Massachusetts grants aim to expand electric vehicle adoption

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Massachusetts awards $1.4 million in grants to promising initiatives to spread wider adoption of electric vehicles and reduce transportation emissions. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:
• An income-tiered electric car-sharing program will begin in a Boston neighborhood by the end of the year. (Daily Free Press)
• The first two electric buses supported by the Connecticut transportation department are unveiled in a ceremony in Bridgeport. (HamletHub)

EMISSIONS: A new poll shows growing support in New York for carbon pricing on emissions when more information is provided about the concept. (Albany Times Union) 

UTILITIES:
• Maryland utilities will begin sending shut-off notices on Oct. 1 as a COVID-19 moratorium ends, with service allowed to end on Nov. 15 or later. (WMDT)
• Advocates in Maine begin the process to place a petition on the state ballot to create a publicly owned utility after legislation promoting the same concept stalled this year. (Maine Public)

CLIMATE: State officials from Connecticut and Massachusetts say a partnership with the federal government is needed for them to meet their decarbonization goals. (RTO Insider, subscription required)

OIL & GAS:
• A federal judge allows a suit in Rhode Island to continue as plaintiffs allege Shell did not protect an oil storage tank from storm surges related to climate change. (E&E News, subscription required)
• Pennsylvania legislators hold a hearing to express optimism about recently enacted tax credits for manufacturers using natural gas drilled in the state. (WFMZ)

SOLAR: An energy trading organization procures 50 MW of solar for the 20 municipal electric power systems it serves in the Northeast. (news release)

COMMENTARY: A state senator and a financier back proposed legislation in New Jersey to divest fossil fuel assets from the state pension fund as the sector now offers poor returns. (NJ.com)