Latest news with #Abergel
Boston Globe
22-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Hydro-Quebec shut off the spigots for New England power in March and hasn't turned them back on. Why?
The lack of Canadian hydropower isn't a reliability issue for us — not yet, anyway. But the surprisingly long dry spell out of Hydro-Quebec should serve as a warning to New England policy makers that the days of cheap, plentiful, low-carbon power from the north hitting the spot market are no longer guaranteed. A big power line under construction for Massachusetts, dubbed Related : Advertisement The utility, which is owned by the Quebec government, made the move amid tensions between the Trump administration and Canadian leaders over tariffs. So the shutoff's timing raised more than a few eyebrows — at least on this side of the border. Tensions have since eased with Mark Carney's election to prime minister, and it's looking increasingly likely Hydro-Quebec's electricity wouldn't get hit with a Trump tariff anyway. No surprise, then, that Hydro-Quebec says this unusual shutoff is about market dynamics, not politics. The company says it simply can't sell power profitably into New England right now, given the relatively low prices on the wholesale market. Quebec Advertisement Hydro-Quebec did send a bit of electricity here this spring, but essentially only to meet contractual obligations, not to compete in the wholesale market as it usually does. On most days, no power at all flowed here over the main line; an ISO New England spokesman says that line typically provides 1,000 to 1,600 megawatts of electricity to the region, enough power for more than one million homes; it was sending plenty of juice into the region as recently as February when prices were much higher. How important is it? The grid overseer Serge Abergel, Hydro-Quebec's US chief operating officer, says he expects Hydro-Quebec will return to the New England market after the temps heat up and the air conditioners start humming. Sure as the season, demand for electricity will drive up wholesale electric prices and make it more profitable to sell here. Advertisement Hydro-Quebec's US chief operating officer says he expects Hydro-Quebec will return to the New England market after the temps heat up and the air conditioners start humming. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff This spring is different, Abergel said, for two reasons: Hydro-Quebec's reservoirs were lower than average following two years of warmth and limited rainfall, and are being replenished. Meanwhile, the company needs to ensure it can keep the lights on in its home province while also meeting the demands spelled out in two big contracts that kick in over the next year — one for the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) line through western Maine, and another for a parallel line going up in New York. The full effect of the spring thaw won't be seen for another few weeks, but Abergel says Hydro-Quebec officials are hoping for a return to more normal conditions this summer. To Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association, the Hydro-Quebec shutoff confirms his original concern that the new transmission line that Avangrid is building for Massachusetts through Maine might not lead to a net increase in hydropower imports into the region, as originally intended. Governor Maura Healey has repeatedly stressed the importance of the NECEC line to the regional grid's reliability and efforts to curb carbon emissions. But Dolan says that goal can only hold true if the power line adds to the historical Hydro-Quebec flows, instead of replacing them. Otherwise, Dolan warns that Avangrid could be Advertisement The energy company and the trade group The increased access between the Canadian and New England markets should help flatten price spikes, he said. Plus, the line helps with fuel diversity, an important contribution given New England's reliance on natural gas. The Healey administration remains steadfast about NECEC's value amid this hydropower dry spell. A spokeswoman said it will reduce electricity prices, provide reliability in the winter, and improve public health here. Still, hydropower consultant Robert McCullough says the extended shutoff could be a sign of troubling trends in Quebec. He's beginning to wonder if the droughts and resulting low reservoir levels will continue — contrary to the company's stated hopes that more normal conditions are on the way. Hydro-Quebec, he says, underinvested for years in its own power infrastructure, and is now racing to keep up. Richard Levitan, an energy consultant in Boston, says it's sensible that Hydro-Quebec is conserving its resources in light of the fact it has been drier than normal this past winter, and springtime demand in New England is low. It's understandable why the company doesn't open the floodgates into a 'down market.' The spigot has been predictably tightened, in his view, not closed. But if one of our big power plants or major transmission lines isn't available this summer at a time when electricity demand in New England is high, Levitan says he would be concerned about reliability if exports from Quebec don't pick up. Advertisement Tapping into Quebec's hydropower was once seen on Beacon Hill as a smart way for Massachusetts to help fight global warming. Ironic, then, that prolonged stretches of warmer weather could cause the sources of that power to start drying up. Jon Chesto can be reached at
South China Morning Post
11-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Dish in Focus: Sweetcorn tempura at Yardbird
Yakitori restaurant Yardbird has garnered a cult following among Hongkongers since its opening in 2011. Known for its extensive menu of more than 20 types of skewers – grilling local 'three-yellow chicken' from neck to knee and tendon to tail – the Sheung Wan izakaya was once identified on weekends by its queue outside due to its walk-in-only policy. Advertisement Rest assured, tables can now be booked, but that hasn't stopped diners from spilling out of Yardbird's doors. Owned and operated by entrepreneur Lindsay Jang and chef Matt Abergel, Yardbird is a family-style neighbourhood restaurant that combines quality food with good drinks, great service, and a fun and friendly environment. Yardbird is a family-style neighbourhood restaurant that combines quality food with good drinks, great service, and a fun and friendly environment. Photo: Handout The restaurant might be centred around chicken, as its 2018 Chicken and Charcoal cookbook suggests, but for those on the hunt for veggie dishes, Yardbird doesn't disappoint. Its menu also consists of rice and noodles, soup, smaller sharing dishes (like the Yardbird caesar or eggplant salad) and bigger sides. This is where the famous sweetcorn tempura can be found, and it's a good representation of Yardbird's signature style, says co-founder Abergel. Abergel describes their way of cooking as 'using good techniques to let people taste an ingredient in its fullest essence'. This is exactly what the tempura delivers. Matt Abergel, chef and co-founder of Yardbird. Photo: Handout Using fresh sweetcorn sourced locally, the kernels are cut from the cob using a circular Japanese technique called marugiri. 'This allows us to take off the corn from the cob without too much of the juice getting out and without taking the bottom of the kernel, to avoid it popping in the oil,' Abergel explains. Advertisement Mixed and made to order, the cut corn is then simply coated in flour and combined with small amounts of tempura batter until sticky. 'We then cover our hands in flour and form about 110g of corn into a ball, and drop it directly into a 180-degree fryer. We fry for about two and a half minutes until golden brown on the outside and just cooked on the inside. We then season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately!'
