Environment

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.

Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston is nearing completion of a $15-million construction project aimed at widening its audience, and will debut its new renovations on Nov. 26.

As more of the world becomes dependent upon lithium ion batteries to power electric vehicles and battery storage systems for the electric grid, Worcester energy technology company Battery Resourcers has developed ways to recycle spent batteries and avoid the costs and environmental impact of mining for lithium and other battery materials.

The Town of Sturbridge was one of eight municipalities in the state to receive funding from a $1.15-million grant allotted by the Gov. Charlie Baker Administration for waterway pollution control, according to a Tuesday press release from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

Alden Research Laboratory, Inc. announced it will be joining Miami-based private investment firm Round Table Capital Partners as it sold its Holden headquarters to RTC for $2.7 million.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced sweeping legislation Wednesday to reshape the way Massachusetts procures offshore wind power, proposing to use $750 million in federal stimulus funds to establish a clean energy investment fund and jettisoning the requirement that each project carries a lower price than the one that came before it.

Vertically integrated lithium ion battery recycling and manufacturing company Battery Resourcers, based in Worcester, announced on Tuesday it has raised $70 million at the closing of its latest mid-round funding.

With regulations ready to take effect that effectively close about 90 percent of the state's land area to new wood-burning power generation facilities, Springfield-area lawmakers on Monday pushed for legislation that would more permanently eliminate state clean energy program subsidies for biomass anywhere in the Bay State.

Stephen Pike is leaving the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for the private sector at the end of the week, churning up turnover at a quasi-independent agency that figures to play a central role in the state's efforts to combat climate change.

Available federal resources create an opportunity for Massachusetts to undertake "transformational" work on climate and environmental issues, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday as he again pitched his plan for spending a portion of the state's American Rescue Plan Act allocation.