WIND: Federal officials announce an Oct. 29 auction for as much as 13 GW of wind leases in eight areas of the Gulf of Maine. (Portland Press Herald; RTO Insider, subscription)

GRID: Massachusetts’ top court decides not to overturn the state energy siting board’s approval of an East Boston substation, finding the “board’s decision is lawful” despite environmental justice concerns. (RTO Insider, subscription)

SOLAR: Maryland utility regulators will host a Sept. 25 public hearing regarding a 2.25 MW solar facility that would be located on 14 acres of farmland in Sykesville. (Baltimore Sun)

BUILDINGS: 

  • Maine has been able to exceed its heat pump installation goal — and make advocates out of many residents — through its state incentives and use of Inflation Reduction Act funds. (Sierra Magazine)
  • A former Boston zoning commission chair claims he was fired by the city’s mayor because he didn’t support her plan for reducing building climate emissions. (Boston Herald)

TRANSIT: Maine will use a $16.6 million federal grant to upgrade ferry terminals in Islesboro and Lincolnville for hybrid electric ferries, among other improvements. (Bangor Daily News)

EMISSIONS: In New York, a $3 million federal environmental protection grant will be used to buy and install biofilters at closed local landfills to lower methane emissions. (Times Union)

CLIMATE: 

  • In Connecticut, a state lawmaker draws up a proposal to mitigate climate threats to the state’s growing blue economy of water-centric industries. (CT Mirror)
  • Researchers map eelgrass’ steep decline along Maine’s coast as they look to better understand its role in carbon sequestration. (New York Times)

FLOODS: Very few Maine homes are signed up for federally backed flood insurance, leading a state infrastructure commission to wonder if Maine should offer a public option. (Maine Monitor)

AFFORDABILITY: A relatively mild August in Connecticut lowered electric bills for Eversource customers, bringing much-needed financial relief after record midsummer heat. (New Haven Register)

BIOENERGY: A Massachusetts company closes a $5 million seed round it says will advance its gas fermentation tech that turns carbon dioxide, water and electricity into substances including biofuels, a process it licenses from Harvard University. (news release)

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Bridget is a freelance reporter and newsletter writer based in the Washington, D.C., area. She compiles the Northeast Energy News digest. Bridget primarily writes about energy, conservation and the environment. Originally from Philadelphia, she graduated from Emerson College in 2015 with a degree in journalism and a minor in environmental studies. When she isn’t working on a story, she’s normally on a northern Maine lake or traveling abroad to practice her Spanish language skills.