Volume 9 | October 30, 2018

Governor Phil Scott: “Strong Relationship with Canada Remains Critically Important”
I n the Northeastern United States, the relationship with our neighbors in Canada is a vital part of our economy and culture. For more than two centuries, we’ve grown together.  

Since 1993, Canada has been the U.S.’s fifth-largest source of foreign capital. We’ve seen a boom in travel and tourism: By 2011, Canadians were making 21 million trips to the U.S. and spending $24 billion – every year.

Offshore Wind Energy Ramps Up in Northeast
Ørsted Acquires Deepwater Wind

Denmark's largest energy company, Orsted, has agreed to purchase Rhode Island based Deepwater Wind through an agreement with D.E. Shaw Group for $510 million. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. The name of the new organization will be Ørsted US Offshore Wind.

Proposed Commercial Wind Leases Offshore Massachusetts

The Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold an auction for proposed commercial wind leases offshore Massachusetts in December for nearly 390,000 acres. The area being considered has the potential for approximately 4.1 gigawatts of commercial wind generation.  

Northeast Committee on the Environment Meeting
By Lana Bluege, Regional Program Coordinator
Coalition of Northeastern Governors
On October 24th the New England environmental commissioners and invited guests met in Portsmouth, NH at the Pease Field Office to discuss regional efforts on various environmental topics and best practices. Due to the history of the Pease Tradeport, it was only natural to discuss Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the compound that has been an important topic in regional and national conversations due to various cases of water contamination.

2018 Ballot Measures
There are over a dozen ballot measures in the Northeast states for the upcoming general election. A measure in Connecticut includes a transportation lock box amendment that would prohibit lawmakers from using the state transportation fund for anything other than transportation purposes. Maine has a transportation bond measure on the ballot that would support authorizing $106 million in general obligation bonds for transportation infrastructure projects. In Rhode Island, there is an Environment, Recreation, and Water Infrastructure Bond measure that would authorize $47.3 million in bonds for environmental, water, and recreational projects.
News from the States
 Connecticut
Gov. Malloy Announces Completion of New Train Station in Berlin Serving the Hartford Line

CTDOT announces completion of a second rail track on the CTRAIL Hartford line between Hartford and Windsor

Massachusetts
Vineyard Wind signs $9 million lease at New Bedford commerce pier (Vineyard Wind)

After Mass. gas explosions, a race to replace nearly 45 miles of aging pipeline before winter sets in (Washington Post)

New Hampshire

Democratic lawmakers push renewable energy strategy (Union Leader)
Regional and Federal Updates
Northeast deploys relief to Hurricane damaged region
Connecticut-based relief groups send help as hurricane hits Florida (News 12 CT)
 
More Red Cross volunteers from Conn . to help Hurricane Michael victims (New Haven Register)
 
Governor Baker Authorizes MEMA to Send Emergency Workers to Florida to Assist with Hurricane Michael Response & Recovery
 
Mass. sending three-person response team to Fla . to help with hurricane response (Boston Globe)
 
NY National Guard deploys Army and Air assets to support Hurricane Michael response (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

The Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG ) is a non-partisan association of the Northeast states. CONEG encourages intergovernmental cooperation on issues affecting the economic, social and environmental well-being of the Northeast. CONEG coordinates regional efforts by the Governors and their Administrations. 
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