Energy

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.

Unitil Corp., which provides power to business and residential customers in Ashby, Fitchburg, Lunenburg and Townsend, reported earnings of $21.6 million for the year, and $10.3 million for the fourth quarter which ended Dec. 31, representing respective increases of $3.5 million and $1.3 million.

Gov. Deval Patrick has joined with New England's other governors in asking ISO-New England to support expanded infrastructure for clean-energy electricity and natural gas.

AMSC has agreed to set aside $10 million to settle claims that it artificially inflated its financial results between July 2010 and July 2011, according to court filings.

Manufacturers based in North Central Massachusetts will now have new access to renewable electricity, thanks to a new contract between the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. (NCMDC) and Nugen Capital Management LLC to generate net metering credits from a new solar facility to be built in Lunenburg.

A fuel cell company that counts Apple, Staples, Verizon and other big companies among its energy clients appealed to Massachusetts lawmakers Wednesday for help deploying what they called “the next generation of energy technology.”