Boston GreenScene

New England Governors Agree on Solar, Wind & Tar Sands - Or Do They?

by Stephen Meno

This week marks an important victory for protecting Connecticut’s environment. Gov. Malloy, along with all New England governors, signed an agreement that will facilitate the development of local solar and wind energy production. New England states will now have a much easier time signing long-term clean energy production contracts. The Sierra Club is hoping that this agreement will be used to replace five Connecticut coal plants (such as the Bridgeport Harbor Station), which the 2010 Clean Air Task Force says is responsible for over 500 asthma attacks and 31 deaths each year.

Not only is this a great step forward for the environment, this initiative will help stimulate the economy by creating jobs. Gov. Malloy’s declaration is especially good news because it would partially compensate for the immense damage that would be caused by Mitt Romney’s promise to end all subsidies to wind energy production if he gets elected.

But unfortunately, Romney’s statement is not the only bad news. The Tar Sands pipeline rears its ugly head again, and this time it’s looking at New England. Following oil spills in Canada and Wisconsin this past week, Enbridge (the company behind Tar Sands) has decided to extend a pipeline through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. With an atrocious safety and hazard record, this proposed pipeline will put many beautiful places in New England at serious risk, such as Maine’s Sebago Lake and Casco Bay, and 11 rivers (including the Connecticut). Not only is the Tar Sands pipeline terrible for the climate, animal habitats and populations -- it could also destroy New England’s treasured waterways and groundwater systems -- a quickly dwindling and at-risk resource.

The good news? New England citizens are taking action to prevent this horrible plan. On July 29, Over 500 people gathered outside the New England Governors’ Conference in Burlington, VT (the same conference where the clean energy initiative was signed) to protest a Tar Sands extension. 

GreenScene plans to start digging around (pun intended) - starting with our friend, Dan Burgess, Legislative Director for Energy at Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

 

Solar Boston

Between the lack of national comprehensive climate change legislation and the negative headlines surrounding Evergreen Solar's recent departure from Massachusetts, it can be difficult to remember that there are still good green projects and investments being made here in Boston.  One interesting project happening in the city is Solar Boston.  

Solar Boston, rolled out in 2008 in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy, aims to encourage solar installation throughout Boston and to work with interested parties to ensure all financial incentives are taken into account when considering solar investment.  Boston is one of thirteen cities that was chosen for this program by the Department of Energy and Mayor Menino has set an aggressive goal of increasing Boston's solar output from one-half megawatt today to twenty-five megawatts by 2015.  While the program still has progress to make, Boston is most certainly setting a strong example for other cities in solar energy production in the United states.

To see exactly where the program is having an impact in your area, check out Solar Boston's best new media feature: an interactive map of clean energy projects in the Boston area.  

Money for your old appliances.

by Sylvia Rozwadowska

NSTAR offers you $50, and helps you save an additional $150 dollars a year!

The Appliance Recycling Program offers NSTAR customers $50 and free pick up and removal of second fridges and freezers in your basement or garage. The program is a great way to remove your appliances safely and appropriately.

Chances are, the older second refrigerator or freezer in your basement or garage is costing you up to $150 a year to run. Instead, recycle it, reduce your energy use and keep harmful materials out of landfills. They'll pick it up free and you'll pick up $50.

To sign up for a free pickup, call 877-545-4113 or visit www.MassSave.com/recycle for more information and program requirements.

Policy Corner: Massachusetts Progress

By Dan Burgess

After a brief summer hiatus, I am officially back to writing here at BGS.  During this time away, there seemed to be a nonstop merry-go-round of disturbing environmental news.  From the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to the collapse of federal climate change legislation, you could forgive someone for not wanting to read the newspaper some days.  However, despite this amalgam of bad news, the one thought I keep coming back to is how glad I am to live in a place that is leading the country in environmental policy and practices.

Recently, Massachusetts ranked second among states in the country in a Clean Energy State Leadership Scorecard by Clean Edge, INC.  This ranking notes that Massachusetts is especially strong in research, innovation, and has a broad portfolio of clean energy sectors that are all growing at an impressive rate.  This is certainly good news for the Commonwealth.  The report also suggests many feasible recommendations for further clean energy growth, including a strong carbon-reduction plan and the creation of a 'Green Bank' (something suggested on this site last year).

