MA Energy and Environment

State Policy Topics
Campaign Finance
Economy
Education
Energy and Environment
Health Care
Law and Justice
The Media
Transportation

News and Opinion

2015

• Mass Live: AG Healey: solar company violated deals with central Mass towns and institutions, by Mary Serreze (Apr 26, 2015)
• New York Times: Oklahoma Recognizes Role of Drilling in Earthquakes, by Michael Wines (Apr 21, 2015)
• Mass Live: New poll shows Massachusetts residents mixed on responses to global warming, by Shira Schoenberg (Apr 1, 2015)
• Lamar Alexander Statement on Obama Administration Climate Announcement (Mar 31, 2015)
• Washington Post: President Obama’s emissions-cutting plan sets an example for the world, by the editors (Mar 31, 2015)
• Mass Live: Obscure regulation causes retroactive rate hike when some electricity customers switch suppliers, by Shira Schoenberg (Mar 25, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Pipeline opponents say LNG is underutilized, by Jay Fitzgerald (Mar 23, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Rules tightened for companies fracking on federal lands, by Matthew Daly and Jose Lederman (Mar 20, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Obama orders agencies to cut greenhouse gas output by 40%, by Julie Hirschfeld Davis (Mar 19, 2015)
• CaliforniaWatchdog.org: Customers tell horror stories of solar company that gets $422M in tax dollars, by Tori Richards (Feb 26, 2015)
• Wall St Journal: How ‘Orphan’ Wells Leave States Holding the Cleanup Bag, by Dan Frosch and Russell Gold (Feb 25, 2015)
• Boston Globe: No quick relief for electricity customers, by Jay Fitzgerald (Feb 25, 2015)
• Wall St Journal: Energy-Pinching Americans Pose Threat to Power Grid, by Rebecca Smith (Feb 2, 2015)
• The Patriot Ledger: Nuclear Regulatory Commission ranks Pilgrim among worst US nuclear plants, by Christine Legere (Jan 26, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Two utilities opt out of Cape Wind, by Jim O’Sullivan (Jan 7, 2015)
• Commonwealth Magazine: Utilities terminate Cape Wind power contracts, by Bruce Mohl (Jan 6, 2015)
• Wall St Journal: Deep Debt Keeps Oil Firms Pumping, by Erin Ailworth, Russell Gold and Timothy Puko (Jan 6, 2015)

