Energy News Roundup: June 4-June 10

This week in regional energy news …

• The EPA has granted clean air awards to two New England environmental education programs—one from the Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission and another from the Cape Cod Commission in Massachusetts.
• The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a New England Offshore Wind Update, including information on the status of the Cape Wind and Block Island Wind Farm projects.  The update also discusses the Offshore Wind Feasibility Study, which UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center and the DeepCwind Consortium have worked on for four years.
• In a Press Herald opinion piece, Angus King speaks out on the importance of, and economics of, wind power.
• The proposed merger of NStar and Northeast Utilities, which will be the subject of Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities hearings next month, is expected to give the merged entity substantial political influence in New England.
• Four New Hampshire biomass plants could shut down if they are unable to secure power purchase agreements with Public Service of New Hampshire.
• With its conservation incentives, Efficiency Maine has given some Maine businesses an economic advantage, but politics may affect the program’s future.