Volume 26 | June 1, 2020

Governors Create Advisory Boards and Begin to Outline Plans for Phased Reopening

As the region enters the third month of shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Northeast governors have begun to announce their plans for a phased reopening of their state economies. Several governors have formed Advisory Boards, comprised of health officials, business leaders, and state and local government officials, to study how and when states can safely reopen. Some of the key segments the boards will focus on over the next several months include public health, economic impact, education, and community support. The governors continue to collaborate with each other to ensure a smooth regional recovery strategy.
Governors from seven Northeast states have announced a multi-state agreement to develop a regional supply chain for PPE and Medical Equipment. Read more here and here .

Governor Cuomo and Governor Hogan Call on Congress to Act on State Fiscal Relief
 
Additionally, Governors Cuomo, Murphy, Lamont, and Carney Announce Multi-state Agreement on Beaches Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend.

FEMA Advisory: COVID-19 Regional By the Numbers (May 19, 2020)
Trump’s Food Aid Program Gives Little Funding to the Northeast, Where Coronavirus Hit Hardest
“Out of $1.2 billion in the program’s first round, just $46 million is going to the Northeast. The region, which encompasses New York and New England, has the most coronavirus cases but received the least money of any region except the Mountain Plains, which has almost half as many people.

Put another way, the Northeast has 10% of the country’s population and 33% of COVID-19 cases but is receiving only 4% of food relief dollars, according to ProPublica’s analysis of data from the USDA, the Census Bureau and Johns Hopkins University.“
House Passes $3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Package

 The U.S. House passed a $3 trillion coronavirus relief package ( dubbed the HEROES Act ) that would provide additional aid to state and local
The impact of COVID-19 around the globe and particularly in our region has created some unique challenges for everyone. With expert opinions about a potential second wave during flu season anticipated to start up around the time of the scheduled 2020 NEG/ECP Annual Conference in September, the co-hosts
News from the States
 Connecticut
Governor Lamont Reminds Connecticut Residents of June 1 Deadline to Apply for Home Heating Assistance

$400 Million Connecticut River Railroad Bridge Replacement Takes a Step Forward, Design Details Announced (CT Examiner)

 Maine
Janet Mills asks feds to drop jurisdiction over Down East dam (Bangor Daily News)

Maine DEP issues permit for the Clean Energy Connect project

Massachusetts
Mass. transportation chief is seeing the ‘ beginning of travel ’ (Boston Globe)

FMCB approves $159-million contract for MBTA’s South Coast Rail Main Line construction (Mass Transit)

New Hampshire
Governor Chris Sununu sent a letter to New Hampshire Business and Industry Association

COVID-19 Costing N.H. Jobs In Energy Efficiency , But Advocates See Hope For Recovery ( NHPR)
 New York
Governor Cuomo calls for Canada-to-New York City power line to deliver clean energy (Financial Post)

New York to include small combustion turbines in annual carbon emission limits (Utility Dive)

Rhode Island
Island community’s energy transition continues with efficiency plan (Energy News)

State renews initiative to expand solar energy on brownfields

Vermont
VTrans continues monitoring border traffic (Brattleboro Reformer)

Wood heat pits ‘ environmentalists against environmentalists ’ in Vermont (Energy Action Network)
Regional and Federal Updates
Multi-user US offshore grid could 'save $1 billion' (reNEWS)

Treasury grants wind and solar developers pandemic relief (Washington Examiner)

49 of 50 governors have better coronavirus poll numbers than Trump - CONEG Governors dominate top 10 (Washington Post)

Amtrak sends letter to Congress seeking additional $1.5 B to maintain minimal service levels for FY21 (Amtrak)
 

State DOTs Would Get $15B In Phase 4 COVID-19 Bill (AASHTO Journal)
Did you know?

4,141 National Guard troops were activated for COVID-19 response in the New England Region Under Title 32 orders. In New York, more than 3,635 troops were mobilized.

Source: FEMA Region 1 (New England) & Military Times (New York)