New England

The Plainfield Renewable Energy Biomass Project, a proposed power plant in Connecticut owned by Atlanta-based Enova Energy Group, this week received a guarantee of funding to move ahead to the construction phase.

Earlier this week U.S. energy giant NRG Energy Inc. said it is putting its entire offshore wind development "on hold" and closing the offices of its subsidiary Bluewater Wind.

Offshore wind developer Deepwater Wind has submitted plans with the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to build a utility scale wind farm of the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The Vermont Department of Public Service this week released a draft of an ambitious Comprehensive Energy Plan aimed at seeing the state get 90% of its power from renewable energy sources by 2050, up from its 25% goal set in 2008.

Nothing like good timing. In the midst of continuous political discourse about clean energy and job creation, the winners of the i6 Challenge have been announced - along with $12 Million in funding from the Obama Administration. 

With four utility-scale wind projects already online and another two currently being built, Maine is on track to pass what is viewed as a crucial milestone—of having 200 installed wind turbines—as it moves toward its legislated goal of reaching 2,000 megawatts of wind-power generation by 2015, according to published reports.

Fortis Inc. (TSE: FTS.TO), the largest investor-owned distribution utility in Canada, said Monday it was acquiring Central Vermont Public Service Corp. (NYSE: CV), the largest electricity utility in Vermont, for approximately $700 million. Fortis also announced a Canadian common share offering of C$300.3 million (May 31 exchange rate U.S.$1.00 = C$0.97) that would also raise an additional C$45 million if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full.

Power and gas utility Dominion Resources, Inc. (NYSE: D) said today it has received regulatory approval to close two of the four units at its Salem Harbor Power Station in Salem, Massachusetts, by the end of the 2011 and plans to retire all four units on June 1, 2014, because pending environmental regulations and market conditions are making the power station uneconomical to operate.

Here are the Top 10 Renewable Energy News Stories You May Have Missed this Week:

It seems that these days the Department of Energy (DOE) announces funding for new energy technologies every day.