Dive Brief:

• Earlier this year, ISO New England released data indicating carbon emissions from the region's power plants had risen about 5% in 2014 following five years of declines, the likely result of Vermont Yankee in 2014 closing and taking its emissions-free power offline.
• The Boston Globe has taken a look at Massachusetts' struggle to meet new environmental restrictions while managing plants, as the state debates whether or not to boost hydroelectric imports from Canada.
• Massachusetts is working to reduce carbon emissions by 25% relatively to 1990 levels. but a state report last year found the commonwealth could miss that goal absent new, clean energy. The Globe ran an editorial last month supporting legislation to import hydro power.

Dive Insight:

Earlier this month, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said carbon emissions from the U.S. power sector declined last year, continuing a trend that has accelerated in the wake of cheap gas, renewable energy and the decline of coal.

But in New England, 2015 was a different story — emissions there rose 5% following years of decline in the wake of the 2014 closure of Vermont Yankee nuclear.

“Action is needed on existing policies . . . to further diversify our energy portfolio and meet the goals set forth in the Global Warming Solutions Act,” Katie Gronendyke, a spokeswoman for the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, told The Boston Globe. “The administration continues to work toward our state’s emission reduction goals.”

Part of that work is considering legislation to construct transmission lines to bring hydropower from Canada into the region. But existing generators say constructing transmission lines means higher power costs. The New England Power Generators Association is opposing a bill aimed at importing a third of the state's total electricity use for up to 25 years, arguing it would cost consumers more than $775 million annually.

"It strains credulity to believe that building lines ... plus paying a long-term premium for contracts would provide any cost savings when compared to the highly competitive electricity market prices," NEPGA said in a statement this month. 

The Globe disagrees. In an April editorial, the paper wrote: "It’s time to break the impasse by approving a plan ...  that would invite more clean Canadian hydropower into Massachusetts. No, it’s not perfect, and won’t solve every environmental concern. But hydropower — and the expensive infrastructure needed to import it from Quebec — will have to be part of any timely, realistic solution."

The plan, which involves construction of transmission lines through the region, looks to replace coal- and oil-fired plants being shut down due to emissions concerns, along with helping reach Massachusetts' emissions goals. 

A group called Massachusetts Clean Electricity Partnership has been pushing for the deal, and last month launched a digital advertising campaign to promote the environmental and economic benefits.

“More than 80% of Bay State residents support new laws that will ensure access to sustainable supplies of clean, affordable and reliable clean energy resources for the long term because everyone benefits from a diverse supply of clean, competitively-priced electricity,” Robin Mcadam, vice president of Emera Inc., said in a statement released by the group.