A new regional coastal resiliency initiative launched on Wednesday, called “ResilientCoasts,” will coordinate with the state’s 78 coastal communities to develop “tailored” resiliency strategies.
Environment
Posted inEnvironment
‘Re-wilding’ Massachusetts cranberry bogs
As Massachusetts’ famous cranberry industry consolidates and some of the cranberry bogs fade out of use, famers, governments, and conservationists are increasingly eager to start “re-wilding” them to natural rivers and wetlands.
Posted inOpinion
A victory for toxic-free communities and cancer-free childhoods
After nearly 45 years, the US Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to ban trichloroethylene (TCE), the chemical linked to a cluster of childhood cancers in Woburn.
Posted inOpinion
RGGI should fight for environmental justice
STATES ACROSS the northeast and mid-Atlantic are more than a decade into an ambitious regional collaboration to clean the air, fight climate change, and create thousands of clean energy jobs — all while saving residents and businesses money on their utility bills. By many counts, it’s working. In Massachusetts and the 11 other states participating in the Regional […]
Posted inEnvironment
Quebec-New England transmission line gets Biden backing
THE BIDEN ADMINISTATION on Monday pledged financial support for a two-way transmission line capable of carrying hydroelectricity from Quebec into New England and eventually offshore wind and solar power from New England to Quebec. The transmission line, being developed by National Grid and Citizens Energy, was one of three transmission projects receiving a total of […]
Posted inEnvironment
Avangrid says it terminated offshore wind contracts at “minimum cost”
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of Avangrid told financial analysts on Thursday that he was very pleased the company was able to terminate offshore wind power purchase agreements in Massachusetts and Connecticut “at minimum cost” but was noncommittal about whether the firm will be able to sign future deals at prices that will be acceptable to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Immigration, State Government
Climate migration to Massachusetts ‘an urgent concern’
MASSACHUSETTS IS ALREADY struggling to keep pace with emergency housing needs for migrants, many fleeing unsafe political conditions in other countries. A new report from the state’s climate chief warns that the Commonwealth also needs to prepare to receive climate migrants and refugees from inside and outside of the US as global weather conditions become […]
Posted inEnvironment
Climate report calls for decarbonization cost tally
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MASSACHUSETTS NEEDS to shift from an era of statewide planning for climate policy to the key details of implementing it, according to a new report from the state’s top climate official, which includes sweeping recommendations to accelerate the state’s progress toward its emissions reduction goals. Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer recommends some […]
Posted inOpinion
Each of us needs to help regulate our urban forest
AS WE LEAVE BEHIND one of the hottest summers on record, it is encouraging that the federal government has just released more than $1 billion in grants from the administration’s Inflation Reduction Act to help communities build broader, healthier, and more equitable urban forests. The city of Boston received over $11 million, Springfield $6 million, […]
Posted inOpinion
My energy efficiency efforts were frustrated by Mass Save
THERE’S A BROAD consensus in Massachusetts, affirmed by state law and policy, to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies as an important way to advance our climate and energy goals. In my experience, unfortunately, the Commonwealth’s energy efficiency programs do not appear capable of supporting these goals. I offer this brief outline of my […]