Around New England

Maine Republican U.S. Rep Appeals To Fed Court, Challenges ‘Ranked-Voting’

Bill Gnade

In a potential landmark case regarding the federal legality of "ranked-voting," U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Maine Republican, has petitioned a federal appeals court to issue an injunction before the results of his election loss in November are certified by the Maine Secretary of State and his opponent is sworn in.

Poliquin filed a brief for the injunction in the US Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston after a U.S. District Court judge in Maine last week rejected his claims the state's 2016 ranked-voting law was unconstitutional.

Around New England

Auction of ‘Wind Lots’ Off Massachusetts Coast Nets Record $405 Million

Bill Gnade

In what is described as the "highest grossing competitive lease sale for renewable energy in federal waters," the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management  have announced an auction of offshore Massachusetts "wind lots" has netted "$405 million in winning bids."

According to a press release from Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management acting director Walter Cruickshank, the December 14 auction of acreage suitable for the installation of electricity-producing wind turbines "could support approximately 4.1 gigawatts" of electrical energy that could power "nearly 1.5 million homes."

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