12/22/2020
City wins brownfields grants for solar farm sites
WOONSOCKET – The city recently received $484,400 in brownfields remediation grants for cleanup at three polluted sites around the city, including two sites proposed for reuse as solar farms.
The largest grant was $292,800 for the redevelopment of the former Seville Dye property on First Avenue. The funds will be used to install a bioventing remedial system on the city-owned site to address petroleum-impacted soils. The city has proposed a 1.5-megawatt solar array for the site.
Another grant of $100,000 was awarded for site preparation at 92–176 Sunnyside Ave, two adjacent former industrial parcels the city has also proposed for reuse as a solar farm.
12/22/2020
National Grid says more power outages are in north Cumberland
Two arrows show the areas of Cumberland, in the vicinity of Nate Whipple Highway, with the most power outages.
CUMBERLAND – An analysis provided to Cumberland Mayor Jeff Mutter by National Grid shows that the town has endured a total of 560 power outage events since January of 2018, impacting 122,028 customers.
This year has seen the most outages of the three, at 218, states the report. There were 193 outages in 2018 and 149 outages in 2019.
The most outages, according to National Grid, are happening in north Cumberland, and the area just south of Route 295, running along Bear Hill Road and Angell Road, isn’t far behind.
A Final 2020 DMR Update from Commissioner Keliher
As 2020 slowly draws to a close, I’d like to share with you one last monthly update on the work of Maine DMR before we close the books on a year of challenges. Pat.
Policy and Management Bureau
The New England Fishery Management Council met on December 1-3 via webinar. Much of the current work of the Council is focused on identifying specifications for fishing year 2021, including catch limits for the federal scallop, whiting, and spiny dogfish fisheries. The Council did take final action on groundfish catch limits for FY2021 as a part of Framework 61. The Council will continue work on Framework 61 in January when it is slated to take final action on a redfish universal sector exemption.
Governors Wind Energy Coalition
3 states, D.C. agree to cap automobile emissions Source: By Maxine Joselow, E&E News reporter • Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Three states and the District of Columbia yesterday reached a historic agreement to cap planet-warming emissions from cars.
The memorandum of understanding among Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Washington marks a milestone in the yearslong process of launching the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program, a proposed cap-and-invest system for cars in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
Advocates hailed the agreement as a watershed moment in state climate policy, noting that transportation accounts for more than 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in the region.
Patrick Keliher
Patrick Keliher (Photo courtesy Maine Dept. of Marine Resources)
Policy and Management Bureau
The New England Fishery Management Council met on December 1-3 via webinar. Much of the current work of the Council is focused on identifying specifications for fishing year 2021, including catch limits for the federal scallop, whiting, and spiny dogfish fisheries. The Council did take final action on groundfish catch limits for FY2021 as a part of Framework 61. The Council will continue work on Framework 61 in January when it is slated to take final action on a redfish universal sector exemption.
DMR has been auditing the data collected through the CARES Act application process. As we said in a recent email to industry, we received more than 2700 applications and appeals. We have confirmed the eligibility of the majority of applicants and we anticipate that ASMFC will mail checks to this group this week. The arrival of the checks will depend on how the Christmas seas