2014

• New York Times: Natural Gas: Abundance of Supply and Debate, by John Schwartz (Dec 23, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Study recommends state ‘carbon tax’ to fight climate change, by Jay Fitzgerald (Dec 19, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Where communities have banned fracking, by Andrew Ba Tran (Dec 18, 2014)
• New York Times: Even Before Long Winter Begins, Energy Bills Send Shivers in New England, by Katharine Q. Seelye (Dec 14, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Towns working to ease electric bills, by John Laidler (Nov 23, 2014)
• New York Times: A Tricky Transition From Fossil Fuel, by Justin Gillis (Nov 10, 2014)
• Boston Globe: NStar seeks 29 percent hike in electric rates, by Jack Newsham (Nov 7, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Utility regulators down request to spread the impact of electric rate hikes, by Jack Newsham (Nov 6, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Big Oil Feels the Need to Get Smaller, by Daniel Gilbert and Justin Scheck (Nov 2, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Massachusetts lights the way on solar energy policy, editorial (Nov 2, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Business group forms to push for expanded natural gas pipelines, by Jay Fitzgerald (Oct 24, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Power plants seek to extend life of nuclear reactors, by Matthew L. Wald (Oct 20, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Electricity switching risky for households, by Jack Newsham (Oct 19, 2014)
• Boston Business Journal: Patrick administration launches review of state's natural gas needs, by Jon Chesto (Oct 15, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Obama’s energy policy is hurting fellow Democrats’ campaigns, by John E. Sununu (Oct 13, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Gloom in West Virginia coal region ominous for Democrats , by Jessica Meyers (Oct 13, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Patrick’s energy policies under criticism, by Jay Fitzgerald (Oct 11, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Oil-Price Slump Strains Budgets of Some OPEC Members, by Benoît Faucon, Sarah Kent and Summer Said (Oct 10, 2014)
• Boston Globe: On environmental issues, candidates agree on core issues, disagree on specifics, by David Abel (Oct 8, 2014)
• New York Times: Energy for a Rainy Day, or a Windless One , by Mark Scott (Oct 7, 2013)
• Wall St Journal: California Finally to Reap Fracking’s Riches, by Alison Sider and Cassandra Sweet (Oct 7, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Environmentalists recall changes in Baker’s position on climate change, by David Abel (Oct 7, 2014)
• New York Times: Home Heating Costs Likely to Be Cheaper This Winter, by Clifford Krauss (Oct 8, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Utilities may limit new natural gas connections, by Jay Fitzgerald (Oct 4, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Renewables are in New England’s future, but gas pipelines still needed, editorial (Oct 4, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Attorney general protests rate hike, by Jack Newsham (Oct 2, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Residents displaced by Dorchester house explosion suing National Grid, by Travis Andersen (Oct 1, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Energy, Rail Firms Fight Some Crude-Train Rules, by Lynn Cook, Bob Tita and Betsy Morris (Sept 30, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Federal Clean-Energy Loan Guarantees Go Begging, by Amy Harder (Sept 28, 2014)
• Boston Globe: $3b plan promises more natural gas in New England, by Jack Newsham (Sept 16, 2014)
• Brookings Institute blog: Alternative Energies Debate—All Things Considered on the Net Benefits of Low and No-Carbon Electricity Technologies, by Charles Frank (Sept 11, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Bristol County DA overboard on climate change, by Jeff Jacoby (Sept 6, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Fossil Fueling the Green Agenda, by Allysia Finley (Sept 26, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Japan Pushes Zero-Energy Structures, by Tatsuo Ito (Sept 26, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Electric rates in Mass. set to spike this winter, by Jack Newsham (Sept 25, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Top Industry Group Backs Testing of Crude Oil Carried by Train, by Russell Gold (Sept 25, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Investors want action on climate change, by Jonathan Fahey (Sept 23, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Obama: U.S., China Must Lead on Climate Change Efforts, by William Mauldin and Jeffrey Sparshott (Sept 23, 2014)
• New York Times: Humanity’s Long Climate and Energy March, by Andrew C. Revkin (Sept 22, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Heirs to an oil fortune join the divestment drive, reprinted from the New York Times (Sept 22, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Six Energy Firms to Sign Pact to Cut Methane Emissions, by William Mauldin, Amy Harder and Erin Ailworth (Sept 22, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Dangers Aside, Railways Reshape Crude Market, by Russell Gold and Chester Dawson (Sept 21, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Nuclear energy must be part of climate change strategy, by Christine Todd Whitman (Sept 18, 2014)
• Boston Globe: FERC fails to act on complaint of New England electricity market manipulation, by Jack Newsham (Sept 18, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Crude Oil's Quick Fall Leaves Trail of Queries, by Jerry A. DiColo and Carolyn Cui (Sept 18, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Markey to ask Congress to suspend coal sales, by the Associated Press (Sept 17, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Energy: What Americans really want, by Stephen Ansolabehere and David Konisky (Sept 14, 2014)
• Boston Globe: In mining country, ‘war on coal’ hard to see, by Michael Kranish (Sept 14, 2014)
• New York Times: Sun and Wind Alter Global Landscape, Leaving Utilities Behind, by Justin Gillis (Sept 13, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Cape Wind signs lease for New Bedford staging area, by Jack Newsham (Sept 13, 2014)
• New York Times: Boom in Energy Spurs Industry in the Rust Belt, by Nelson D. Schwartz (Sept 8, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Bristol DA drops charges, says protesters were right, by David Abel (Sept 8, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Massive storm leaves wreckage, lightning strikes in its wake, by Jeremy C. Fox and Jennifer Smith (Sept 7, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Dominion, Duke propose $5b natural gas pipeline, by Jonathan Fahey (Sept 3, 2014)
• New York Times: How Much Europe Depends on Russian Energy, unattributed (Sept 2, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Protesters who blocked coal shipment set for trial, by Philip Marcelo (Sept 1, 2014)
• The Economist blog: The cost of renewable energy: New numbers, same conclusion, by J.P. (Aug 22, 2014)
• Boston Business Journal: Gov. Patrick backs away from regional effort to expand natural gas capacity, by Jon Chesto (Aug 18, 2014)
• Boston Globe: States should not take Ohio’s lead on freezing renewable energy standards, editorial (Aug 18, 2014)
• Boston Globe: The climate made me do it!, by Joseph E. Hamilton (Aug 16, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Study blames humans for most of melting glaciers, by Seth Borenstein (Aug 15, 2014)
• New York Times: Traders Profit as Power Grid Is Overworked, by Julie Creswell and Robert Gebeloff (Aug 14, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Proposal Threatens to Aggravate Shortage of Railcars to Move Oil, by Bob Tita (Aug 12, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Legislature deals setback to Patrick on energy bills, by Jay Fitzgerald (Aug 2, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Legislature deals setback to Patrick on energy bills, by Jay Fitzgerald (Aug 2, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Energy bill’s failure sets back state’s fight on climate change, editorial (Aug 2, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Protesters voice unease over pipeline, by David Abel (July 31, 2014)
• Boston Globe: 3 advisers to Patrick quit amid energy dispute, by David Abel (July 29, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Hydropower plan vital in climate change fight, officials say, by David Abel (July 28, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Rules have diesel enthusiasts fuming, by David Abel (July 28, 2014)
• The Economist: Sun, wind and drain (July 26, 2014)
• Boston Globe: How to install solar power and save, by Elizabeth Gehrman (July 17, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Obama announces new climate change plans, by Coral Davenport (July 17, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Thousands of gas leaks in Boston area, study finds, by Callum Borchers (July 16, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Borrego Solar aids solar power boom in Mass., by Erin Ailworth (July 14, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mosquito spraying may have killed bees, by Yasmeen Abutaleb (July 9, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: After Lethal Crash, Quebec's Lac-Mégantic Fears Return of Oil Trains, by David George-Cosh (July 4, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Hopes for hydro may blow away offshore wind, by Derrick Z. Jackson (July 2, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Two Oil-Tank Cars on Canadian National Train Derail in Rural Alberta, by David George-Cosh (July 4, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Flooding the energy market, by George Bachrach and Tedd Saunders (June 24, 2014)
• Boston Globe: The end of the coal era in Massachusetts, by Erin Ailworth (June 17, 2014)
• New York Times: Scouring the World for Shale-Based Energy, by Mark Scott (June 17, 2014)
• New York Times: Despite Protests, Canada Approves Northern Gateway Oil Pipeline, by Ian Austen (June 17, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Compensation jumps for National Grid executives, by Erin Ailworth (June 11, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. pipeline plan stirs hope and alarm, by Erin Ailworth (June 8, 2014)
• New York Times: Report Finds Higher Risks if Oil Line Is Not Built, by Coral Davenport (June 6, 2014)
• New York Times: Energy Choices, by Paul Krugman (June 5, 2014)
• New York Times: Report Calls for Huge Investment in Energy Development, by Stanley Reed (June 2, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Secrecy of Oil-by-Train Shipments Causes Concern Across the U.S., by Russell Gold and Betsy Morris (May 22, 2014)
• New York Times: Jane Kleeb vs. the Keystone Pipeline, by Saul Elbein (May 16, 2014)
• New York Times: Amid Pipeline and Climate Debate, Energy-Efficiency Bill Is Derailed, by Coral Davenport (May 12, 2014)
• New York Times: Rocky Road for Canadian Oil, by Clifford Krauss and Ian Austen (May 12, 2014)
• New York Times: A City That Turns Garbage Into Energy Copes With a Shortage, by John Tagliabije (Apr 29, 2013)
• New York Times: The Koch Attack on Solar Energy, editorial (Apr 27, 2014)
• New York Times: Ice or Molten Salt, Not Batteries, to Store Energy, by Matthew L. Wald (Apr 21, 2014)
• New York Times: Germany Moves Forward on Renewable Energy Plan, by Melissa Eddy (Apr 8, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Hydropower plan is raising alarms, by Erin Ailworth (Apr 7, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Canadian Regulators Say Oil in Train Accident Was as Volatile as Gasoline, by Chester Dawson and Russell Gold (Mar 6, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Solar use will push energy costs up in Mass., by Jay Fitzgerald (Feb 12, 2014)
• New York Times: Germany’s Clean-Energy Plan Faces Resistance to Power Lines, by Melissa Eddy (Feb 6, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Firms Fined Over Volatile Oil on Rails, by Russell Gold (Feb 4, 2014)
• New York Times: Fissures in G.O.P. as Some Conservatives Embrace Renewable Energy, by John Schwartz (Jan 25, 2014)
• New York Times: German Energy Official Sounds a Warning, by Melissa Eddy (Jan 21, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Natural gas prices in region spike, by Erin Ailworth (Jan 10, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Fiery Oil-Train Accidents Raise Railroad Insurance Worries, by Betsy Morris (Jan 8, 2014)
• Wall St Journal: Crude-Oil Impurities Are Probed in Rail Blasts, by Russell Gold and Lynn Cook (Jan 1, 2014)

2013

• New York Times: New Energy Struggles on Its Way to Markets, by Matthew L. Wald (Dec 27, 2013)
• New York Times: A Struggle to Balance Wind Energy With Wildlife, by Dan Frosch (Dec 16, 2013)
• New York Times: Energy Department to Give $226 Million to Support Nuclear Reactor Design, by Matthew L. Wald (Dec 12, 2014)
• New York Times: Wind Energy Company to Pay $1 Million in Bird Deaths, by Emma G. Fitzsimmons (Nov 22, 2014)
• New York Times: Working Around Keystone XL, Suncor Energy Steps Up Oil Production in Canada, by Clifford Krauss (Nov 21, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Natural gas costs will push electric rates up, by Erin Ailworth (Nov 19, 2013)
• New York Times: Energy Crunch for Britain’s Poor, by Beth Gardiner (Nov 11, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Utilities seek boost in region’s natural gas, by Erin Ailworth (Nov 5, 2013)
• New York Times: Arizona Utility Tries Storing Solar Energy for Use in the Dark, by Matthew L. Wald (Oct 17, 2013)
• New York Times: Cracking the Energy Puzzles of the 21st Century, by Stanley Reed (Oct 15, 2013)
• New York Times: Renewable Energy in Spain Is Taking a Beating, by Andres Cala (Oct 8, 2013)
• New York Times: Filling the Gaps in the Flow of Renewable Energy, by Kate Galbraith (Oct 2, 2013)
• New York Times: U.S. Revives Aid Program for Clean Energy, by Diane Cardwell (Sept 19, 2013)
• New York Times: An Unusual Public Battle Over an Energy Nomination, by Matthew L. Wald (Sept 15, 2013)
• New York Times: Germany’s Effort at Clean Energy Proves Complex, by Melissa Eddy and Stanley Reed (Sept 13, 2013)
• New York Times: Coming Full Circle in Energy, to Nuclear, by Eduardo Porter (Aug 20, 2013)
• New York Times: Seeking Light in the Heat of Energy Investing, by Paul Sullivan (July 26, 2013)
• New York Times: Jim Hansen Presses the Climate Case for Nuclear Energy, by Andrew C. Revkin (July 23, 2014)
• New York Times: The Amazing Energy Race, by Thomas L. Friedman (July 2, 2013)
• New York Times: The Dark Side of Energy Independence, by Benjamin Alter and Edward Fishman (Apr 27, 2013)
• New York Times: By 2023, a Changed World in Energy, by Clifford Krauss (Apr 24, 2013)
• New York Times: Rumors of a Cheap-Energy Jobs Boom Remain Just That, by Nelson D. Schwartz (Apr 1, 2013)
• New York Times: When America Stops Importing Energy, by Ian Bremmer and Kenneth A. Hersh (May 22, 2013)
• New York Times: In Search of Energy Miracles, by Justin Gillis (Mar 11, 2013)
• New York Times: A Huge Solar Plant Opens, Facing Doubts About Its Future, by Diane Cardwell and Matthew L. Wald (Feb 13, 2013)

