Volume 38 | November 12, 2021
Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Passes the House, Reconciliation Bill Still Being Debated
On November 5, 2021, the US House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3654, IIJA). Considered a generational investment in our country’s infrastructure, the bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 228-206, and is off to President Biden’s desk for signing.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented “Congress passed the most significant investment in jobs and infrastructure in my lifetime. This is a remarkable achievement. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, along with the Build Back Better Framework, will deliver generational investments in the economy for working people. The infrastructure bill will rebuild and replace infrastructure that is decades, or even a century, old. It will promote safety, help us combat the climate crisis, and advance equitable access to transportation.”
U.S. Lifts Border Restrictions – Allows International Air Travel
The Biden Administration has lifted border restrictions for land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico, and a host of other countries for air travel (mostly Europe) to fully vaccinated travelers on November 8. This comes several months after Canada reopened its borders. Unvaccinated visitors will still be barred from entering the United States from Canada or Mexico at land borders. The reopening effectively signals a new phase in the recovery since restrictions were put in place in March 2020. 

Travelers entering the U.S. will be questioned by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers about their vaccination status before being allowed to cross. CBP officers will have discretion to send travelers to secondary screenings for their documents to be checked, but there will be no testing requirement for those crossing the land borders.
Canada Grid Releases New Report

Canada Grid has released a new report highlighting the positive economic impacts of grid integration in the Canadian-American northeast. Authored by Pierre-Olivier Pineau and Aïssatou Ba of HEC Montreal, this is the first in a series of reports exploring how to grow and green Canada's power grid. The findings demonstrate that deeper grid integration between eastern Canada, New York and New England would greatly reduce the need for additional production capacity, saving consumers billions of dollars per year across the region.
News from the States
Connecticut

Governor Lamont Advises Residents of Connecticut’s Efforts To Mitigate Impact of Global Increase in Energy Costs

Maine
Governor’s Energy Office releases guide to help Maine people save money and stay warm this winter

Maine Delegation and Governor Mills Urge Commerce Secretary to Rescind Right Whale Rule and Protect Lobster Fishery
 
Massachusetts
Baker-Polito Administration Announces Over $66 Million in MassWorks Funding

Baker shifts thinking on offshore wind - Calls for major infrastructure investment, end to price cap (Commonwealth Magazine)
 
New Hampshire
New Hampshire will receive $300,000 in federal funds for climate resiliency projects, including future coastal flood risk assessments. (Center Square)
 
No. 1 red-listed bridge in NH: Shaheen touts infrastructure bill in Hampton (Seacoastonline)
New York

Governor Hochul Announces Construction Start at Largest Green Hydrogen Plant in North America
 
Rhode Island
Governor McKee Submits Plan for Rhode Island Rebounds: Immediate Investments in Rhode Island’s Families, Workers and Small Businesses
 
McKee Administration to convene EC4 and take up historic Act on Climate law, putting RI on the clock for meeting carbon reduction goals

Vermont
Governor Scott Announces Selection of Canadian Trade and Business Representative As Border Reopens

Governor Phil Scott Announces Release of ARPA Funds for Home Weatherization Efforts
Regional and Federal Updates

EIA expects volatile natural gas prices this winter because of uncertainty about weather (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
 
Amtrak CEO outlines plans for spending $66 billion from infrastructure funding (NBC News)
 
After Maine voters approved a ballot measure to block the Central Maine Power’s transmission line, Business leaders wonder if New England can build the energy infrastructure needed to meet its climate goals (Commonwealth Magazine)
 
U.S., Canada among 20 countries to commit to stop financing fossil fuels abroad (Reuters)
Did you know?

EIA predicts that nearly half of U.S. households that heat primarily with natural gas will spend 30% more than they spent last winter on average.