Demand for electricity in New England is expected to decline over the next 10 years, even in peak summer demand periods, the region’s power grid operator reports in a new study.
Holyoke, Massachusetts-based ISO-New England released its 2017 Regional System Plan, which details needs of the grid through 2026. The energy forecast contained in the plan predicts total annual use of electricity will decline by 0.6 percent per year, with the summer peak needs declining 0.1 percent annually by 2026 under normal weather conditions.
Gordon van Welie, president and chief executive officer of ISO-NE, said the region’s energy system “is in the midst of a major evolution toward a cleaner, hybrid grid.”
It “will include renewable technologies such as wind and solar, and conservation measures such as energy-efficiency, as well as traditional resources, such as natural-gas-fired generation,” van Welie said in a statement.
But Joel Gordes, a West Hartford-based energy industry consultant, said basing energy demand forecasts on normal weather conditions is unwise.
“The weather we’re seeing now is anything but normal,” Gordes said.
The demand for electricity from the grid also is being driven down by energy efficiency resources such as from the increased deployment of photovoltaic solar panels at homes and businesses, according to the findings of the Regional Plan.
But Connecticut lawmakers are using $177 million in energy efficiency funds to balance the state’s budget over the next two years, Gordes said. Further raids on energy efficiency funding in the future in Connecticut or other New England states could increase demand for electricity in the region beyond what ISO-NE predicts.
New generation sources are needed because by 2020, power plants that collectively produced 4,800 megawatts of electricity will have shut down, either because they are no longer economical to operate or as a result of environmental concerns. Older power plants that either run on coal, oil or nuclear power are likely to be replaced by either natural gas-fired generation or renewable energy sources such as solar or wind. About 1,918 megawatts of solar power were available in the region at the end of last year, if the generation systems were operating at full capacity. By 2026, the level of soar resource available in New England is expected to more than doubled to 4,733 megawatts. according to the ISO-NE forecast.
About 12,899 megawatts of new generation sources had applied to connect to the regional grid as of April 2017. But ISO-NE official say that, historically, the attrition rate of power producers that apply for interconnection to the grid, but never begin operating, is about 68 percent.
The ISO-NE plans caution that the more use of renewable energy grows, the greater the likelihood there is that more transmission lines will need to be built.
“The most reliable and economic place for resource development remains in southern New England near load centers,” the report states in part. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
E. Hartford outlet developer says project 'not dead yet'
The developer of the $105 million Outlets Shoppes at Rentschler Field says the project is suspended but "not dead yet" and that he is working to raise capital and reschedule commitments with retailers before a March ground lease expires.
Horizon Group Properties CEO Gary Skoien told the Hartford Business Journal this week that he plans to reach out to the high-end fashion and shoe retailers and chain restaurants, among other future tenants, about extending the project timeline while he raises the funding needed after losing $10 million in financing from lender PCCP of Los Angeles, Calif.
United Technologies Corp. owns the land where the shoppes would be developed.
Skoien said PCCP, a commercial real estate debt and equity capital investment firm, told him it needed to reduce its $69 million loan by $10 million, news that caused the developer last week to halt ground-breaking that began in October.
"We've stopped construction and we're reassessing whether or not we can go forward," Skoien acknowledged Monday. "The ground lease with UTC is good until March, so we have time to find out if we can put together the money, but more importantly if we can get retailers to extend their possession dates."
East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc, who has expressed skepticism about the project after receiving news of the financing troubles, could not be reached Tuesday. On Monday, Leclerc pointed out that the town had agreed to provide more than $16 million in tax abatements, while the state was providing $12 million in infrastructure funding.
In an email to the Hartford Business Journal, UTC said: "We regret that Horizon Group Properties appears to have suspended its outlet center project due to financing issues. We are disappointed for the town of East Hartford, which has been a strong partner and wonderful home to thousands of UTC and Pratt & Whitney employees for decades."
Final designs approved for $130 million West Haven High School reconstruction project
WEST HAVEN — The final design for the West Haven High School reconstruction project keeps the total cost below $130 million but lessens the amount of stone facing on the new facade, among other measures, construction officials say.
The portions of the project eligible for reimbursement, which total $125.56 million, will be reimbursed by the state at a rate of 75.36 percent, with the city paying 24.64 percent.
The city’s share, including $4 million in expenses not eligible for reimbursement, is $34.94 million, according to figures given to the Board of Education last week. With interest, the city’s total cost would be $37.23 million.
The board and the West Haven High School Building Committee both approved the final plans last week. The city’s representative also met with officials from the state Department of Administrative Services.
Superintendent of Schools Neil Cavallaro said Tuesday that aside from the design being finalized in advance of going out to bid, nothing much has changed with the project in recent months.
