Energy News Roundup: December 31-January 6

This week in regional energy news …

• The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority announced on Wednesday that it will review a proposed merger between NStar and Northeast Utilities, which may scuttle the utilities’ deal.
• The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently upheld a power purchase agreement between Cape Wind and National Grid.  A joint group of parties, including trade groups and other energy companies, had challenged the PPA, arguing that with a 18.7 cents-per-kWh price and 3.5% annual price escalator, it was not in the public interest.
• A new group called the End User Alliance is requesting that ISO New England look into the impact on prices of new EPA regulations that the group argues could lead to the shut-down of Vermont Yankee, Seabrook, and other nuclear generators.
• Northern Pass Transmission, LLC, hopes to purchase a 5,800-acre parcel of land from the Balsams Wilderness Resort, while a New Hampshire nonprofit is collecting donations in an effort to purchase the same land.
• PSNH has entered into power purchase agreements with five independent biomass power producers in New Hampshire.

MPUC Adopts Standard Form PPA for Community-Based Renewable Energy Pilot Program

The Maine Public Utilities Commission has adopted a standard form contract for the purchase of energy, capacity resources and renewable energy credits under the MPUC’s Community-Based Renewable Energy Pilot Program.  The Pilot Program provides incentives for the development of locally-owned, community based renewable energy projects.  If qualified for the program, the renewable facility has the option of selecting either a renewable energy credit multiplier or a  long-term contract with a transmission and distribution utility for the sale of facility’s output.  A copy of the standard form contract may be found here.