St Rep Jeff Roy joins Ted & I in this Making Sense of Climate episode talking about Ireland, wind power, & more (audio)

FM #1067 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1067 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Tuesday, September 19, 2023.  

In this episode we are joined by our MA State Representative Jeffrey Roy,. Jeff provides insights from 

• his trip to Ireland 

• his visit to the offshore wind turbine construction underway

• his efforts with legislation underway 

Along the way we find out about the Northern Ireland Parliament not having met in 3 years and the origin of Robert's Rules of Order in New Bedford.

Links to the articles we talk of are collected below.   

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 55 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted and Jeff as we help ‘make sense of climate.’ Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1067-making-sense-of-climate-32-09-19-23

--------------

  

Links to articles referenced:

Drone footage of turbine leaving New Bedford harbor  https://youtu.be/4locoph2dMg 

CommonWealth Magazine article on wind power quoting Jeff https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/governors-including-healey-raise-concerns-about-offshore-wind-pricing/ 

New Bedford - Robert’s Rules of Order -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/new-bedford-leads-in-value-of-fish.html 

Solar power technical potential map from State of MA  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/technical-potential-of-solar-study#report-and-storymap- 

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Drone footage of turbine leaving New Bedford harbor

Making Sense of Climate #28: Catching up on climate news, touting action as antidote to despair (audio)

FM #1022 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1022 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Thursday, July 13, 2023.  

In this episode we cover multiple topics as we caught up on what has happened since our prior recording. Links to the articles we talk of are located below.  

Briefly

• Climate challenges are here, when will it be recognized that change is required?

• Solar, agrivoltaics, home wind turbines, nuclear

• ISO New England & grid intersections 

• Energize Franklin, action is the antidote to despair

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 42 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted McIntyre as he helps me ‘make sense of climate’

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1022-making-sense-of-climate-28-07-13-23

--------------

  

Links to articles referenced:

Temperature records ->  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/05/tuesday-was-worlds-hottest-day-on-record-breaking-mondays-record

Solar power roof maps -> https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/07/06/solar-power-rooftop-map-technical-potential-climate-goals 

Electrical grid interconnections (ISO New England to ISO New York, etc.)

https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/07/05/electrical-transmission-power-lines-massachusetts-new-england-clean-energy-doe 

Shift in thinking about nuclear -> https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/shift-in-thinking-on-nuclear-power/ 

Agrivoltaics -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrivoltaics 

Home wind turbines -> https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/07/11/home-wind-turbine-renewable-energy/ 

Power cell efficiency ->

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/06/revolutionary-solar-power-cell-innovations-break-key-energy-threshold 

Turbine efficiency -> https://www.vernier.com/experiment/rev-12_turbine-efficiency/ 

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Making Sense of Climate #28: Catching up on climate news, touting action as antidote to despair (audio)

Climate Change Roundup: connecting to the grid; CA farmers need help; climate migration has begun

Wind and Solar Energy Projects Risk Overwhelming America’s Antiquated Electrical Grids    - The New York Times  (subscription maybe required)  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/23/climate/renewable-energy-us-electrical-grid.html

‘Help us fight’: California farmers ask for more aid after deadly storms | California | The Guardian   (subscription maybe required)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/23/california-farm-workers-disaster-relief

The American climate migration has already begun | Jake Bittle | The Guardian   (subscription maybe required) 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/23/us-climate-crisis-housing-migration-natural-disasters 

'The effects will be different in every place, but almost everywhere safe shelter will get scarcer and more expensive, loosening people’s grip on the stability that comes with a permanent home.’ Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

CommonWealth Magazine: "Mass.-financed power line from Quebec clears another NextEra hurdle"

"THE COMPANY seeking to build a Massachusetts-financed transmission line carrying hydro-electricity from Quebec to Maine cleared another hurdle on its comeback trail when federal regulators dismissed objections raised by the nuclear power plant Seabrook Station.

In a 52-page ruling, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled on Wednesday that Seabrook must upgrade a circuit breaker at the nuclear power plant to accommodate hydro-electricity expected to come into the region from Canada.

FERC also ruled that Seabook’s owner, NextEra, can only charge Avangrid, the company building the power line, for the cost of replacing the circuit breaker and not for “opportunity costs” of $560,000 a day or legal fees.

Avangrid and NextEra are big competitors in the New England energy market and have been battling each other for years on a variety of fronts."

Continue reading the article online ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/mass-financed-power-line-from-quebec-clears-another-nextera-hurdle/

 

This has been a thread in our ongoing series Making Sense of Climate ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html

Seabrook Station

Making Sense of Climate: Ted & I start 2023 with a discussion on the recent news (audio)

FM #916 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 916 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Tuesday, January 10, 2023.  

