Worcester Business Journal

18 2016 Economic Forecast www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal E n e rg y EMPOWER YOUR BUSINESS M O V E F O R WA R D FA S T Delivering speeds up to 10 Gbps, the Spectrum Business™ Enterprise Solutions network provides the capacity for today's high-bandwidth applications. LEAVE T1 BEHIND FOR MORE ▶ More Accountability – Spectrum Business ™ owns and manages its network with last-mile service, and stands behind it with service level agreements ▶ More Security – Continuously updated, robust security is embedded in the Spectrum Business network ▶ More Reliability – Our fiber-optic network is more stable than copper, delivering superior reliability and performance ©2015 Charter Communications. ® Restrictions apply. Services may not be available in all areas. Call for details. Visit enterprise.spectrum.com or call 855.214.1659 Thomas M. Valentine Jr.* PRESIDENT/ FINANCIAL ADVISOR Gretchen Antonelli DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & OPERATIONS IMAGINE… What you thought to be true about wealth accumulation and distribution actually turned out not to be true. When would you want to know? 508-796-5950 645 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA 01602 www.forwardfinancialsrv.com *Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. A Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Forward Financial Services and Cambridge are not affiliated. Source: ISO New England Energy mix The sources of electricity production fluctuates on a daily basis as natural gas resources are called upon for heating in New England, resulting in more reliance on oil and coal generation. Evening peak: January 30, 2015 Coal Oil Natural gas Hydro Nuclear Renewables Wind Other 13% 7% 37% 12% 22% 5% 4% 3% 1% 1% 12% 30% 17% 13% 20% 3% Evening peak: February 15, 2015 Coal Oil Natural gas Hydro Nuclear Renewables Wind Other D uring his final year in office, former governor Deval Patrick urged lawmakers to require Massachusetts to get more of its electric- ity from hydropower. His successor has renewed the call. Gov. Charlie Baker filed a bill in 2015 aimed at diversify- ing the state's energy picture and advancing its c l e a n - e n e r g y agenda by bring- ing in more elec- tr icity f rom Quebec's hydro- power plants. Under the bill, Massachusetts' electric distribution companies, with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, would need to solicit cost-effective, long-term contracts for hydropower. Meanwhile, wind and solar would remain part of the state's clean energy mix. The legislation would also allow Massachusetts to partner with other New England states to import hydro- power. The main purpose behind the bill is to help propel the state to a sound- er energy future, officials and observers say, while also cutting emissions. n Baker's push for hydropower Gov. Charlie Baker

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