“The only thing that’s changed is the election,” Cavallaro said, referring to the municipal election last Tuesday in which Democratic nominee Nancy Rossi defeated Democratic Mayor Ed O’Brien, who ran as a write-in candidate, and Republican City Councilman David Riccio.
“If you drive by there right now, it really looks like a construction site,” Cavallaro said. “I mean, they’re moving forward.”
Nevertheless, Cavallaro said he wouldn’t be surprised to see additional changes in the design or the make-up of the Building Committee once the Rossi administration takes office.
Staffers for the owner’s representative, Capitol Region Education Council, which looks out for the city’s interests; architect Antinozzi Associates; and general contractor Gilbane Construction Co. all attended a recent Board of Education meeting, with CREC’s Richard Snedeker doing most of the talking.
Snedeker gave Board of Education members a copy of the latest budget, which totals $129.56 million.
“That’s how much we’re anticipating as we go out to bid, and after we receive the bids, we’ll be able to fine-tune this project more to exact numbers,” Snedeker said.
“At this time, we haven’t made any other adjustments to this budget,” Snedeker told the board. “We’re going to go forward with $130 million and we’re going to see how the bids shake out.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
The ISO-NE plans caution that the more use of renewable energy grows, the greater the likelihood there is that more transmission lines will need to be built.
“The most reliable and economic place for resource development remains in southern New England near load centers,” the report states in part. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
E. Hartford outlet developer says project 'not dead yet'
The developer of the $105 million Outlets Shoppes at Rentschler Field says the project is suspended but "not dead yet" and that he is working to raise capital and reschedule commitments with retailers before a March ground lease expires.
Horizon Group Properties CEO Gary Skoien told the Hartford Business Journal this week that he plans to reach out to the high-end fashion and shoe retailers and chain restaurants, among other future tenants, about extending the project timeline while he raises the funding needed after losing $10 million in financing from lender PCCP of Los Angeles, Calif.
United Technologies Corp. owns the land where the shoppes would be developed.
Skoien said PCCP, a commercial real estate debt and equity capital investment firm, told him it needed to reduce its $69 million loan by $10 million, news that caused the developer last week to halt ground-breaking that began in October.
"We've stopped construction and we're reassessing whether or not we can go forward," Skoien acknowledged Monday. "The ground lease with UTC is good until March, so we have time to find out if we can put together the money, but more importantly if we can get retailers to extend their possession dates."
East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc, who has expressed skepticism about the project after receiving news of the financing troubles, could not be reached Tuesday. On Monday, Leclerc pointed out that the town had agreed to provide more than $16 million in tax abatements, while the state was providing $12 million in infrastructure funding.
In an email to the Hartford Business Journal, UTC said: "We regret that Horizon Group Properties appears to have suspended its outlet center project due to financing issues. We are disappointed for the town of East Hartford, which has been a strong partner and wonderful home to thousands of UTC and Pratt & Whitney employees for decades."
Final designs approved for $130 million West Haven High School reconstruction project
WEST HAVEN — The final design for the West Haven High School reconstruction project keeps the total cost below $130 million but lessens the amount of stone facing on the new facade, among other measures, construction officials say.
The portions of the project eligible for reimbursement, which total $125.56 million, will be reimbursed by the state at a rate of 75.36 percent, with the city paying 24.64 percent.
The city’s share, including $4 million in expenses not eligible for reimbursement, is $34.94 million, according to figures given to the Board of Education last week. With interest, the city’s total cost would be $37.23 million.
The board and the West Haven High School Building Committee both approved the final plans last week. The city’s representative also met with officials from the state Department of Administrative Services.
Superintendent of Schools Neil Cavallaro said Tuesday that aside from the design being finalized in advance of going out to bid, nothing much has changed with the project in recent months.
“The only thing that’s changed is the election,” Cavallaro said, referring to the municipal election last Tuesday in which Democratic nominee Nancy Rossi defeated Democratic Mayor Ed O’Brien, who ran as a write-in candidate, and Republican City Councilman David Riccio.
“If you drive by there right now, it really looks like a construction site,” Cavallaro said. “I mean, they’re moving forward.”
Nevertheless, Cavallaro said he wouldn’t be surprised to see additional changes in the design or the make-up of the Building Committee once the Rossi administration takes office.
Staffers for the owner’s representative, Capitol Region Education Council, which looks out for the city’s interests; architect Antinozzi Associates; and general contractor Gilbane Construction Co. all attended a recent Board of Education meeting, with CREC’s Richard Snedeker doing most of the talking.
Snedeker gave Board of Education members a copy of the latest budget, which totals $129.56 million.
“That’s how much we’re anticipating as we go out to bid, and after we receive the bids, we’ll be able to fine-tune this project more to exact numbers,” Snedeker said.
“At this time, we haven’t made any other adjustments to this budget,” Snedeker told the board. “We’re going to go forward with $130 million and we’re going to see how the bids shake out.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE