Environment

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.

Following several weeks of increases, Massachusetts prices are up 8 cents from a month ago ($2.94) and 89 cents from the same day last year ($2.13).

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on Friday announced it assessed a $40,280 penalty against Dynamic Cleaning, Inc. of Plainville for asbestos regulation violations.

Gasoline prices in Massachusetts increased three cents this week to an average of $2.98 per gallon of regular unleaded, according to a Monday report from the travel association AAA Northeast.

The Sheth Sangreal Foundation of Austin awarded a five-year, $1-million grant to the Discovery Museum in Acton to support the museum’s sustainability and inclusivity efforts.

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline remained the same as last week at $2.95 per gallon, according to a report Monday from the travel association AAA Northeast.

The Worcester Business Center has begun a 25-year lease agreement with Green Street Power Partners of Connecticut to build a 2 megawatt, 2.6-acre carport canopy solar array in the parking lot of its office space complex.

The average gasoline price in Massachusetts on Monday increased 5 cents from last week, which comes a week after it rose 6 cents per gallon, according to a report from travel association AAA Northeast.