FirstLight Power, a leading clean power producer and energy storage company, has been named by Associated Industries of Massachusetts as a 2020 winner of the AIM Sustainability Award. The AIM award, issued annually since 2016, recognizes excellence in environmental stewardship, promotion of social well-being and contributions to economic prosperity.
FirstLight Power today submitted its combined Amended Final License Application (AFLA) to federal regulators to extend the operating licenses for 50 years for its Cabot and Turners Falls hydroelectric generating stations on the Connecticut River and its Northfield Mountain energy storage facility. These facilities, which provide clean power and long-duration energy storage, will be important contributors to Massachusetts’ efforts to achieve its goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Proposed natural gas pipeline work in Longmeadow and Agawam could help Eversource — now the owner of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts — end leaks from aging cast-iron pipes in Springfield and address other reliability and safety issues. But the projects — which are opposed by environmentalists and some living in those towns — need a more thorough review now that Eversource is owner of the system, said Bill Akley, the company’s president of gas operations.
Eversource plans to announce Tuesday the completion of its $1.1 billion purchase of Columbia Gas' Massachusetts operations, which includes facilities in Springfield, Brockton and Lawrence
Eversource Energy expects to receive state approval next week for its $1.1 billion purchase of Columbia Gas' Massachusetts operations, which includes facilities in Springfield, Brockton and Lawrence. The deal will also make Eversource an energy utility monopoly in Springfield and other cities, controlling both electricity and gas.
Whalen Insurance, located at 71 King St. in Northampton, now has six new electric-vehicle (EV) chargers installed beneath and powered by its solar canopy. These charging stations are operational and available for public use, charge up to 7.2 kW of power at a cost of $2 per hour, and require no parking fees to access them. The EV chargers and 62.64 kW solar canopy were both installed by PV Squared, a local solar design and installation company based in Greenfield. The EV project was funded primarily by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, as a ...
Ms. Barton served most recently as President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for three years and previously as CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), helping both states advance and implement nation-leading clean energy strategies. She also co-chaired the Energy and Cleantech Practice at the leading Boston law firm Foley Hoag LLP and served as chief of operations for SunEdison’s global utility business unit, leading teams building utility-scale wind and solar projects.
Eversource has completed construction of the Westfield Reliability Project, installing a three-mile-long electric circuit on an existing 115-kilovolt overhead transmission line in Westfield to help ensure the continued and safe delivery of reliable power. Part of the energy company’s work to ensure reliability for customers, the Westfield Reliability Project is one of many transmission upgrades to help meet the electric system’s evolving needs to support a clean-energy future.
The Baker-Polito administration announced further action to support ratepayers during the COVID-19 outbreak, directing the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to issue an order prohibiting investor-owned utility companies from shutting off gas, electric, and water utility service to any customers for failure to pay a bill or a portion of a bill until the state of emergency is lifted or the DPU determines otherwise. The announcement builds on the DPU’s March 13 moratorium requesting utility companies refrain from shutting off gas and electric service to residents across the Commonwealth. The new order will expand the moratorium to include any ...
As a member of the communities we serve across New England, we’re here to support our customers through this challenging time:
Eversource Energy announced Wednesday that it has reached an agreement to purchase the Massachusetts natural gas assets of Columbia Gas for $1.1 billion from NiSource. The acquisition will bring Columbia Gas operations in Massachusetts under local ownership by the largest energy company in New England, Eversource said in a news release after the stock markets closed. Eversource and NiSource expect to close the transaction by the end of the third quarter of this year.
An Eversource program that pays customers to use less electricity during high-demand periods has received an award for Outstanding Achievement in Residential Program Design & Implementation by the Assoc. of Energy Services Professionals. The award recognizes the company’s ConnectedSolutions demand-response program, which leverages customer-owned devices, such as wireless thermostats, battery storage, and electric-vehicle chargers, to reduce electric use during peak periods, when the cost and greenhouse-gas emissions of electricity in New England are at their highest.
