A health care provider with hospitals in Fall River, New Bedford and Wareham intends to buy offshore wind energy from one of three companies bidding for long-term contracts with the state’s three electricity distributors. 

Offshore Wind Massachusetts

But three of the turbines have come at a cost. Residents living near the wind turbines in Scituate and Kingston have complained from the beginning about noise and the flicker of light and shadow when the sun is behind the turbine. A wind turbine in Hanover has had costly maintenance issues that have forced it to shut down frequently.

Impact on People Massachusetts

Many fisherpeople see a future where segments of their industry will ultimately disappear unless the federal government ensures their concerns are taken into account in the construction and development of wind farms. Fisherpeople’s fears include the incompatibility of certain types of fishing gear with the clustered placement of wind turbines and a lack of site-specific research regarding economic and ecological impacts of the turbines.

Offshore Wind USA Massachusetts Rhode Island

FALL RIVER — Bad blade pitch bearings could ruin your day.

General Massachusetts

In a letter to the Department of Public Utilities on Monday, the team evaluating the bids for a long-term offshore wind energy generation contract said it needs the extra 30 days but still expects to submit a negotiated contract for state approval by July 31. The companies said meeting the April 23 deadline "has proven impossible as a result of factors outside the Distribution Companies' control."

Offshore Wind Massachusetts

Looking to create a sea change in energy production in Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker signed “An Act to Promote Energy Diversity” with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2016. A key provision of the legislation mandated that utilities solicit long-term contracts with offshore wind farm developers, with the goal of adding 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind power by 2027.

Offshore Wind Massachusetts

Before the week was out, Savoy's building inspector swatted down the application, faulting it for lacking required information. But the rejection comes with a 30-day appeals period — giving the project one last shot. 

Zoning/Planning Massachusetts

Several residents living near the turbine continued to report disturbances from the turbine, however, and asked town officials to agree to an independent noise compliance investigation of the turbine in an effort to collect the evidence necessary to take protective action under both the Nuisance Law and under the state’s Noise Pollution Regulation.

Impact on People Noise Massachusetts

Solaya’s Shah said his company has crews on the ground working to repair the leaks keeping at least one of the city’s turbines from fulfilling its purpose. The city is also budgeted to take in  $78,075 in in-lieu-of tax payments from Equity this year, within a few dollars of its payments for the last three years. But the electricity revenues have continued to fall short of the annual $450,000 projected by then-Mayor Carolyn Kirk and Equity officials when the turbines were installed in December late 2012.

Structural Failure Massachusetts

“It’s true that the area where the turbines are have created habitat that attracts fish, which is good; but in the area where the cable lines extend to the mainland, it’s completely devoid of fish,” said Michael Pierdinock, chairman of the Massachusetts Recreational Alliance, which represents about 50,000 recreational fishermen. “These used to be fruitful fishing grounds.”

Offshore Wind Massachusetts

FERC approved ISO-NE’s two-stage capacity auction to accommodate state renewable energy procurements, with Commissioner Robert Powelson dissenting and Commissioners Cheryl LaFleur and Richard Glick leveling new criticism on the minimum offer price rule (MOPR) (ER18-619).

Energy Policy Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island Vermont

The Hanover fire and highway departments responded to a report of smoke coming from the wind turbine on Pond Street Friday morning.

Safety Structural Failure Massachusetts

Hanover Fire Crews were called to the scene of a wind turbine fire.

Safety Structural Failure Massachusetts

That news brought dismay to opponents like Kathryn Sternstein of Hawley, who spoke against wind power in public meetings this past year. "We've all been waiting for something from them," she said of the developers. "It's terribly distressing that despite the real opposition from the people in Savoy, that they're going ahead with this."

General Massachusetts

New England’s power grid is in good shape now and home solar and energy efficiency efforts mean the region’s annual demand for electricity is projected to decline, according to the grid’s operators. But there are also problems ahead.

Energy Policy Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island Vermont

There’s a lot of buzz in New Bedford these days about the offshore wind industry — and for good reason.

Offshore Wind Massachusetts

“I’m appalled that the state (and the town of Yarmouth) would consider a project that would damage this fragile watershed,” said Andrea Gottfried, a taxpayer in West Yarmouth. “Lewis Bay is historically, ecologically and economically important to Cape Cod residents and visitors from around the world.”

Offshore Wind Transmission Massachusetts

Falmouth will get a major break on the $1.5 million debt it owes to the state Clean Energy Center, thanks to an agreement between local and state officials reached in connection to one of two wind turbines at the wastewater treatment plant.

General Massachusetts

The town of Falmouth will seek the help of a consultant to figure out how to comply with an order to dismantle and remove the Wind 1 turbine which was shut down for improper permitting.

General Massachusetts

AUBURNDALE, Mass. — Speakers at the Northeast Energy and Commerce Association Renewable Energy Conference on Feb. 1 discussed the merits and viability of different methods to achieve New England’s aggressive emission reduction goals.

Energy Policy Transmission Massachusetts