STATE HOUSE — House lawmakers voted near unanimously on Wednesday to diversify the state's state energy mix by requiring utilities to solicit and enter into long-term contracts for large-scale hydroelectric and offshore wind power as part of a strategy to reduce the state's reliance on natural gas and meet its carbon emission reduction mandates.
The bill would require utilities to solicit contract proposals spanning 15 to 20 years for roughly 1,200 megawatts of hydropower and 1,200 megawatts of offshore wind energy, subject to state approval.
BOSTON — As University of Massachusetts officials take an extra month to decide on student charges for the next school year, they plan to advocate for additional state funding.
The university system's Administration and Finance Committee on Wednesday agreed to defer a planned vote on tuition and fees until a July meeting, after UMass President Marty Meehan suggested the decision be put on hold until the state's fiscal 2017 budget is finalized. State budget writers face a July 1 deadline.
