Energy

Central Massachusetts communities have received roughly $44.3 million in loans and $5.6 million in loan forgiveness grants from the state treasurer to go towards improvements to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, according to a Thursday release from the office of State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, who is also chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust.

Worcester-based Battery Resourcers, a lithium ion battery recycling and manufacturing company, on Wednesday announced its plans to revamp and construct a $43-million plant located in Georgia.

The owner of a wastewater treatment facility, which services commercial properties at The Point shopping mall in Littleton, has been charged a fine of $40,000 for violating groundwater discharge regulations, according to a Wednesday report from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

As it aims for Massachusetts to phase out sales of traditional gas-powered medium- and heavy-duty vehicles over the next three decades, the Baker administration is adopting greenhouse gas emissions standards and regulations from California meant to accelerate the switch to electric vehicles.

Natick renewable energy company SWEB Development has received a $25-million loan from Needham Bank to complete a wind energy project in Maine, according to an announcement by the bank.

Mass Megawatts Wind Power Inc., a wind turbine producer and wind energy vendor headquartered in Worcester, announced it is designing and implementing its patent-pending Solar Tracker during a Dec. 15 press release.

On Monday, Worcester’s Internet service provider, Charter Communications, Inc., announced a new Spectrum Store will open at 68 Stafford St., becoming the second Spectrum location in the city.

Annie E. Fales Elementary School in Westborough, which began classes in November, is one of the first net-positive-energy public schools built in Massachusetts, according to a press release from the architect and the builder.

Framingham renewable energy company Ameresco announced Thursday a partnership with Wales-based Merthyr Tydfil Council, resulting in a $1.45-million energy conservation project.

Clean energy company Ameresco, of Framingham, has completed a lighting project as part of an ongoing project relationship with Hazelwood School District in St. Louis County.