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Weekly Newsflash: Boston Innovation, Startup Funding, Solar Net Metering and More

There were quite a few important events in the solar power, local entrepreneurship and cleantech investment sectors this week! We’re particularly proud of the exciting news and coverage a few of our member companies announced and received. 🙂  Please share other interesting articles with us at @GreentownLabs

Boston Globe: Home-Power Monitor Startup Sense Lands $14m

Sense Labs Inc., a Greentown Labs member company that promises to give consumers detailed information about power usage in their homes, has secured $14 million in investments from big energy companies, including Shell Technology Ventures and Energy Impact Partners.

Boston Globe: Bill Nye is Coming Back to your TV Screen

Famed scientist, author and TV personality Bill Nye is set to host a new Netflix series that will focus on a variety of topics including climate change, vaccinations and genetically modified foods.

Boston Herald: Utilities Jolted by Boston Boom

Eversource and National Grid are jolted by the increasing demand for power in South Boston. Providing enough energy to the booming South Boston area and preparing for massive storm activity are among the top priorities for these two local natural gas suppliers.

Clean Technica: New Hampshire Sticks With Solar Net Metering, Which Voters Support

New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan joins ReVision Energy co-founder Phil Coupe for a ceremonial signing of the state’s solar energy bill.

MIT EI: GE Joins MIT Energy Initiative to Develop Advanced Technology Solutions for Transforming Global Energy Systems

General Electric (GE) commits $7.5 million in research funding to Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Energy Initiative (MITEI) to develop clean energy technologies.

MIT Technology Review: How Natalya Brikner Became a Rocket Scientist and CEO Before 30

Natalya Brikner, CEO of Greentown Labs’ member company, Accion Systems, has an incredibly impressive resume, all before she turns 30. She’s currently securing the company’s first commercial orders for its technology-propulsion systems for tiny satellites.

Scout Somerville: Bright Ideas: Solarize Somerville Helps Property Owners Make the Solar Switch

Solarize Somerville, funded through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), helps property owners make the transition to solar.

Xconomy: With Cash From Generac & Others, Tank Utility Makes Fuel Tanks Smart

Greentown Labs’ member company Tank Utility has raised a $2.2 million seed funding round led by Energy Foundry and Blue Fog Capital, with contributions from Generac Power Systems, Bolt, and several individual investors.

Vox: The Eastern US Could Get a Third of its Power from Renewables Within 10 Years. Theoretically.

According to a new study, the power grid in the Eastern US has the capacity to accommodate 30 percent of its power from renewable energy sources within 10 years.

Washington Post: At Lake Tahoe, Obama Calls on U.S. to Confront Climate-Change Threat

President Barack Obama stressed the the importance of confronting and curbing climate change Wednesday at an annual environmental summit in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

WW LP: Beaton: Massachusetts “Not Strong-Arming Anyone” in Emissions Talks

Massachusetts Energy Secretary Matthew Beaton favors more aggressive targets to reduce carbon emissions, but acknowledges that different regional economic circumstances will impact how fast they can be reached.