Dean’s Beans releases Nice Nitro

ORANGE — Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Co. recently introduced Nice Nitro — a creamy, chocolatey brew with nitro infusion sold in recyclable aluminum cans.

“Here at Dean’s Beans, we are hyper-focused on delicious coffee made in a way that promotes equity for those in the supply chain, and that protects and renews our environment,” Beth Spong, chief operating officer at Dean’s Beans, said in a statement. “With Nice Nitro, we’ve struck the perfect balance: nice to the planet and nice to your palate.”

Nice Nitro, like all Dean’s Beans coffees, is 100% organic and fair trade. It is available at select retailers in Massachusetts.

MassHire holding job fair at Frontier

SOUTH DEERFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center will hold a job fair at Frontier Regional School on Wednesday, April 19, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Employers in attendance include Berkshire East Mountain Resort, Behavioral Health Network, Bete Fog Nozzle, Community Action Pioneer Valley, F.M. Kuzmeskus Inc., Greenfield Savings Bank, L.S. Starrett, McGovern Auto Group and Pelican Products, to name a few.

For more information, visit masshirefhcareers.org. Advance registration is not required.

Applications available for MassTech Intern Partnership program

Applications for the 2023 edition of the MassTech Intern Partnership are now available, helping qualified Massachusetts technology companies hire local students as summer interns by providing stipends up to $3,200 per year, per intern. Managed by the Innovation Institute at the MassTech Collaborative, the program has awarded more than $3.5 million in stipends to support more than 1,200 summer interns at tech firms across the state since 2013.

To be eligible to participate, companies must be headquartered in Massachusetts, have 250 or fewer employees, hire an eligible intern this summer, and pay the intern as a W-2 employee with required payroll withholdings.

Companies in five prioritized sectors — cybersecurity, digital health, fintech, quantum technology and robotics — may apply for stipends to cover three eligible interns. All other eligible digital technology companies that are not in one of the priority sectors can apply for stipends to cover two eligible interns.

Applications, eligibility requirements and program details can be found at masstech.org/intern.

FirstLight expanding into Canada

FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. has completed its integration of H2O Power, the third largest provider of hydroelectric power in Ontario.

As the majority owner of more than 150 megawatts of generating capacity with an annual energy production of nearly 900,000 megawatt-hours, the addition of H2O Power brings the combined FirstLight portfolio to more than 1,650 megawatts. The integration also represents FirstLight’s first venture into the Canadian market.

“We are proud to expand our operations into Canada and welcome the 43 talented members of the H2O Power team to our growing company,” Alicia Barton, president and CEO of FirstLight, said in a statement. “2022 was a transformative year for FirstLight and we anticipate that 2023 will be no different as we kick the year off with this exciting integration and renewed momentum to support our mission to build and optimize diversified, reliable and cost-competitive clean energy assets to decarbonize electrical grids across North America.”

The H2O Power portfolio is comprised of eight hydroelectric facilities, three control dams and 140 kilometers of transmission lines, according to FirstLight. The addition of the H2O Power portfolio follows FirstLight’s integration of two hydroelectric facilities in western Pennsylvania from H2O Power last year.

Relief expected for natural gas customers

SPRINGFIELD — Eversource natural gas customers may experience lower costs for the upcoming off-peak season beginning May 1 due to a drop in global market prices and reduced individual use during the summer.

The energy company has filed decreased gas supply rates with the state Department of Public Utilities (DPU), and if approved, an average residential customer would see an approximately 15-20% savings per month compared to last summer.

“Whenever we can pass cost savings on to our customers and provide financial relief it is welcome news, especially following historically high energy prices throughout the region this past winter,” Eversource Executive Vice President for Customer Experience and Energy Strategy Penni Conner said in a statement. “Future market volatility remains likely and we know that many customers are still facing financial challenges, so we continue to encourage anyone who may be struggling with their bill to reach out so that we can work one-on-one to connect them with the variety of assistance programs, payment plans or energy-efficiency solutions available to support customers.”

While the natural gas supply rate changes twice per year every May 1 and Nov. 1, state regulations require monthly calculations be submitted to the DPU — and if the supply cost of natural gas fluctuates by more than 5%, state law requires an adjustment as to not overcharge or undercharge customers.

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