Energy

Massachusetts could provide a route for more natural gas to flow into other New England states, just as the Bay State seeks electrical lines running through northern states to import wind or hydroelectric power from Canada.

Massachusetts had the fourth-highest number of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in 2013, contributing to a record year for the solar energy industry, with installations nationwide increasing 41 percent compared to 2012.

As snow's piled up around North Central Massachusetts, some residents have found a good reason to be pleased with winter conditions: power outages have been only a minor inconvenience. That's something many local businesses and residents have not taken for granted since the ice storm that hit the region in December 2008.

After agreeing to a plan allowing a new local option water surcharge, the Senate unanimously passed legislation Thursday aimed at addressing some of the unmet funding needs for water infrastructure projects in Massachusetts.

(From Feb. 17 print edition) An influx of new technology has left companies scrambling to determine how best to dispose of outdated machines and the information contained within them.

Once upon a time, if you wanted to make things in North Central Massachusetts, you built your mill on a river, or dug a canal, and took advantage of a natural power source. Today, some local manufacturers still do something similar, using hydropower, solar or wind power on site, but, for the most part, plants have to buy their electricity off the grid.

Framingham-based Gulf Electricity announced Wednesday it will expand its consumer and small business electric service to the five boroughs of New York City and Westchester County.

Devens-based AMSC narrowed its losses in the third quarter ending Dec. 31, according to an earnings statement, while revenue increased due to growth in the clean energy firm's wind segment.

Framingham-based Ameresco was awarded a $15.7 million contract Friday by New Mexico State University to improve energy efficiency in 46 of its buildings.

Lithium-ion battery maker A123 Energy Solutions, which has operations in Westborough and Hopkinton, announced Wednesday a contract to supply, install and commission a 1-megawatt energy storage system in Japan.