1,200 megawatts) hydroelectric and offshore wind power in an effort to reduce the state’s reliance on natural gas and reduce carbon emissions. According to Rep. Thomas Golden of Lowell, the….

Kinder Morgan Suspends NED Pipeline Project

On Wednesday, Kinder Morgan, a subsidiary of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., suspended any further work and spending on its Northeast Energy Direct (NED) natural gas pipeline project due to insufficient commitments from prospective customers. The company has neither the necessary resources nor an expectation of procuring them in order to continue to work on the….

Massachusetts Legislators Strike a Solar Cap Agreement

On Tuesday, leaders of the Massachusetts House and Senate reached a deal to increase the level of solar energy that public and private customers can sell back to the grid by 3 percent. Additionally, the agreement stipulates a reduction in the value of new solar project incentives. The negotiations would also give utilities the ability….

Crude Inventories at 80 Year High

U.S. crude inventories rose by 2.1 million barrels last week to 504.1 million barrels, a new weekly record high, the Energy Information Administration said. In monthly data, which don’t line up exactly with weekly data, inventories last exceeded 500 million barrels in 1930.   Brought to you by your MassMEC Market Research Team.

Supreme Court Retains Demand Response Mandate

On Monday, January 25, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a mandate created in 2011 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that requires utilities to pay energy consumers for reducing their electricity usage during peak demand. Electricity generators and utilities challenged the rule, asserting that FERC was overstepping its boundaries, but Justice Elena Kagan confirmed the….

Entergy to close Plymouth Pilgrim Nuclear Plant

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station will be closed no later than June 2019, said operators on Tuesday, October 13th. Pilgrim is the last nuclear power plant in Massachusetts and the announcement comes one month after the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission labeled the plant as one of the nation’s three least-safe reactors citing a timeline of mishaps….

Problems for Pilgrim in Cape Cod

On August 9th, 2015, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station was forced to reduce power due to the water in Cape Cod Bay being too warm.  The changing climate continues to affect Pilgrim as this is not the first time the nuclear power station has had to power down, having done so on two former occasions. The….