In this episode we covered the following topics: 

Happy new year, catch up on happenings since we last talked

• Healey, inauguration, Climate lead executive order

• Rep Roy video from Museum of Science (wind turbine blade testing), Rep Roy & Senator Barrett on Codcast (wind troubles)

• Fusion/ fission/ nuclear generated electrical power

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 48 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-916-making-sense-of-climate-21-01-10-23

--------------

  

Links to articles referenced:

Climate lead via Executive Order from Governor Healey

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/healey-signs-executive-order-on-climate/ 

Rep Roy video on wind turbine blade testing visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/museum-of-science-visit-mass-clean.html  

CodCast episode with Rep Roy and Senator Barrett

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/the-codcast-lawmakers-walk-tightrope-on.html 

ISO New England grid capacity around Christmas 2022

https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/2023/01/07/iso-new-england-electricity-power-plant-fines-december-failure-oil-natural-gas-christmas-storm/69785296007/

Wind farm in Maine, MA to take advantage of

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/03/business/offshore-wind-falters-mass-makes-its-move-boost-giant-wind-farm-maine/ 

Fun article: driving for donuts to test electric vehicle charging stations availability

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/10/science/we-drove-around-new-england-looking-ev-chargers-best-doughnuts-it-was-easier-than-we-expected/

Fusion announcement 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/22/science/after-years-doubts-hopes-grow-that-nuclear-fusion-is-finally-real-could-help-address-climate-change/ 

See the page that collects the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Wind turbines atop Saddleback Mountain in Maine. ROBERT F. BUKATY/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Museum of Science: "Visit the Mass Clean Energy Center's Wind Turbine Testing Center" (video)

Rep Jeff Roy talked about his visit to the wind turbine blade testing facility in our recent episode of "Making Sense of Climate" series.  The Museum of Science produced this video about the visit and work being on wind power technology.

"In the case of #climatechange, the evidence is compelling: climate change is increasingly affecting the Northeast. Climate change threatens the Earth, social connectedness, infrastructure, and our public health. To combat it, Massachusetts must continue to invest and enact evidence-based policies that protect Massachusetts and our region from climate change.

This past July, Massachusetts passed An Act driving clean energy and offshore wind, a landmark climate bill that expands clean energy and sets ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With cooperation and innovation from the government, academic, industry and public sectors, the green economy in Massachusetts will positively impact citizens for generations to come. 

The Museum of Science is grateful to the Mass Clean Energy Council and the Wind Turbine Testing Center in Charlestown for hosting us at their facility to learn more about this industry. And, thank you to Jennifer Dalosio CEO of the Mass Clean Energy Center, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representative Jeff Roy, and Representative Dan Ryan for speaking to the legislation and what offshore wind means for their districts and for the future #STEM workforce in Massachusetts.  

Among the world's largest science centers, the Museum of Science engages millions of people each year to the wonders of science and technology through interactive exhibitions, digital programs, giant screen productions, and preK – 8 EiE® STEM curricula through the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center. Established in 1830, the Museum is home to such iconic experiences as the Theater of Electricity, the Charles Hayden Planetarium, and the Mugar Omni Theater. Around the world, the Museum is known for digital experiences such as Mission: Mars launching in 2022 on Roblox, and traveling exhibitions such as the Science Behind Pixar." 

Learn more at https://www.mos.org/

Video link -> https://youtu.be/XzsN9jcZjc8

Making Sense of Climate episode -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/hear-about-green-banking-and-more-in.html

The Codcast: "Lawmakers walk tightrope on wind power contracts" (audio)

"The Legislature’s energy experts say it makes sense to penalize CommonWealth Wind and Mayflower Wind if they default on their recently approved power purchase contracts, but the lawmakers don’t want the penalties to include a ban on participation in an upcoming offshore wind procurement.

The House and Senate chairs of the Legislature’s Utilities, Telecommunications, and Energy Committee say the state needs to walk a fine line between penalizing the companies but not penalizing itself. "

Continue reading the article at CommonWealth Magazine 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/podcast/lawmakers-walk-tightrope-on-wind-power-contracts/

Listen to the podcast episode here -> https://on.soundcloud.com/qsmnM

CommonWealth Magazine · Lawmakers walk tightrope on wind power contracts

Sen. Michael Barrett of Lexington (left) and Rep. Jeffrey Roy of Franklin, the chairs of Legislature's Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee.

CommonWealth Magazine: "Mass. shows interest in financing Maine wind project"

A 1,000 MEGAWATT onshore wind project planned for northern Maine and an associated transmission build-out “would provide benefits to Massachusetts and the region,” the Mass. Department of Energy Resources said as it determined that it makes sense to have Bay State ratepayers cover 40 percent of the project costs as part of a multi-state clean energy effort.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission selected the two projects — Longroad Energy’s King Pine 1,000 MW land-based wind generation project and LS Power Base’s 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line project — in October to fulfill that state’s clean energy law requirements. The anticipated net cost of the two projects is $1.7 billion over 30 years, but the Maine PUC directed its staff “to look to other states to assess if there are partnerships that could reduce the costs to Maine.”

Continue reading the article online ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/mass-shows-interest-in-financing-maine-wind-project/

CommonWealth Magazine: "Mass. shows interest in financing Maine wind project"