The BEAT News August 6, 2015

Wholesale Power and Natural Gas Prices Set Record Lows in June

by ISO New England

Mild weather, low demand, and the lowest average natural gas price since 2003 brought June’s wholesale power price to under $20 per megawatt-hour, by far the lowest monthly price in the 12 years New England has had competitive power markets in their current form. June’s average real-time electric energy price of $19.61/MWh was nearly half the June 2014 average price of $37.92/MWh and nearly 23% lower than the previous record-low average monthly price of $25.39/MWh, recorded during March 2012.

Matthew White, chief economist at ISO New England, said the explanation for such low power prices is simple. “It’s supply and demand. With June’s mild weather, demand for natural gas and electricity were both low, and the pipeline capacity was available to deliver a plentiful supply of exceptionally low-priced natural gas to generators in New England. Seasonal demand for natural gas has abated, and New England is able to access that low-cost supply because we aren’t seeing winter’s recurring pipeline constraints.

“But the swing in prices over just five months, going from the third-highest power price during February to the lowest in June, underscores the price volatility attributable to pipeline infrastructure constraints,” White added. “During February’s record cold, demand for natural gas was so high that the pipelines into New England—which haven’t expanded at the same pace as natural gas demand growth—were running at or near capacity. When natural gas demand is so high and the supply available to generators is limited, the price for natural gas delivered to New England rises dramatically—and so does the price for the electricity made from it.”

During February, the average wholesale price of power was $126.70/MWh, while the average price of natural gas was $17.27 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) **, the fourth-highest monthly level since 2003.

The US Energy Information Administration noted in its July 9, 2015, Natural Gas Weekly Update, entitled “Northeastern trading points set record low prices”, that natural gas prices at the Algonquin delivery point in Boston fell to an historic daily low of $1.19/MMBtu on June 5 before breaking that record with new daily low of 82 cents on July 2.

June highlights:

• Lowest average wholesale electric energy price since March 2003
  • June 2015: $19.61 per megawatt-hour (MWh)*
  • March 2012: $25.39/MWh
  • April 2012: $25.41/MWh
  • April 2015: $25.88/MWh
  • May 2015: $26.12/MWh

• Lowest average monthly natural gas price since March 2003
  • June 2015: $1.68/MMBtu
  • May 2015: $1.85/MMBtu
  • April 2012: $2.39/MMBtu
  • May 2012: $2.63/MMBtu
  • August 2014: $2.64/MMBtu

• Second-lowest energy consumption during any June since 2003
  • June 2009: 9,960 gigawatt-hours (GWh)
  • June 2015: 10,146 GWh
  • June 2002: 10,317 GWh

• Third-lowest average June temperature since 2003
  • June 2009: 63.1° Fahrenheit
  • June 2003: 65.1° F
  • June 2015: 65.2° F

Drivers of Wholesale Electricity Prices

In general, the two main drivers of wholesale electricity prices in New England are the cost of fuel used to produce electricity and consumer demand.

Power Plant Fuel: Fuel is typically one of the major input costs in producing electricity. Natural gas is the predominant fuel in New England, used to generate nearly half of the power produced in the region, and natural gas-fired power plants usually set the price of wholesale electricity in the region. As a result, average wholesale electricity prices are closely linked to natural gas prices.

The average natural gas price during June dropped to $1.68/MMBtu at the Algonquin pipeline delivery point in Massachusetts, a decline of nearly 60% from the $4.07/MMBtu natural gas average price during June a year ago. The June 2015 price was also nearly 10% lower than the May 2015 average price of $1.85/MMBtu, which briefly held the record for the lowest monthly average natural gas price in New England since 2003.

Electricity Demand: Demand is driven primarily by weather as well as economic factors. The average temperature was 65.2° Fahrenheit in New England, the third-lowest June temperature recorded region-wide since 2003, while the dewpoint, a measure of humidity, came in at 54.2°, about the same as the 54.5° in June 2014. The mild weather and the effects of energy-efficiency measures dropped energy usage to 10,146 GWh, the third-lowest level of energy consumption during any June since 2003, and about 2.5% lower  than consumption during June 2014 when the average temperature was about 67.8°F. The impact of weather is reflected in heating and cooling degree days***. During June, the region saw 26.2 cooling degree days (CDD), a slight decline from  the 27.5 CDD recorded during June 2014.