Coolidge Corner Theater presents:Green Screens Series -Ingredients

The Coolidge Corner Theatre continues its Green Screens film series on Thursday, July 29 at 7:00 p.m with a one-night only presentation of INGREDIENTS, a critically acclaimed documentary that explores the thriving local food movement.  

 At the center of this movement are the passionate and committed farmers and chefs who are creating a sustainable food system.  Their collaborative efforts have resulted in healthy, great-tasting food and greater consumer awareness about the benefits of eating local. 

 

5 Ways Boston Could Be More Environmentally Friendly

by Louise Baker

The city of Boston, Massachusetts is one of the most historically significant in the entire United States. From the Boston Tea Party to the famous ride of Paul Revere, Boston was a focal point for America in its fight for Independence from the British. Well known as a center for higher education, Boston and the immediate surrounding area is the home of Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Northeastern and dozens of other colleges and universities. It is also a very beautiful and picturesque city. While there is widespread consensus that it is important to keep Boston beautiful, talk is not enough. Following are 5 ways Boston could be more environmentally friendly. 

Alternative Transportation

The city of Boston could pass a law requiring more use of environmentally positive modes of transportation. They would reward good behavior and penalize non-compliance. You don't have to drive a car to get around the city. Cars are a major source of air pollution and discouraging their use could have a very positive effect on the environment. Boston has a very good public transportation system that can get you just about anywhere you want or need to go. Instead of driving, you could decide to take the "T" (Boston's subway system) when traveling around Boston and the surrounding cities. Buses can move a large number of people in a much more efficient way than an automobile. As a college town, taking a bike to get from point A to point B, is pretty common and it is environmentally friendly. Finally, Boston is a great walking city. Quincy Marketplace, Cambridge and the riverfront are great places to take a stroll and leave the car behind. 

Driving Fuel Efficient Cars

Boston could have an incentive system for driving more fuel efficient cars. They might offer free parking if you have a fuel efficient car or give you a break on your city taxes. Most people still need to drive. If you are going to drive around the city, think about replacing your gas guzzling SUV with a more efficient, smaller car. If you can get 30 miles per gallon, you'll be using less fossil fuel and also saving a bunch of money at the gas pump. Small cars. Hybrid Cars. Electric cars. Buy one and you'll be doing your small part to help Boston be a little more environmentally friendly. 

Replace Incandescent Lighting with High Efficiency Lighting

The city of Boston could require all buildings to have energy efficient lighting or you could get fined. This is a very simple way to have a big impact on energy usage in Boston. Lighting technology has been advancing rapidly in recent years. Those "twisty" light bulbs are now selling for much more affordable prices then when they were first introduced. Fluorescent lighting consumes far less energy than incandescent lighting. The most promising new lighting that can have a mass appeal is LED lighting. If all the businesses in the tall buildings in the downtown area eventually converted to LED lighting, it would take only a small fraction of the energy it now takes to light up the city.

Recycle

The city of Boston could subsidize recycling making it more worthwhile to be conscientious and recycle. They might double the going rate for aluminum cans or set up special recycling stations where it would be convenient for the general public. Save your cans, save your bottles. Cardboard and newspaper can be recycled. Clothes can be recycled too. Instead of always going for "new", consider quality used merchandise. 

Stop Littering!

Heavy fines for littering would discourage the careless practice. The city could hire enforcement agents who would be ready to ticket anyone they caught littering. Take it upon yourself to make an effort to throw your trash in a garbage can. When you see a plastic bottle or a stray candy wrapper, pick it up! Deposit it in the nearest receptacle. Do your part to keep Boston environmentally friendly.

Louise Baker is a freelance journalist and blogger who most recently wrote about online degree programs for the Zen College Life blog.

Policy Corner: Building a More Sustainable Boston

 By Dan Burgess

Over the past two months, the members of Boston’s new Community Advisory Committee on Climate Action have been holding Community Workshops throughout the city.  These workshops, open to the public, were held to gather community feedback regarding the current draft plan for climate action in Boston. 

