Comments on: Would Northern Pass Swamp the Regional Market for Renewable Projects? http://www.clf.org/blog/clean-energy-climate-change/would-northern-pass-swamp-the-regional-market-for-renewable-projects/ For a thriving New England Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:27:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6.1 By: Christophe Courchesne http://www.clf.org/blog/clean-energy-climate-change/would-northern-pass-swamp-the-regional-market-for-renewable-projects/#comment-2035 Christophe Courchesne Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:50:35 +0000 http://www.clf.org/?p=6734#comment-2035 State renewable energy laws are complex and must operate within federal constitutional parameters, but you are absolutely right that they should be designed, in part, to focus on incentivizing local, renewable sources. Current law already does this to some extent. The question of how to make renewable energy laws more effective at incentivizing local development is important, and a more robust requirement like the one you envision – if crafted appropriately – is something to be explored; some changes to the RPS in New Hampshire are now pending in the legislature that would help move us further in that direction. Unfortunately, many in the region’s state houses feel that the laws should be even looser than they already are, and some are trying to eliminate renewable energy laws altogether, so securing improvements remains a challenge.

As an example of the type of commitment that is necessary, NPT and its affiliates could commit not to seek changes to qualify large hydro for RPS incentives. This could be a condition of the NU/NSTAR merger approval in Massachusetts and/or Connecticut, and of the Northern Pass project’s permitting. So far, NPT has rejected the idea of making this commitment. There are many other potential ways to safeguard local renewable energy that should be evaluated, and we will be advocating for a close look at them during the upcoming proceedings regarding the project. Thanks for your comment, Katharyn.

]]> By: Katharyn S Hok http://www.clf.org/blog/clean-energy-climate-change/would-northern-pass-swamp-the-regional-market-for-renewable-projects/#comment-2032 Katharyn S Hok Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:26:48 +0000 http://www.clf.org/?p=6734#comment-2032 What kind of enforceable and comprehensive commitments need to be made by the Northern Pass to ensure that New England’s own renewable energy industry will prosper and grow into the future? It seems as if our laws should read that the 45% of power required from renewable energy sources must be generated in New England itself. Then the northern pass would not deter this development in the same way.

Please comment.

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