Eversource’s commitment to enhancing system reliability is significantly reducing the number of power interruptions that customers experience, with outages in the Commonwealth down by nearly 17% in 2019 compared to 2018, the company reports. This improvement stems from the energy company’s investments in strengthening and modernizing its electric system, including a program to install more than 1,000 smart fuses to the system throughout the Commonwealth. These smart fuses can automatically restore power to customers when a tree limb temporarily contacts wires and help to protect the electric system when a problem is detected, such as a current ...
As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, Eversource Energy announced an industry-leading goal to be carbon-neutral by 2030. The energy company plans to achieve this aggressive goal through a series of targeted steps across its operations to reduce carbon emissions while also continuing to support regional economic growth and maintaining safe and reliable service for its approximately 4 million customers.
They are barely visible from the ground, but the 3,456 newly installed solar panels atop the eight-story parking garage at MGM Springfield are powerful. The panels, which go online in January, can generate 1,600 megawatt-hours of electricity, or 8% to 10% of the power needed by the $95 million resort casino. They help MGM Springfield meet its goal of being the first casino with a LEED New Construction Platinum designation from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, Eversource Energy announced an industry-leading goal to be carbon-neutral by 2030. The energy company plans to achieve this aggressive goal through a series of targeted steps across its operations to reduce carbon emissions while also continuing to support regional economic growth and maintaining safe and reliable service for its approximately 4 million customers. While the goal to be carbon-neutral is limited to the energy company’s own corporate emissions across all departments and operations, Eversource will continue to work with state leaders to reduce emissions from energy supply for customers in accordance ...
“Successful economic development is about working to provide businesses with the resources they need to be competitive, fostering the education and growth of our workforce, and reducing the cost of doing business – all while being a good partner to communities and the environment.
Berkshire Wind has reached commercial operation with its two newest turbines, each rated at 2.3 megawatts each, according to Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co., which is one of the owners. Construction on the second phase of the project, located in the towns of Hancock and Lanesborough, began in January. The project was financed with a private placement of $11.78 million.
In recognition of its unyielding commitment to customers, communities, employees, and the environment, Eversource is being nationally celebrated as one of America’s Most JUST Companies for 2020 according to Forbes and JUST Capital. The energy company ranked as the number one utility and 26th overall in the annual top-100 list, which celebrates publicly-traded American corporations for their positive impact and leadership on top priorities identified by the American people such as fair pay, ethical leadership, good benefits and work-life balance, equal opportunity, customer treatment and privacy, community support, environmental impact, and delivering shareholder return.
Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) has earned a Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation from the American Public Power Assoc. for demonstrating commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed generation, and environmental initiatives that support a goal of providing low-cost, quality, safe, and reliable electric service. Chris Van Dokkumburg, planning analyst at Holland Board of Public Works and chair of the Energy Services Committee in Michigan presented the designations on Oct. 29 during the association’s annual Customer Connections Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
With green-energy usage in homes rapidly increasing, there is no shortage of competition in the solar field. Home and business owners are looking for ways to save money and protect the environment, and with 211 solar installers in the state of Massachusetts, there are plenty of options. This makes standing out even more important for companies like Valley Solar, which installs solar panels for families and businesses alike.
With renewable energy expected to be the fastest-growing source of U.S. electricity generation for the foreseeable future, local solar installer and worker-owned cooperative PV Squared Solar is contributing toward this period of energy transition. The company has once again been recognized by Solar Power World magazine and was listed prominently among other solar contractors and developers across the country in the magazine’s 2019 Top Solar Contractors list.
Massachusetts municipal utilities are leading the way in integrating carbon-free technologies into their power portfolios, contributing significantly to achievement of the Commonwealth’s energy goals, according to speakers at a State House event sponsored by the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC), the joint action agency for Massachusetts municipal utilities.
New England is expected to have enough electricity to meet peak demand for air conditioning on hot days this summer, grid operator ISO New England said Wednesday. This summer, typical weather conditions mean electricity demand would peak at 25,323 megawatts. An extended heat wave could push demand up to 27,212 megawatts, ISO said.