Peak demand for the month hit 20,895 MW on June 23 during the hour from 3 to 4 p.m.,  when the average temperature in New England was 84°F and the dewpoint was 69°. The June 2015 peak was down 1.7% from the June 2014 peak of 21,263 MW, set during the hour from 4 to 5 p.m. on June 30 when the temperature was 85°F and the dewpoint was 61°. The all-time peak demand in New England was 28,130 MW, recorded during an August 2006 heat wave, when the temperature was 94°F and the dewpoint was 74°. Peak demand is driven by weather, which drives the use of heating and air conditioning equipment. Air conditioning use is far more widespread than electric heating in New England, so weather tends to have a relatively greater impact on the summer peak than the winter peak.

Fuel Mix: The mix of resources used in any given time period depends on price and availability, as well as unit commitments made to ensure system stability. Natural gas-fired and nuclear power plants produced most of the 9,176 GWh of electric energy generated within New England during June, at 47% and 31%, respectively. Hydroelectric resources in New England generated 10%. Renewable resources generated 8% of the energy produced within New England, including 5.6% from wood and refuse, 1.4% from wind and 0.5% from solar resources. Coal units generated 0.05% and oil-fired resources produced 0.02% of the energy generated within New England. Dual-fuel units, which generally are capable of burning natural gas or oil and typically use the less expensive fuel, generated about 4%. The region also received net imports of about 1,124 GWh of electricity from neighboring regions.

return to top

EPA Reaches Agreement with Manufacturers to Stop Use of TCE in Spray Fixative Products Used on Arts and Crafts

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with a manufacturer to voluntarily phase-out the use of trichloroethylene (TCE) in an aerosol arts and crafts spray fixative product as part of EPA’s ongoing efforts to reduce the public’s exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

“We are pleased that a company’s voluntary efforts to eliminate TCE from their aerosol fixative product used for arts and crafts will soon mean that all consumer products of this type are TCE-free,” said Jim Jones, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.  “We are also proposing a rule that will give EPA the opportunity to review and, if necessary, block introduction, including imports, of new TCE spray fixative and other consumer products before re-entry into the marketplace. This will ensure a level playing field for American companies who step up and do the right thing.  In addition, we are pursuing regulatory action to reduce the risks from exposure to TCE in other products that are not voluntarily addressed.”

TCE is an example of how EPA’s assessment of existing chemicals can lead to real results that protect health and the environment.  After identifying health risks associated with a number of TCE uses in its June 2014 Work Plan Chemical Risk Assessment conducted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA worked with the manufacturers of TCE on possible voluntary efforts to reduce exposure.

The PLZ Aeroscience Corporation, of Addison, IL, has committed to cease manufacturing its aerosol spray fixative product containing TCE bySeptember 1, 2015. This type of product is used by artists, picture framers, graphic designers and printers to provide a water repellant and protective finish. It is the only TCE-containing spray fixative product on the market still used in arts and crafts.

EPA is issuing a proposed Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) under TSCA which requires anyone intending to initiate manufacture (including import) or processing of TCE for these uses to notify EPA at least 90 days before doing so. The notification will allow EPA to evaluate the intended use and, if necessary, to prohibit or limit the use prior to entering the marketplace. Current uses of TCE are not subject to the proposed rule.

In addition to the phase-out and SNUR, the Agency is taking a number of additional steps to reduce the risks from exposure to TCE. EPA is encouraging the transition to safer chemicals and greener processes/ technologies, promoting the use of best practices, and pursuing regulatory action under TSCA to reduce or limit the manufacture, import and use of TCE in a range of products.

EPA is requesting a 60 day comment period that will begin upon publication in the Federal Register at www.regulations.gov and searching for EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0327.

