Gulf of Maine wind lease auction announced

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)