The U.S. government has lifted a quarantine on the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that's killed many trees in Massachusetts and Connecticut. But critics of the change have been...

Earthwhile

03:305 hours ago

Seagulls on the fence surrounding Jerry's Pond. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Company Plans To Rehab And Reopen Cambridge Pond For Public Use

A development company intends to clean up Jerry's Pond in North Cambridge and open it to the public.

Earthwhile

Jan 27, 2021

The Massachusetts State House. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

As Lawmakers Plan Vote On Climate Bill, A Showdown With Baker Seems Likely

Emission reduction targets are a major sticking point between the Legislature and the Baker Administration

Earthwhile

Jan 26, 2021

The sun rises behind the U.S. Capitol as preparations are made for the 59th inaugural ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, morning. (Caroline Brehman/Pool Photo via AP)

Local EPA Staffers Look Forward To Life With Biden

EPA region 1 staffers look forward to discussing climate change and environmental justice openly

Earthwhile

02:43Jan 26, 2021

Atlantic puffins congregate on Eastern Egg Rock, a small island off the coast of Maine. Decades of conservation work have brought the state's population of the birds to about 1,300 pairs that nest on Maine islands. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

Puffin Stuff: Herring Rules Could Benefit Maine's Most Beloved Birds

The commercial fishery for herring has suffered in recent years due to new restrictions, but those same rules could benefit puffins.

Earthwhile

Jan 23, 2021

Work underway on the construction of the gas compressor station in Weymouth. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Weymouth Compressor Operator Says It’s Starting Up Facility This Weekend

Enbridge says federal regulators have finished an analysis into two unplanned shutdowns and greenlighted the project.

Earthwhile

Jan 22, 2021

Shalanda Baker poses for a portrait in 2017. (Courtesy Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University)

'It's Not Inevitable That This Will Be Unjust': A Q&A With Shalanda Baker On Energy Justice

Shalanda Baker discusses energy justice and her new book, "Revolutionary Power: An Activist's Guide to the Energy Transition."

Earthwhile

Jan 20, 2021

The Massachusetts state flag flies in front of the State House. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

State Legislature Files Climate Bill, Again

The climate bill vetoed by Gov. Baker has been refiled by House and Senate leaders in the hopes of quickly returning the legislation to the governor

Earthwhile

Jan 19, 2021

Steve Holler and his sternman Frank Lenardis dump freshly caught lobsters into a holding tray on Holler's boat, the November Gale. (Hannah Chanatry/WBUR)

A Growing Number Of New England Lobstermen Wear Life Jackets While At Sea

A research project aimed at increasing life jacket use among lobstermen is showing early success.

Earthwhile

Jan 19, 2021

In this 2016 file photo, three of Deepwater Wind's five turbines stand in the water off Block Island, R.I, the nation's first offshore wind farm. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

Offshore Wind Backers Hope Vineyard Wind Permitting Woes Will End Under Biden

The Vineyard Wind project off Martha’s Vineyard was expected to be the nation’s first utility-size wind farm at sea, but navigating the politics and pioneering the uncertain regulatory process has...

Earthwhile

05:37Jan 19, 2021

In this May of 2019 photo, power lines are seen in Pownal, Maine. A controversial 145-mile, billion-dollar power line would bring hydro-electricity from Canada into the state's regional grid to serve Massachusetts customers. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

Federal Judge Halts Work On Hydropower Project With Temporary Injunction

The 145-mile transmission line, to be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power, will eventually deliver 1,200 megawatts of power to the energy grid in Lewiston, Maine,...

Earthwhile

Jan 15, 2021

Gov. Baker Vetoed A Major Climate Bill. What's Next For Climate Legislation?

WBUR environmental reporter Miriam Wasser joined Morning Edition host Bob Oakes to talk about what happened -- and what happens next.

Earthwhile

05:56Jan 15, 2021

The gold dome of the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Baker Vetoes Climate Bill, Citing Housing Concerns

Baker said he supports much in the bill, but believes key components fly in the face of another legislative victory -- the passage of his "housing choice" proposal -- that...

