Source: Extreme cold disrupts Hydro-Québec exports to Massachusetts during spike in power use - Montreal | Globalnews.ca By Stéphane Rolland The Canadian Press Posted January 30, 2026 11:45 am Updated January 30, 2026 2:58 pm Extreme cold forced Hydro- Québec to temporarily suspend its energy exports to Massachusetts just one week after inaugurating its new line. Hydro- Québec and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs both confirmed the news, which was first reported by specialized media outlet E&E News. The decision came as last weekend’s polar vortex led to a significant increase in demand in Quebec . There is also less water in Hydro-Québec’s reservoirs at the moment due to a three-year drought. “During peak periods, the needs of our customers in Quebec are prioritized,” Hydro- Québec spokesperson Lynn St-Laurent said Thursday in an email. The utility said it suspended deliveries to Massachusetts over the weekend and for one hour on Tuesday morning. Are there any regional reports on the impact or too soon? Historically, the NorthEastern USA has had high electricity costs, nearly double the $0.12/kWh paid in Huntsville AL. These higher electric rates made EVs less of a bargain. So just curious. Bob Wilson ps. There are some "hair on fire" political news about changes in March but it ain't March yet. TACO may yet save the day.
Gotta be fake news, because He promised that electric prices would be cut in half: “Under my administration, we will be slashing energy and electricity prices by half within 12 months, at a maximum 18 months” -Trump Rally in North Carolina, August 14, 2024. “We’re going to get your energy prices down. We’re going to get your energy prices down by 50%.” -Trump speaks at campaign rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, August 17, 2024. = = = = = = A couple weeks ago, the Secretary of Interior introduced a new mascot to solve our energy issues: Coalie!
"Are there any regional reports on the impact or too soon?" If Hydro Quebec sells to New York, it would be hit hardest. But I don't know their wiring diagram. Too cold for hydroelectric should go away very soon, but they also have less storage from drought, which is a slower problem. -- Statewise and national historical data: Electricity Rates by State (February 2026) U.S. Electricity Prices (1978-2025) Depending on where new data centers get built, supply and demand will rebalance -- Coalie looks sillie, but Burgum did some good things in North Dakota that merit attention. He's just riding with the wrong gang now. Recovery later is certainly possible for a person not locked into ideology.
I haven't read anything recently. there has been outrage about utility pricing over the last few years in ma. the pols react to voters by criticizing energy providers, but they can't or won't do anything about them. they even replaced the utility commission members to no avail. utilities agreed to limit winter bills, allowing for repayment over the summer. big deal. then, they said there would be interest added to the payments we probably need some new laws limiting profits. but what a can of worms that might open.
Get the Cape Cod wind farm up and online: Key Projects and Status (As of February 2026): Vineyard Wind 1: America's first large-scale offshore wind project, located off Martha's Vineyard, has been delivering power. SouthCoast Wind: A major project planned for southwest of the islands, featuring 149 turbines. New England Wind 1: A project currently facing federal approval challenges. Defunct Cape Wind Project: The original 130-turbine proposal for Horseshoe Shoal was abandoned in 2017 after 16 years of legal battles. Controversies and Challenges: Environmental & Safety: Concerns over impacts on fishing, wildlife, and, in 2024, significant blade debris from a Vineyard Wind turbine. Visual Impact: Opposition from residents regarding the view from Nantucket and Cape Cod. Economic/Political: Debate over high costs, potential for high energy bills, and federal political opposition. Transparency: Local leaders in Nantucket have secured tighter agreements for communication and emergency response from developers. The mountains in Western MA would be great places for more wind farm projects and "second crop" land owners. But MIT has me scratching my head. Small nuclear power plants tied to the grid would be a clever solution especially if the waste heat is salvaged for space heating. This is something the kids at MIT should knock off as a 'term project.' Oh well, the Chinese kids aren't so shy. Bob Wilson
The terrestrial data centers will solve the energy problem. +1 on the nukes. @ coal.... How many new coal plants in the last 20 years? What's the throughput trend over the last decade or so? @wind. The one place where these things 'statistically' saved a few actual bucks....if you hold the numbers juuuuust right. These were being installed as I was leaving GTMO - but this is a rare use case since that base is space constrained and necessarily gets zero power (or fuel, or ANYTHING ELSE!) from the Cubans. They're not as noisy as the wind haters suggest but they ARE kinda hard on the local bird population!!! Fortunately, there seems to be an infinite supply of seagulls - and it's a good protein source for other animals.
I'm not a hard NO on coal fired plants as long as they are high temperature, high efficiency, and emissions controlled. We really don't need to blanket the downstream water sheds with mercury. Also, make them closed cycle with coal ash disposal (back where the coal came from?) Bob Wilson
