PSNH residential energy customers slower to leave the mother ship

As required by the PUC, on July 17, PSNH filed its 2nd quarter report (attached) regarding the migration of its customers to the competitive market. The report shows that the number of residential customers not billed for PSNH’s energy service inched up from 3198 in April to 4332 in May, then jumped to 5746 in June. Overall, this represents a 2nd quarter increase from .76% to 1.35% of the total residential kwH not billed for PSNH’s energy service.

Small and large business customers have migrated in much greater numbers, from 36% to 96%. Residential customers who remain with PSNH’s energy service will bear an increasingly heavy burden as commercial customers continue to migrate.

Check out Resident Power and see if it’s right for you.

 

361 Commission is up and running; first meeting scheduled for August 2

All meetings will be open to the public.

Today’s message from Representative Rappaport:

The first meeting of the Commission to Study the Feasibility of Establishing Energy Infrastructure Corridors Within the Existing Transportation Rights of Way will take place August 2d in Room 100 of the State House. It, like all
meetings, will be open to the public. As the first named Senator, the meeting will be chaired by Senator Jeanie Forrester. Either I or Senator Forrester will keep you informed.
–
Larry Rappaport
NH State Representative
Coos District One

 

Northern Pass foes plan protest

Opponents of the proposed Northern Pass are planning a Sept. 1 protest in communities along the hydropower transmission project’s route.

“Stand on your town common, across the (right of way), in your backyard, in the street, wherever you think you will get the most attention,” Martha Richards of Holderness wrote in an email.

Read the rest

Glad to see Hands Across NH getting some press!

 

Spotlight put on Northern Pass studies

CONCORD — State and federal agencies whose work is to identify important habitats and historic or cultural resources will be getting some data from the proposed Northern Pass project.

In its June 2012 project newsletter, Northern Pass officials said there are as many as 60 experts looking for rare plants, vernal pools and other habitats of importance in the communities where the high-voltage transmission line is proposed.

Read the rest

 

Martin Murray Tries to Sway Us (and Fails)

N.H.’s economic future needs projects like Northern Pass

In the June 29-July 12 edition of New Hampshire Business Review, Jamie White attempts to address the very important topic of New Hampshire’s economic future in the context of considering the Northern Pass project (“Northern Pass risks region reaping benefits of economic change”).

To be sure, New Hampshire’s economic future and Northern Pass are critical issues worthy of discussion. Unfortunately, Mr. White’s comments fail to deliver any significant analysis or relevant facts on the issue.

Read the rest

 

Quebec gets another earful on Northern Pass

LANDAFF — Another North Country town has fired a verbal missive over the Canadian border about the Northern Pass.

Landaff selectmen have sent their own letter to the premier of Quebec, with copies to its crown-owned company, Hydro-Quebec, saying they do not want the $1.1 billion hydro transmission project as it is proposed.

The Hydro-Quebec and Northeast Utilities project would go through 180 miles of the state — from the Canadian border to Deerfield.

Read the rest

 

Electricians union anticipates Northern Pass jobs

Although any Northern Pass construction jobs are more than a year away, a New England-based union is offering a program to train New Hampshire workers on the construction of high-voltage power lines.

Already, a $1.4 billion, 440-mile high-voltage transmission project is under way in Maine, creating strong demand for experienced linemen, said Chris Blair, membership development coordinator of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 104.

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TransForce Creates Partnership to Recoup Methane and Use to Produce Electricity on Hydro-Québec Grid

MONTREAL, July 12, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ – TransForce Inc. (TSX: TFI), a North American leader in the transportation and logistics industry, today announced that its Environmental Services division has formed a partnership with Quebec-based Terreau Biogaz Inc. to convert methane to electricity from its Granby and Sainte-Cécile-de-Milton, Quebec landfill sites. The electricity has been placed on the Hydro-Québec grid as of June 29th. In its first year, the project will produce one megawatt of power, roughly enough electricity to power about 450 homes. That will double to two megawatts next year and at its peak the facility will generate three megawatts. The $10 million investment in the project, will allow for the sale of electricity to Hydro Québec for a 24 year period.

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An Update On The Fight Of Our Lives

The Northern Pass (NP) has been relatively quiet over the past few months, but the Alliance senses things will be heating up soon on a number of fronts. Here’s a scorecard of sorts. We apologize for the length of this piece, but all the info is critical.

What NP currently has going for it:

Read the rest

 

A Number of Articles

On Northern Pass were posted over at Hands Across NH yesterday.

Sugar Hill Meeting Discusses Latest Northern Pass News

PSNH Deerfield Substation (a video)

New Video: Real New Hampshire Voices Speak Out on the Northern Pass Proposal (two videos)

A public resource for information on the Northern Pass project

Questions and Answers about Northern Pass

PSNH Hates the White Mountains (a video)

 

Study targets Northern Pass’ effect on scenery

CONCORD — A $25,000 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is being used by the Appalachian Mountain Club to study how the proposed Northern Pass transmission line might affect scenery.

The results of the study will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy for consideration as part of the federal Environmental Impact Statement process, or EIS. The statement must be completed before either the U.S. Department of Energy or the White Mountain National Forest can decide whether the project is in the best interest of the nation.

Read the rest

 

BetterBuildings NH program to expand to residential units

MANCHESTER — An energy efficiency program for commercial users started by the Community Development Finance Authority is expanding to residential customers of Public Service of New Hampshire.

PSNH customers are eligible for up to $4,000 toward energy efficient improvements to their home and may be eligible for no-cost financing.

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Northern Pass risks region reaping benefits of economic change

The Northern Pass project debate has raged around property rights, land values and the destruction of natural beauty on the one hand and potential construction jobs and tax revenues on the other, with little discussion regarding its long-term economic implications on New Hampshire’s small communities.

Tourism, many argue, is all that remains for the North Country with the demise of so many industries. Yet writer Peter Wolf has identified a trend, termed the Fifth Migration, which is transforming small communities across the country through the infusion of wealth and capital, leading to economic revitalization at local levels.

Read the rest

 

Northern Pass Transmission

Land conservation efforts in the Northern Forest are threatened by the proposed Northern Pass Transmission Line project, which would bring Canadian hydropower into New England.

The high-tension Northern Pass Transmission Line is proposed through numerous conservation lands in the Northern Forest, including the White Mountain National Forest and the Silvo O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge.

Read the rest

 

Hydro Quebec CEO Named Energy Person of the Year by Energy Council of Canada

MONTREAL, QC, Jun 29, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — The Energy Council of Canada is proud to announce that Hydro Quebec’s CEO, Thierry Vandal, is being awarded the 2012 Canadian Energy Person of the Year award.

Established by the Energy Council of Canada and supported by Canadian sectoral energy associations, this award recognizes and pays tribute to leaders in Canada who have made significant impacts at both the national and international levels with respect to energy.

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