Broken into two sections, these well-attended community meetings covered Boston’s greenhouse gas reduction goal strategy and ideas on engaging the community.  Using keypad polling, the Climate Committee was able to get instant feedback from the audience regarding the Committee's potential policy recommendations.  While I haven’t seen the results from the polling, here are a few of the interesting policy suggestions that the Climate Committee is likely to recommend to the Mayor this Spring.  

Pay-As-You-Throw: This program, common in numerous places in the United States and even here in Massachusetts, would charge for each bag or container of trash that is thrown out.  This would encourage residents to be efficient with their waste and would certainly decrease the amount of non-recyclable waste from our city.  While recyclables and food waste would be free, this is certain to be controversial with some Boston residents.

Learning From Cape Wind

By Dan Burgess

This April, near the 40th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will make the final decision that seals the fate of Cape Wind.  The tumultuous 130 off-shore wind turbine project, in process for almost ten years, has the potential to turn the powerful Nantucket Sound winds into enough clean electricity for approximately 400,000 homes. 
 
No matter how Secretary Salazar adjudicates, however, it is clear that there is a lesson that Massachusetts policy makers must learn from Cape Wind: large projects cannot be the unilateral focus of clean energy development.
 
While Cape Wind has helped to blaze a critical path for wind electricity generation in New England, it has also shown that such projects can be incredibly controversial.  Opponents of Cape Wind believe the turbines would hinder sea navigation, do harm to the local environment, diminish the Sound’s natural beauty, and negatively impact tourism.  Additionally, opponents are skeptical about supporting a project in their backyard that appears to only financially benefit the few who have access to the tremendous resources that are required for a wind farm like Cape Wind.
 
Considering the abject criticism that arises with large renewable energy sites, it is evident that a parallel policy which supports smaller projects should be pursued. 
 
Imagine a policy which allows every Commonwealth resident or business with a parcel of land or a rooftop to prosper from installing their own renewable energy system.  A system in which each citizen, not just those with great means, has the ability to produce clean, safe electricity that also increases their financial security.  Envision windmills on every farm, solar panels on every home or business, and Massachusetts taking a real step towards energy independence.
 
This vision is not some policy pipe dream.  This scenario is beginning to happen today in several European countries and Canada, and is leading to rapid growth in renewable energy generation.  In Germany, a country that is considered a world leader in clean energy production, over 15% of electricity consumed is produced by renewable energy sources.  This number is expected to grow to at least 50% by 2050.  In Spain, wind turbines supply over half of the national power grid and solar panel installment is on the rise.  These surges of clean, homegrown electricity are made possible in part through a simple policy mechanism called a feed-in tariff.  
 

A feed-in tariff, also known as a renewable energy payment, is a guaranteed monetary payment per kilowatt-hour for electricity generated by a renewable source.  These guaranteed payments from power companies to renewable producers create a market for clean electricity, reduce the barriers to entry for individual investors, and allow virtually any individual to prosper financially from installing a clean energy system.
 
Currently in Massachusetts, most of those who produce clean energy can only count on receiving a kilowatt credit on their bill for the unused electricity that they create.  This policy, known as net metering, is the most common form of clean energy incentive in the United States and does allow some clean energy projects to be feasible for individuals.  Unfortunately, these electricity credits, even when combined with available rebates, grants, and tax incentives, are simply not enough to kick start the renewable power surge that our state needs.  In fact, the lack of a singular incentive policy can have the reverse effect and can become too complex of an investment puzzle for potential investors to piece together.
 
Forty years ago, the Clean Air Act set off a stampede of environmental innovation and investment that our country had never seen before.  Recently, Massachusetts has led the United States by enacting several progressive clean energy policies such as the Green Communities Act.  Now, on the cusp of the looming Cape Wind decision, Massachusetts residents are calling once again for more progressive energy policy.  People are desperate for new jobs, financial security, and freedom from being held hostage by yo-yoing energy prices.  Bay State officials should heed these pleas, and enact a smart, comprehensive feed-in tariff policy that allows all citizens to take part in the clean energy revolution that Massachusetts so desperately needs.

Policy Corner: Feed-in Tariffs Offer Farmers Clean Energy Revenue

By Dan Burgess 

As we’ve explored over the past few months, Massachusetts has several initiatives in place that aim to promote clean energy generation.  Renewable portfolio standards, net metering, tax credits, rebates, and state grants are all helping to ensure that the Commonwealth is a burgeoning renewable energy leader in the United States.These policies, particularly net metering and the streamlining of wind turbine citing processes, now pave the way for a more progressive policy that has proven to be successful in Europe and Canada: renewable energy payments known as feed-in tariffs (FITs). 

