WBUR reports on our leaky natural-gas pipeines.
A problem that amounted to the direct loss into the atmosphere of 3 percent of all the natural gas consumed in 2012. That’s according to Phillips and his colleagues at Harvard, Duke and Stanford universities. If anything, that number is conservative, Phillips says. And if you think 3 percent is small, think again.
Potential areas for community solar electric systems in Boston.
MIT researchers say Boston could become more energy self sufficient and become a greener city by working towards a series of neighborhood power sources that would include small natural-gas power plants and "community" solar systems. Read more.
Firefighters have evacuated the 41-unit 585 Columbus Ave. due to a gas leak that forced the shutoff of the building's heating system on one of the coldest nights of the season.
City officials are now on scene trying to coordinate getting residents into someplace warm for tonight.
Around 9:50 p.m. at 98 Standard St. Firefighters were able to shut off the gas before anything exploded - and before National Grid arrived.
The Home Energy Efficiency Team used data from National Grid and Eversource to create maps of unplugged natural-gas leaks in eastern Massachusetts (1,837 in Boston).
Via Inside Medford.
The City Council today agreed to hold a hearing on a problem that is costing residents money, contributing to environmental problems and putting the public at risk of explosions. Read more.
The Boston Business Journal reports Dedham selectmen today asked a judge in US District Court in Boston to block Spectra Energy from starting construction of its West Roxbury Lateral natural gas pipeline, which would run through Dedham on its way to a transfer station across from the West Roxbury quarry.
A morning power failure that hit parts of Medford and Malden (and at least one Dunkin' Donuts in Everett) also brought the Orange Line to a crawl, with the T announcing the dreaded "severe" delays. While the trains run off the T's very own power supply, the signals that control the trains get their juice from National Grid.
Photo by Rhea Becker. That's the quarry entrance in the background.
Early this morning, members of the newly formed Parkway Pipeline Prevention League marked out the route of a proposed high-pressure natural-gas pipeline along Grove Street in West Roxbury, then turned themselves into E-5 detectives for booking. Read more.
Wicked Local West Roxbury reports the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave basic approval earlier this month to a pipeline company's New England expansion plans, which include a 4-mile pipeline from Westwood into West Roxbury.
If the commission approves Spectra Energy's specific construction plans this spring, construction on the $95-million West Roxbury Lateral pipeline could begin in May.
Dan McCarthy at the Dig reports on an expedition to the top of the Tank along with a couple of the union guys repainting the iconic structure:
On our climb from the base to the 140-foot summit we pass several gruff painters. Some are rappelling from safety harnesses, dangling on ropes at precarious angles over the edge while stroking Kent’s masterwork down to the controversial crevices.
The scene on Hemenway. Photo by RA.
UPDATE: After shutting off the gas to the entire building, National Grid said residents - many Northeastern students - could return inside, but that they won't have any gas until after repairs are made tomorrow.
204 Hemenway St., around 9:45 p.m. Both Boston Fire and National Grid teams are on scene.
The Supreme Judicial Court today upheld the basic logic behind a state decision to fine National Grid and NStar for their responses to Hurricane Irene and a snowstorm two months later, but said state regulators were a bit too overzealous in the fines they levied.
Spectra Energy holds an information session today on its plans for a new gas pipeline that would run through Westwood, Dedham and West Roxbury and include a "metering and regulating" facility across Centre and Grove streets from the quarry.
And the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission holds a formal hearing on the proposed 5-mile pipeline on Monday.
The session today begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Elks Club, 1 Morrell St. The FERC hearing starts at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at the Dedham Holiday Inn, 55 Ariadne Rd.
The Dorchester Reporter reports the Dorchester gas tank now sports a giant Boston Gas logo again only because National Grid stripped off the Keyspan and National Grid logos atop it as part of an overall repainting of the tank.
A gas-main break at Dorchester Avenue and E. Cottage Street this afternoon filled the neighborhood with the smell of gas and created gridlock as the intersection got shot to let National Grid repair the pipe.
A man who says a large pavement "rut" caused him to tumble off his bicycle in Brookline is plumb out of luck trying to get somebody to pay for his injuries, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled today.
Tom Filepp sued what is now National Grid over injuries he says he incurred in 2005 when he tumbled off his bicycle due to a two-inch gap in the pavement on Harvard Street he says was caused by work by the company.
But Filepp did not submit a claim with National Grid until three months after his accident - or two months later than the 30-day deadline for filing claims set in state law.
The Newton Fire Department reports it evacuated part of the Street mall on Rte. 9 after workers hit a gas main in front of the Container Store around 10 a.m. About 35 minutes later, National Grid managed to shut the gas off, freeing mall workers to return to their jobs.
Firefighters are at Quincy and Mascoma, hoping gas-company workers show up soon to help fix the hole in a six-inch gas main there.
UPDATE: Firefighters began clearing the scene around noon, but Quincy will remain shut for a few more hours so that National Grid workers can fix the main.
A work crew dug up and ruptured a gas main in Wellesley this morning, forcing evacuations.
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