2012

• New York Times: High Energy Costs Plaguing Europe, by Stanley Reed (Dec 27, 2012)
• New York Times: Power, Pollution and the Internet, by James Glanz (Sept 22, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Reliance on natural gas sparks concern, by Erin Ailworth (Aug 23, 2012)
• Wall St Journal: The U.S. Natural-Gas Boom Will Transform the World, by John Deutch (Aug 14, 2012)
• New York Times: Energy Etch A Sketch, editorial (June 16, 2012)
• New York Times: America’s New Energy Reality, by Daniel Yergin (June 9, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Demand grows in N.E. for natural gas heat, by Jason Notte (Apr 25, 2012)
• Financial Times: What’s keeping US gas prices aloft, by Cardiff Garcia (Apr 2, 2012)
• New York Times: U.S. Inches Toward Goal of Energy Independence, by Clifford Krauss and Eric Lipton (Mar 22, 2012)

2008

• New York Times: Money and Lobbyists Hurt European Efforts to Curb Gases, by James Kanter and Jad Mouawad (Dec 10, 2008)
• New York Times: Energy Goals a Moving Target for States, by Kate Galbraith and Matthew L. Wald (Dec 5, 2008)
• New York Times: Nuclear Power May Be in Early Stages of a Revival, by Matthew L. Wald (Oct 23, 2008)
• New York Times: States Aim to Cut Gases by Making Polluters Pay, by Felicity Barringer and Kate Galbraith (Sept 15, 2008)
• New York Times: Mounting Costs Slow the Push for Clean Coal, by Matthew L. Wald (May 30, 2008)
• New York Times: Europe Turns Back to Coal, Raising Climate Fears, by Elisabeth Rosenthal (Apr 23, 2008)
• New York Times: Turning Glare Into Watts, by Matthew L. Wald (Mar 6, 2008)
• New York Times: Move Over, Oil, There’s Money in Texas Wind , by Clifford Kraus (Feb 23, 2008)
• New York Times: Utilities Turn From Coal to Gas, Raising Risk of Price Increase, by Matthew L. Wald (Feb 5, 2008)
• New York Times: A Green Energy Industry Takes Root in California , by Matt Richtel and John Markoff (Feb 1, 2008)

2007

• New York Times: No Joke, Bulb Change Is Challenge for U.S., by Claudia H. Deutsch (Dec 22, 2007)
• New York Times: Ethanol’s Issue: Getting Acquainted With Drivers, by Christopher Maag (Dec 15, 2007)
• New York Times: The Carbon Calculus, by Matthew L. Wald (Nov 7, 2007)
• New York Times: Solar Power Wins Enthusiasts but Not Money , by Andrew C. Revkin and Matthew L. Wald (July 16, 2007)
• New York Times: Where Now, for the Wind? , by Clifford Krauss (June 1, 2007)
• New York Times: Efficiency, Not Just Alternatives, Is Promoted as an Energy Saver , by Matthew L. Wald (may 29, 2007)

Reports and Studies

• Congressional Research Services: Energy Tax Incentives: Measuring Value Across Different Types of Energy Resources, by Molly F. Sherlock and Jeffrey M. Stupak (Mar 19, 2015)
• EPA: Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2013
• Analysis of a Carbon Fee or Tax as a Mechanism to Reduce GHG Emissions in Massachusetts, by Marc Breslow et. al. (Dec 2014)
• Harvard Law Review: The Solar property tax exemption in Massachusetts: Interpretation of existing law & Recommendations for amendment, by Irina Rodina and Shaun A. Goho (Oct 2, 2013)
• Charles Frank (Brookings) Research and Commentary
• Paul Joskow (MIT) Papers, Op-Eds, Testimony and Presentations
  • Natural Gas: From Shortages to Abundance in the U.S. (Dec 31, 2012)

Advocacy

• The Conservation Law Foundation