New from CommonWealth Beacon
HOUSING: New data released by the Greater Boston Housing Report Card paint a daunting picture of a slugging housing market with few permits for new units and astronomical median single-family sale prices, Jennifer Smith reports.
PERSONNEL MOVES: With Melissa Hoffer out as state climate chief, Aladdine Joroff, a Hoffer deputy and former Boston climate official, has been elevated to the top spot. Jordan Wolman has more.
ELECTIONS: A House seat in Plymouth County remains up in the air, with the Republican incumbent and Democratic challenger locked in a tight race that has seen both sides declare victory at various points and explore recount options, reports Sam Drysdale at State House News Service.
OPINION: A legislative proposal to expand gambling in Massachusetts isn’t just bad on the merits. It’s a sign of the behind-closed-doors, backroom maneuvering undertaken by the Legislature, argues Celeste Ribeiro Hewitt, co-chair of No Eastie Casino, and chair of the Committee for Sustainable and Responsible Economic Development, both of which fought casino and gambling efforts in Massachusetts.
November 12, 2026
By JORDAN WOLMAN
President Trump blocked Massachusetts from unlocking new offshore wind from its own coasts, dealing a crucial blow to the state’s energy transition. So Gov. Maura Healey is testing the waters to the north instead.
The Healey administration is spearheading an effort alongside other New England states to tap into work underway in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia to advance offshore wind projects there, as it eyes potential energy supply and economic benefits here at home.
Massachusetts is issuing a formal request for information with Nova Scotia to test market interest and feasibility among energy developers, supply chain companies, port entities, organized labor, utilities, and the fishing industry. Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island are also participating.
It’s just one procedural step on what would be a long road to achieving an ambitious vision of bringing energy generated by Canadian offshore wind into New England. But the move is a concrete signal of the state’s seriousness in collaborating with Nova Scotia to boost offshore wind and find a Plan B to the now-stalled domestic wind industry on which Massachusetts had been relying.
“We need more affordable, reliable energy, and that’s going to take working with our neighbors,” Healey said in a statement. “Massachusetts and Nova Scotia have a strong partnership, and we’re building on that relationship to explore new opportunities to bring offshore wind power to New England. This work has the potential to lower energy costs, strengthen our energy supply and create good-paying jobs in our port communities.”
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DOUBLE TAKE: Frustrated by “prolonged inaction” on major bills, Senate President Karen Spilka suggests she might not support extending the legislative deadline beyond July 31 next term. Chris Lisinski breaks down the split between the chambers.
MUSICAL CHAIRS: Elizabeth Dionne, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for state treasurer, has launched a bid for the Massachusetts Republican Party chair and said she would not take salary if elected. Colin Young of the State House News Service has more.
OPINION: Pending Senate legislation that seeks to phase out the Gas System Enhancement Program is ill-advised, writes José Costa, president and CEO of the Northeast Gas Association. Instead of investing in the existing, dependable, and affordable natural gas system, the legislation would hasten the transition away from Massachusetts’s most affordable fuel.
What We’re Reading
LABOR: A potential large-scale strike appears to have been averted as Brigham nurses reach a tentative deal with management. (The Boston Globe – paywall)
POLITICS: Ed Flynn, a Boston city councilor and frequent critic of Mayor Michelle Wu, will face a challenger in next year’s election as South Boston resident and community leader Rachel Pearson mounts a bid for the seat. (GBH News)
FOOD AID: The Trump administration’s new proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are poised to hit western Massachusetts communities particularly hard. (MassLive)
DATA CENTERS: It was a Sutton town official who first floated the idea of developing a large parcel of land in town before the Kraft Group proposed to do just that. (The Boston Globe – paywall)
JAIL FUNDING: The Bristol County sheriff is seeking $27 million in state aid to close a jail, but stiff competition for funding is scrambling those prospects. (The New Bedford Light)
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