Put succinctly by renewable energy analyst and advocate Paul Gipe: “Feed-in tariffs are simply payments per kilowatt-hour for electricity generated by a renewable resource. They are the world’s most successful policy for the rapid development of significant amounts of renewable energy... Feed-in tariffs work because they are more equitable than other policies. They enable everyone--including homeowners, farmers, cooperatives, and businesses large and small--to profit from renewable energy.” 

As Gipe mentions, FIT policy has proven, both in Europe and in the few times it has been attempted in the United States, to be superior to other clean energy policies.  These guaranteed payments from power companies are successful because they allow investors to garner a modest profit from renewable energy generation.  A smart FIT payment structure ensures moderate profitability for even small projects and reduces market entry barriers that currently exist for establishing clean energy systems.  It’s easy to imagine our state leading the clean energy boom if Bay State households were paid directly as a result of installing solar panels on their roof or erecting a windmill on their farm. As outlined by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are six key elements for successful FIT policy:

1. Contract stability, typically for 15 - 20 years
   
2. Payments based on the cost of a project that ensure a modest profit for the investor.
3. Incremental payment decreases throughout the lifetime of a contract to account for future technology advancements.
4. Payments should be dependent on the type of project. 
5. In order to ensure payment, additional costs of FIT payments should be tied directly back to electricity rate payers.
6. Ensure a FIT approval process in streamline in order not to discourage projects from coming to fruition.

Massachusetts has set formidable goals for clean energy generation and job creation.  These goals aim to reduce negative climate impact, create green collar jobs, lessen the Commonwealth’s requirement for fossil fuels, and to produce a more sustainable state for future generations.  The most effective way for Massachusetts officials to ensure the Bay State is this leader, is to enact a common sense feed-in tariff system that will ultimately renew, revitalize, and rejuvenate our state. To learn more about FIT policy visit www.wind-works.org or visit the NREL at www.nrel.gov.  

Renewable (Energy) Portfolio Standards: What they are and why they're important

by Dan Burgess, Boston GreenScene's Policy Corner Commentator

Massachusetts has taken several legislative steps in an attempt to stimulate renewable energy growth.  One such step is the introduction of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS).  What are they? RPS are mandated clean energy objectives for utility companies.  These objectives dictate that utility companies create or purchase a certain percentage of their overall energy portfolio from clean energy generation sources. RPS were originally introduced in Massachusetts in 1997 and are established in twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia.

States with Renewable Portfolio Standards and Goals by DSIRE
 

While originally introduced in 1997, RPS were significantly expanded as a part of the Green Communities Act.  The Green Communities Act mandated that qualifying Massachusetts utility companies comply with a RPS that increases by 1% per year until 2020, to 15% of total generation.  According to a 2008 study performed by the Department of Renewable Energy Resources (DOER) and the Renewable Energy Trust, “Projects in Massachusetts currently under construction, design, or consideration, if approved and developed, would generate 3.7 million MWh.  Completion of these projects would meet roughly half of the RPS obligation, leaving an additional 3.8 MWh to be met from other renewable sources.”

To meet the RPS mandated by Massachusetts, utility companies will solicit competitive bids from large clean electricity producers.   If these utility companies do not meet the renewable standards set, they will be forced to submit an alternative compliance payment derived from the Consumer Price Index of the preceding year.  While this process, known as tendering, will help to encourage an additional 3.8 MWh of clean energy production over the next eleven years, it is ultimately unclear that this RPS will have a positive economic impact on more than a few clean energy investors.

Utility companies will attempt to fill this 3.8 MWh clean energy gap with large projects and these sizable projects likely will not positively impact small, individual clean energy producers.  In addition, these large projects take substantial time to come to fruition and can be unpopular with local residents.  A clear example of this is the long-delayed and controversial Cape Wind project.   Overall, Renewable Portfolio Standards will ensure that Massachusetts utility companies are providing residents with more clean energy, but further action should be taken to ensure utility companies support a broader cross-section of clean energy projects.