Earthwhile

Jan 14, 2021

Residents of East Boston and Chelsea protest near the site of the proposed electrical substation in December. (Courtesy GreenRoots)

Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Alleged Civil Rights Violations In East Boston And Chelsea

The lawsuit alleges the EPA violated the Civil Rights Act by declining to investigate language access concerns related to the siting of an electrical substation in East Boston.

Earthwhile

Jan 14, 2021

Epaulette shark pup. (Courtesy E. Moothart, New England Aquarium)

Warmer Waters May Spell Trouble For Baby Sharks, Study At New England Aquarium Finds

The study revealed that the baby epaulette sharks hatched in warmer water were born small, hungry and exhausted.

Earthwhile

Jan 13, 2021

Solar panels in a field at Knowlton Farm, Grafton, Mass. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

House Speaker Says He'll Refile Climate Bill If Baker Vetoes

Ronald Mariano says he'll refile the climate bill in its entirety if the governor rejects it

Earthwhile

Jan 13, 2021

A 2019 protest in Springfield against the Palmer Plant. (Courtesy of Arise for Social Justice.)

The New Climate Bill Won’t Make Or Break A Proposed Biomass Plant In Springfield. But Another State Plan Will

Experts say a proposed "rollback" of a state clean energy rule, not the climate bill, will determine the future of the Palmer biomass plant

Earthwhile

Jan 12, 2021

Doug and Judith Saum are two of New Hampshire's climate migrants. They relocated from Reno, Nevada to Rumney to escape the health effects of increasing Western wildfires.(Annie Ropeik/NHPR)

As Climate Change Drives Migration To N.H., Towns Face Tension And Opportunity

Studies show that climate change could prompt millions of Americans to relocate in the coming decades. And by some measures, New Hampshire and northern New England could be ideal places...

Earthwhile

04:48Jan 12, 2021

Emily Norton, then-director of the Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter, held up a sign July 19, 2018 promoting "sunshine" and calling for members of a clean energy conference committee, including Reps. Thomas Golden and Patricia Haddad (foreground), to keep their talks open to the public rather than entering executive session. (Sam Doran/SHNS File)

Climate Coalition Wants More Transparency On Beacon Hill Voting

The Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition plans to hold a series of Zoom meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, during which more than 140 students between the ages of 12 and 25...

Earthwhile

Jan 11, 2021

A oyster rake and basket sit on the edge of Little Buttermilk Bay on a misty morning in Buzzards Bay. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

What's In That Water? 'Geochemical Santa Claus' Offers New Data To Climate Modelers

New data on groundwater will improve models of Earth's climate past, leading to a better understanding of current climate changes.

Earthwhile

Jan 8, 2021

1A

Some In New England Unhappy With End Of Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine

Company Plans To Rehab And Reopen Cambridge Pond For Public Use

As Lawmakers Plan Vote On Climate Bill, A Showdown With Baker Seems Likely

Local EPA Staffers Look Forward To Life With Biden

Puffin Stuff: Herring Rules Could Benefit Maine's Most Beloved Birds

Weymouth Compressor Operator Says It’s Starting Up Facility This Weekend

'It's Not Inevitable That This Will Be Unjust': A Q&A With Shalanda Baker On Energy Justice

State Legislature Files Climate Bill, Again

A Growing Number Of New England Lobstermen Wear Life Jackets While At Sea

Offshore Wind Backers Hope Vineyard Wind Permitting Woes Will End Under Biden

Federal Judge Halts Work On Hydropower Project With Temporary Injunction

Gov. Baker Vetoed A Major Climate Bill. What's Next For Climate Legislation?

Baker Vetoes Climate Bill, Citing Housing Concerns

Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Alleged Civil Rights Violations In East Boston And Chelsea

Warmer Waters May Spell Trouble For Baby Sharks, Study At New England Aquarium Finds

House Speaker Says He'll Refile Climate Bill If Baker Vetoes

The New Climate Bill Won’t Make Or Break A Proposed Biomass Plant In Springfield. But Another State Plan Will

As Climate Change Drives Migration To N.H., Towns Face Tension And Opportunity

Climate Coalition Wants More Transparency On Beacon Hill Voting

What's In That Water? 'Geochemical Santa Claus' Offers New Data To Climate Modelers