Massachusetts compressor has second emergency shutdown in a month

PIPELINES: For the second time in a month and a day before its scheduled opening, an emergency shutdown and unplanned gas release occurred at a compressor station undergoing testing outside Boston. (WBUR)

ALSO: A local congressman and both Massachusetts U.S. senators call for a delay in the compressor’s planned opening, which was approved by federal officials last week. (Boston Globe)

EFFICIENCY:
• Massachusetts advocates try to expand participation in the state’s energy efficiency programs to lower-income residents and non-English speakers as most benefits go to wealthier households. (Energy News Network)
• New York begins a partnership to provide workforce training to entry level technicians in energy efficiency technologies. (WWTI)

CLIMATE: Brown University starts an initiative to counter the institutional inertia that prevents residents from taking meaningful action on climate change. (ecoRI)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Nine electric vehicle charging stations will be installed at park-and-ride lots along the New York Thruway system. (Albany Times Union)

UTILITIES:
• Eversource says its acquisition of Columbia Gas is expected to be approved by Massachusetts officials next week. (Masslive)
• Con Edison in New York is installing 376,000 gas leak detection meters connected to its response center. (Smart Energy)

OIL & GAS: The developer of a liquified natural gas export terminal seeks a special order to exempt it from needing federal approval. (NJ.com)

GRID: A consensus emerges at a federal conference that carbon pricing is within the purview of the regulator of wholesale electricity markets. (E&E News, subscription required)

COMMENTARY:
• The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorses Pennsylvania’s entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
• An energy justice advocate says Baltimore should stay with its plan to close a trash-burning facility next year. (Baltimore Sun)
• A think tank says the natural gas boom in southwestern Pennsylvania produces few permanent jobs. (tribLIVE)