NEMWI discusses a compelling energy generation option for anchor institutions within the region's older industrial cities in its new report "New Energy for Older Cities: District Energy, Combined Heat and Power, and the Northeast-Midwest Region's Older Industrial Cities." District energy (DE) and combined heat and power (CHP) are efficient approaches to energy generation and distribution that fit uniquely well with the needs, circumstances, and revitalization aspirations of older industrial cities. Specifically, DE/CHP can capitalize on the physical concentration of buildings, people, and services in urban cores, delivering much-needed cost-savings, a reliable energy supply, and environmental benefits to cities and their major institutions. Despite an improving policy context, those wishing to develop DE/CHP still face utility-related, financial, and policy obstacles. The report summarizes existing literature and reports findings from a case study of a DE provider in Cleveland, Ohio in order to: explain the opportunities that DE/CHP systems can afford older industrial cities; describe the policy context surrounding DE/CHP development; and suggest policy changes that would best facilitate the wider adoption of DE/CHP.

For more information contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. 

On October 3, Mayor Francis Slay represented the NEMWI Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative (MRCTI) as a guest on NPR's national radio show "Talk of the Nation." Mayor Slay emphasized that the mayors along the Mississippi River are coming together around common challenges and opportunities that the river offers. MRCTI's Chair asserted that there is common ground among the various competing interests on the waterway and that MRCTI can help broker those relationships. Those interested in listening to the broadcast can link to the podcast here and click-on "Planning for a Sustainable Mississippi River."

For more information contact Colin Wellenkamp, Director, Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. 

NEMWI welcomes Ms. Danielle Chesky to the NEMWI team as the new Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program (GLWP). Danielle will replace Ms. Leah Konrady, who departed for business school last month. The GLWP helps support the work of the bi-partisan Senate and House Great Lakes Task Forces through sponsoring balanced briefings and other staff informational services, and researching federal policy options and funding needs for programs that contribute to a clean environment, strong economy, and high qualify of life in the Great Lakes basin. Danielle comes to NEMWI after working as a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow in the Senate and as a Legislative and Fishery Management Coordinator with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

For more information contact Danielle Chesky, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $120 million in High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program funding to the State of Connecticut to improve train service in the Hartford area for the New Haven to Springfield branch of the Northeast Corridor. The project funds 10 miles of double tracking, signal upgrades, 28 grade crossing improvements, and 13 bridge or culvert repairs and replacements.  Four stations on the line will receive high-level platforms. These improvements will increase the daily train capacity from six to 17; they are part of a larger program to increase capacity to 25 trains run at 79-90 mph on the segment and to improve the the country's busiest train route, which serves most Northeastern States. The full DOT press release can be viewed here.

For more information contact Fritz Ohrenschall, Research Associate at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.