Environment

Harbor-wide dikes get thumbs down

Harbor-wide dikes get thumbs down

Barr-funded study says miles-long barriers not the way to address sea level rise

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A NEW ANALYSIS SUGGESTS incremental, shore-based initiatives are more practical and cost-effective in addressing sea level rise in Boston than harbor-wide dikes or barrier systems. The study addresses a debate that has been simmering below the surface for some time – what to do about the sea’s encroachment on the city, as exemplified by storms(...)

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Some Mainers question hydro-electricity line for MA

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Some Mainers question hydro-electricity line for MA

Gov. LePage criticizes 4 lawmakers who raised concerns

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MAINE, JUST LIKE NEW HAMPSHIRE, seems to be having some second thoughts about a transmission line selected by Massachusetts to carry hydro-electricity from Quebec into New England. Four key lawmakers in the Maine legislature wrote a letter earlier this month to Massachusetts utility regulators urging them to reject the power purchase contract with New England(...)

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Baker makes bold bet on offshore wind

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Baker makes bold bet on offshore wind

MA, RI together procure a total of 1,200 megawatts

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THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION placed a bold bet on the economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind Wednesday, selecting one company to build an 800 megawatt wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and working with Rhode Island to procure another 400 megawatts at another location in the same area. State officials said they hope(...)

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NH court OKs novel pipeline financing approach

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NH court OKs novel pipeline financing approach

Opinion says Massachusetts SJC got it wrong

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THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SUPREME COURT took a very different stand than its counterpart in Massachusetts on Tuesday, ruling that electric utilities in the Granite State could tap their ratepayers for the money to finance a new natural gas pipeline into the region. The ruling could help resuscitate efforts to build natural gas pipeline projects in(...)

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Offshore wind rush is irresponsible

Plugging In/ Opinion

Offshore wind rush is irresponsible

Turbine farms threaten the future of fishing

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In an April opinion piece, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke wrote that “affordable, reliable, and abundant American energy drives domestic jobs and prosperity.” If by “drives domestic jobs and prosperity” Zinke meant “threatens the very existence of New England fishermen,” then the East Farm Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island (which represents Rhode Island commercial fishermen)(...)

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We need to put a price on carbon

Opinion

We need to put a price on carbon

Pollution pricing will reduce emissions, boost economy

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AS THE STORMS LAST FALL AND WINTER have shown, the impact of extreme weather events on our way of life in the Commonwealth is already painfully visible. Global warming is very likely to increase the frequency and severity of such extremes in the years ahead unless we act energetically to shift from fossil fuels to(...)

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Natural gas is not a clean fuel

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Natural gas is not a clean fuel

Globe editorial amplified drumbeat of fossil fuel industry

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In a CommonWealth op-ed, Craig Altemose of 350 Massachusetts for a Better Future criticized the Boston Globe editorial board’s advocacy for new natural gas pipelines, for reasons with which I largely agree. Altemose is correct that the Globe overstates the environmental impact of this winter’s reliance on old coal- and oil-fired generating plants.  A May(...)

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Exelon sets its price for keeping Everett plants open

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Exelon sets its price for keeping Everett plants open

Region's grid operator warns of rolling blackouts without them

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EXELON GENERATION told federal regulators on Wednesday that it is willing to keep operating two power plants and a liquefied natural gas facility in Everett from 2022 to 2024 if the company is allowed to collect less than $1 a month from all of the electricity customers in New England over the two-year period. Chicago-based(...)

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Kulik: Pipeline resistance strong in House

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Kulik: Pipeline resistance strong in House

Business groups are leading push for more natural gas

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THE LEADER OF THE ANTI-PIPELINE FORCES in the House said on Wednesday that the coalition remains strong and could probably defeat any legislative bid to have electric ratepayers finance a new natural gas pipeline. “There’s still a lot of resistance,” said Rep. Stephen Kulik of Worthington, the vice chair of the House Ways and Means(...)

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