Energy

Worcester financial institution Rollstone Bank & Trust announced Tuesday the hiring of a new executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour would increase costs for about 70 percent of Massachusetts businesses, forcing some to hold off on hiring or consider moving elsewhere, two surveys conducted by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts found.

A $50-million Southborough manufacturer specializing in parts for electric vehicles on Thursday made its case to shareholders to permanently remove its former executive chairman from its board of directors, while he is seeking to replace three of the company's eight directors.

Massachusetts officials plan to use their share of a $500,000 federal grant to put more drivers behind the wheels of electric vehicles over the next two years in a bid to spur sales in that market.

The Baker Administration intends to set energy storage targets for electrical utilities, a move that could fortify a developing industry that state officials believe could store 600 megawatts of power by 2025.

In early 2017, the Baker administration will seek proposals to develop 250 acres in Monson for industrial, agricultural, commercial or residential use.

Worcester Business Journal has opened the nomination window for its annual Business Leaders of the Year awards, which includes three new categories this year.

The Department of Utilities should investigate the profits of electric and gas companies in Massachusetts, focusing especially on the rates of return on equity permitted in rate cases, according to Attorney General Maura Healey.

Hopkinton clean technology provider Solect Energy announced late Tuesday it has completed installation of a 663-kilowatt solar car canopy in the parking lot of Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School.

With Gov. Charlie Baker describing climate change as a "serious threat," the state's clean air agency unveiled draft regulations Friday aimed at securing greenhouse gas emission reductions from the natural gas, transportation and electricity generation industries.