Today's the final day of our Fall Fundraiser. If WBUR is part of your daily routine, we're asking: will you support the journalism you depend on? Your gift today keeps us here for Boston tomorrow. Donate here. Now, to the news: Nuclear options: Leaders from all six New England states are gathering in Lowell today to discuss what role — if any — nuclear power could play in helping to meet the region's growing electricity demands. As WBUR's Miriam Wasser reports, the one-day summit will focus on advanced nuclear technology , rather than the big, traditional plants. And it includes sessions about safety and waste. "We have a regional grid, and it's important to get together with our colleagues to talk about what we're going to do as a community of states to work on our additional resource needs in the future," said Rebecca Tepper, the state's energy and environmental affairs secretary. - The backdrop: New England hasn't built a nuclear power plant in decades. But it remains a "key" part of the grid, "providing over 20% of our electricity right now in the region," Tepper told Miriam. And with the demand for electricity rising, and the slower-than-expected deployment of renewables like offshore wind, Democratic leaders in the state that helped spark the anti-nuclear movement decades ago say it's important to take a new look at advanced nuclear technology. "It's a smaller footprint. It's less waste. It can be manufactured. And it's important for us to be thinking ahead into the future about how we might be able to use that best here in the region," Tepper said. (Massachusetts is home to two of the country's 25 nuclear research reactors: one at MIT and one at UMass Lowell, where today's conference is being held.)
- What we're watching: Gov. Maura Healey has proposed repealing a voter-approved 1982 law that requires a statewide vote to build a new nuclear plant in Massachusetts. The proposal was part of Healey's energy affordability bill, which is being negotiated behind closed doors in the State House. (The House was on board with the repeal, but the Senate was not.)
- Outside the conference: Supporters of the law, known as Chapter 503, are planning to protest outside the conference today. "These guardrails are more important than ever," Deb Katz, the director of the anti-nuclear Citizens Awareness Network, said in a statement, referencing the Trump administration's recent loosening of federal nuclear rules. "We need politicians that protect our rights to determine our energy future."
In the Spotlight: The Healey administration is pushing for new nursing home regulations. It comes after The Boston Globe's Spotlight team reported this week that Massachusetts has not denied or revoked a nursing home license in seven years — including for the out-of-state chain RegalCare, whose owner had his license revoked in New Jersey. The report also detailed RegalCare's "grim cuts" to services and how conditions have deteriorated at a number of nursing homes recently bought by out-of-state chains. - What is the state doing? A 2024 law directed Massachusetts regulators to consider out-of-state issues when considering a nursing home license — something they didn't previously have explicit authority to do. The Department of Public Health is planning to present finalized regulations to actually implement that change at a meeting next month.
Minimum effort: Chelsea is the latest local city to consider eliminating minimum parking requirements for new housing developments. Currently, the city requires 1.5 or more parking spots per unit, which officials say is too onerous for many developers and drives up hosting costs. "They don't necessarily match with car ownership today," Ben Cares, Chelsea's director of housing, told WBUR's John Bender. - Next steps: Chelsea officials plan to hold several community meetings over the next month (including tonight) to discuss the proposal. Cares hopes to put a proposal before Chelsea's City Council by the end of the year
P.S.— A rarely seen piece of science fiction and pop culture history is going on display today at the MIT Museum: Star Trek's original Starship Enterprise model. The 33-inch model, which was used in the opening of each episode, has never been publicly displayed before on the East Coast. In fact, it was thought to be lost for decades before it popped up on eBay in 2023 . The unveiling is part of the kickoff of MIT's inaugural Future Fest this week, but the model will remain on public display here through March 28, 2027. |
Comments
Post a Comment