A pre-publication copy of the proposal and more information can be found at:http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/tce.html

Learn more about EPA’s TSCA Work Plan Assessments.

return to top

MA Solar Coalition Applauds Senate Bill Passage and Urges Baker Administration to Support Solar for All

August 3, 2015 BOSTON—The Massachusetts Solar Coalition, an alliance of solar and clean energy industry organizations, businesses and solar and environmental advocates, commends Senator Ben Downing and the Massachusetts Senate on the July 23rd passage of SB 1979, a bill that, among other things, would lift caps on solar net metering, one of the most important solar policies in the Commonwealth. The Coalition also welcomes last week’s announcement by Governor Charlie Baker that he will file a bill in the near future that will address the need to raise the net metering caps.

The Coalition, which is coordinated by the New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC), Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE), Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), MassSolar, Next Step Living and Vote Solar, urges the Massachusetts legislature to address the net metering crisis by passing legislation to be signed by Governor Baker as soon as possible.

The Coalition applauds the net metering and solar policies included in SB 1979, which passed unanimously with strong bipartisan support as an amendment to a climate change adaptation bill. In order to keep solar growing and delivering economic and environmental benefits in the Commonwealth, the House must pass legislation that includes the same policies to immediately lift or suspend the caps on net metering, and ensure that all Massachusetts families and businesses will have the opportunity to choose solar energy through a fair and open marketplace. Additionally, legislation should include policies that properly compensate solar customers and utilities for the services they provide to our electric grid.

“We commend the Senate for recognizing that solar energy is a worthy investment and a valuable component of our energy system,” said Janet Gail Besser, NECEC’s VP of Policy and Government Affairs and a member of the Net Metering and Solar Task Force. “The clean energy industry looks forward to working with the Legislature and Baker Administration to ensure that legislation passes swiftly to allow the Commonwealth’s solar industry to continue providing a positive return in jobs, investment and stabilization of energy costs, as well as reductions in energy peak load and greenhouse gas emissions for Massachusetts ratepayers.”

“With the passage of this amendment, the Massachusetts Senate recognized that solar is working in Massachusetts – from the 12,000 in-state jobs to the $9 billion in net benefits solar brings the Commonwealth,” said Sean Gallagher, Vice President of State Affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “We are glad that Governor Baker understands the urgency of addressing the net metering caps and look forward to working with his administration to achieve legislation that is consistent with the interests of towns, companies and residents from across the Commonwealth.”

“Solar insulates low income communities from energy price shocks by providing fixed price, lower cost power for low income residents,” said Mark Sandeen, co-founder of MassSolar. “Community shared solar allows anyone – renters, city dwellers, people with shaded roofs – to directly access the many benefits of solar. But net metering caps are holding up community shared solar projects in 171 communities. We should be providing fair and equitable access to solar for everyone in Massachusetts by lifting the net metering caps.”

“Today we are having to deal with the consequences of these arbitrary net metering caps. Meritorious projects are stalled, jobs and clean energy investments are being lost, and ratepayers are being denied the benefits of having additional solar available to the grid,” said Bill Stillinger, President, PV Squared and Board Member, SEBANE. “We need to see that Senator Downing’s amendment to SB1979 is passed, providing clear direction for the solar industry in Massachusetts.”

“We are glad to see the Senate and Governor Baker beginning to treat solar power with the same urgency and prioritization that the citizens of the Commonwealth do,” said Vote Solar Northeast Regional Manager Sean Garren. “We are in the midst of a significant transition in our national energy infrastructure and it’s critical that Massachusetts maintain its leadership as a solar powerhouse that enables all ratepayers, including renters and low income customers, to save on their energy bills and improve the health and security of their communities by choosing solar.”

“Net metering is a clear and significant net benefit to the residents and businesses of the Commonwealth overall, a benefit worth $9 billion. Analysis for the Net Metering Task Force determined that every dollar invested in solar results in $2.20 to $2.70 in benefits to the Commonwealth overall,” said Larry Aller, Next Step Living Director of Business Development and Strategy. “However, action is needed now to enable solar before federal funding that covers one in every three dollars expires.”

Net metering provides solar customers fair compensation for the clean, reliable electricity they generate. Caps on net metering have stalled solar development in nearly half of the state. Projects that would deliver families, small businesses, schools and other entities in 171 cities and towns across the state real economic savings are unable to move forward until customers can be compensated for their solar power. Local jobs, taxpayer savings, reduced electric bills and improved public health are being lost every day.

return to top

Methane Leaks May Greatly Exceed Estimates, Report Says

by John Schwartz, nytimes

A device commonly used to measure the methane that leaks from industrial sources may greatly underestimate those emissions, said an inventor of the technology that the device relies on.

The claim, published Tuesday in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, suggests that the amount of escaped methane, a potent greenhouse gas, could be far greater than accepted estimates from scientists, industry and regulators.

The new paper focuses on a much-heralded report sponsored by theEnvironmental Defense Fund and published by University of Texas researchers in 2013; that report is part of a major effort to accurately measure the methane problem. But if the supposed flaws are borne out, the finding could also have implications for all segments of the natural gassupply chain, with ripple effects on predictions of the rate ofclimate change, and for efforts and policies meant to combat it.

Almost all of the methane leakage calculated from the Texas research “could be affected by this measurement failure,” according to the paper; “their study appears to have systematically underestimated emissions.”

The new paper describes a pattern of low measurements of leaks by the Bacharach Hi Flow Sampler, a device approved by the Environmental Protection Agencyfor its required monitoring of natural gas facilities and in use around the world.

The problem, according to the author of the paper, Touché Howard, is that the backpack-size tool uses two sensors: one for low levels of methane emissions and one for higher levels. As methane levels rise beyond the capacity of the first sensor, the device hands off to the second, high-level sensor.

Mr. Howard found that under some conditions, unless the sampler is carefully and frequently recalibrated, the switchover from the first sampler to the second can fail. When that occurs, the device does not measure the amount of methane that the second sensor would capture, and so it underrecords methane leakage rates.

Mr. Howard, a semiretired gas industry consultant and firefighter who lives in North Carolina, holds the patent for a high-flow-rate sampler whose technology is used in the Bacharach product.

Complicating the issue, he wrote, is that when the device malfunctions, “there is no way to determine the magnitude” of the error without independent measurement at the time, so the missed emissions could be extremely high — perhaps tenfold to a hundredfold for a particularly large leak, he said. Researchers have found that a relatively small number of leaks produce most escaped methane, he wrote, so an instrument that underreports large leaks might skew official assessments like the E.P.A.’s overall methane inventory. Mistakenly low leak readings could also create safety issues in industrial settings, he noted.

“That such an obvious problem could escape notice in this high-profile, landmark study highlights the need for increased vigilance in all aspects of quality assurance” for all methane measurement programs, he wrote.

The Texas study, the first of 16 reports on methane emissions sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund, measured emissions at 190 natural gas production sites.

The lead author of the Texas study, Prof. David T. Allen, stood by his work. “There may be issues with some of these instruments, but we tested our instruments pretty thoroughly and when we went out into the field we had multiple instruments, all of which gave us information,” he said. Alternate measurement methods were used at some sites, he said, and “we didn’t see any evidence that we were missing any large numbers.”

The maker of the instrument, Bacharach, reviewed Mr. Howard’s new paper, along with one he co-wrote earlier this year. It issued a statement that the sampler, first produced in 2003, was initially tested and validated with gas streams that are not the same as those in the study, which involved high levels of the class of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds.

Even so, the company stated, “we believe that some of the primary test results and conclusion” of the studies “are not valid” because the sensor failures reported by Mr. Howard could be caused by other factors. The company suggested frequent recalibration of the device, and said it would update operating manuals; it also recommended further testing.

A spokeswoman for the E.P.A. said the agency would assess information “from a number of channels,” including the research community and industry and the new Howard paper, “as a part of our routine review of new information” for its annual inventory of greenhouse gases.

Methane is the main component of natural gas, and the expansion of techniques such as hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, has greatly increased the amount of natural gas being extracted, sold and transported around the country. This shift has been widely hailed as environmentally helpful, to the extent that more reliance on natural gas to generate electricity means less reliance on coal and thus smaller amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants being pumped into the atmosphere.

Even so, burning natural gas does produce carbon dioxide, and the process of extracting and transporting it inevitably leads to some leakage. Methane has powerful short-term effects on climate change — by some estimates, 80 times the heating effects of carbon dioxide in the first 20 years in the atmosphere — though carbon dioxide persists in the atmosphere far longer than methane does.

The Obama administration has lauded the expansion of natural gas as an alternative to coal, but has also called for industry action to sharply reduce leaks while promoting renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.

An expert on methane, Robert Howarth of Cornell University, said he found Mr. Howard’s paper “very compelling.” Professor Howarth was not involved in the research but has long argued that official estimates of methane emissions are far too low.

Professor Allen said in response that “our research team made efforts to cooperate with Mr. Howard,” adding that he was reluctant to discuss “issues like nondisclosure agreements, email communications, and other university legal matters.” A spokesman for the university, Geoffrey Leavenworth, said that communications with Mr. Howard ceased after disagreements over a standard nondisclosure form.

An official of the Environmental Defense Fund said the organization welcomed the new paper. “We’re happy when people read these papers, critique them, raise questions about the instruments used, the methodology used,” said Mark Brownstein, who leads the group’s work on methane emissions.

Other papers in the group’s methane series, including a recent studyabout leaks in the Barnett shale field in Texas, have found far greater emissions of methane than estimated by the E.P.A., he noted, and the studies should be seen as a whole.

The important point, Mr. Brownstein said, is that research shows that relatively inexpensive measures can sharply reduce emissions, however high they turn out to be. “The bottom line is the question is, ‘Are emissions high, or are they higher?’ Either way, the focus needs to be on reducing them. That’s where we come in.”

return to top

Registration is Now Open for Fall Programs and Rites-of-Passage

Summer’s not over yet, but autumn is on our minds! This fall, we offer homeschool programs at two locations, New Lebanon, NY, and Sheffield, Mass., for ages 4 to 13, as well as rites-of-passage programs for adolescent girls and boys. We also offer in-school and after-school programsthroughout Berkshire and Columbia Counties. Find out more about our fall programs below.   Homeschool Programs Get dirty! Explore! Craft! Play! Our homeschool programs for ages 4 to 13, in New Lebanon and Sheffield, Mass., offer an in-depth dose of nature connection and mentoring. We’ll be out there every week, rain or shine, carrying the FDNC flame of fun, learning, and adventure! We will … Forage for wild edibles Track animals Make fires in all conditions Identify bird calls and alarms Hone our awareness through sensory games Learn to travel lightly on the Earth Listen to stories that inform and inspire — and bring home our own stories of our experiences and adventures! Get details and dates, and register online or download forms to mail. Please note: Deadline for registration and financial assistance applications is September 1. Rites-of-Passage Programs Sacred Fire is a three-year wilderness rites-of-passage program for boys who wish to undertake a conscious journey into adolescence with the heartfelt support of family and community. The essence of this process is to create a world of deeper connection with Nature, Self, Community and Spirit. Find out more. Moon Tribe is a long-term coming-of-age program for girls, beginning at ages 11 to 13 and continuing over two and a half years. Now in its 11th year, Moon Tribe is a rich, fun, and life-changing experience designed to support girls as they move through early adolescence, learning about themselves and the world. Find out more. Financial Assistance is Available for All Programs. Registration deadlines vary according to program start date, but all financial assistance applications are due September 1. Apply online for financial assistance, or download an application to mail in.

return to top

Jobs

Helia Land Design

-Seeking a Full-Time Office Administration/Assistant

We are an accredited Organic Land Care Company that specializes in Ecological Landscape Design, Wildflower Meadows, Site Restoration and Fine Gardens.
We are looking for a full time office administrator/assistant. Prior landscape & plant knowledge is a plus, willing to train the right person.

Qualifications/Duties include but are not limited to:
*Email & Phone Correspondence with clients & vendors
* Managing Calendars
* Experience with Excel, Quickbooks (Mac) & Google based programs
* Job Invoicing, Estimating & material/plant sourcing
* Strong Customer Service
* Some field capacity may be required
* Committed, Organized and the ability to work independently

To Apply Call 413-274-1400 or email your resume