Environment Archives · Page 32 of 53 · New England News Collaborative

To Combat Climate Change, Do We Need The Nuclear Option?

September 17, 2019

Future? In Massachusetts, nuclear power is history. Last spring, Massachusetts’ last nuclear power plant — Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station — shut down after nearly 50 years. Repairing the aging plant was too expensive, and it couldn’t compete against cheap natural gas. Nuclear opponents like Mary Lampert, founder of the citizens’ group Pilgrim Watch, say “good…

Former EPA Head To Young Climate Activists: Drive Your Parents Crazy

September 16, 2019

From the school-skipping 16-year-old Swedish activist raising global awareness about climate change, to the Green New Deal and the emergence of the Sunrise Movement across the U.S., young people are leading the charge for environmental change and action. While youth climate activism is not a new phenomenon, the dire warnings about inaction give today’s movement a heightened urgency. Former Environmental Protection Agency…

For ‘Organic’ To Remain Strong, Farmers Say They Need More Consistent Enforcement

September 3, 2019

Organic dairy farmers in Vermont say inconsistent enforcement of industry standards have allowed large-scale producers to market milk that is not truly organic. The farmers are asking Congress for help to close regulatory loopholes they say have given some large farms an unfair advantage in the market. On Stony Pond Farm, in Fairfield, young Jersey…

Gypsy Moths On The Decline — For Now — But Damage Is Already Done

August 19, 2019

In recent years, an invasive insect called the gypsy moth has spelled doom for countless New England trees. From 2016 through 2018, it’s estimated gypsy moths defoliated more than 2 million acres in southern New England, which means a lot of cleanup for foresters. But among all that destruction there is some good news: gypsy…

Zoning To Oppose Casella Landfill Plan Divides Small North Country Town

August 5, 2019

The solid waste company Casella says it’s running out of space for Northern New England’s trash. So it’s taking the rare step of planning a brand-new landfill, in the small Coös County town of Dalton. Lots of locals agree – they don’t want the landfill. But they’re divided on one potential tool to block it:…

Seals On Cape Cod Are More Than Just Shark Bait

August 2, 2019

There are tens of thousands of seals on Cape Cod and the Islands, and everyone seems to have an opinion about them. Some see them as an adorable tourist attraction that helps the ecosystem. But to others, they’re Public Enemy No. 1 — a messy, fish-eating shark magnet that needs to be culled. Chatham-based commercial…

New Hampshire state Rep. Wendy Thomas, left, talks with Democratic presidential candidate Marrianne Williamson about PFAS chemicals in Merrimack. Photo by Annie Ropeik for NHPR

On The Presidential Campaign Trail, New Hampshire PFAS Activists Give—And Get—Attention

July 2, 2019

New Hampshire is at the forefront of a growing debate over PFAS chemical contamination in drinking water. And many of the Democrats campaigning to win the state’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary are taking notice.

Colorful algae forms in the stagnant water behind emabankments. The embankments will be removed in order allow the water to ebb and flow freely in and out of the marsh lands. Photo by Jesse Costa for WBUR

Pull The Plugs: How A Simple Move May Help Plum Island’s Salt Marshes Adapt To Sea Level Rise

July 2, 2019

Walking through the Parker River Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island with wildlife biologist Nancy Pau is to take a tour through the various ways humans have disrupted the saltwater marsh for the last 300-plus years.

Wildlife biologist Peter Picone, above, has spent much of his life paddling the Quinnipiac. "It’s an adventure," he said. "Every bend has something different." Photo by Patrick Skahill for WNPR.

The Resilient River: What It’s Like To Paddle Down The Quinnipiac

June 27, 2019

The Quinnipiac River was, historically, one of Connecticut’s most polluted. For decades, nineteenth-century factories and densely populated towns poured sewage and industrial waste into the river.

Bren Smith. Photo by Ronald T. Gautreau Jr.

Why A Commercial Fisherman Turned To Restorative Ocean Farming

June 13, 2019

Bren Smith began his career as a commercial fisherman, but now is the owner of Thimble Island Oyster Farm, a 3D restorative ocean farm in Connecticut. He’s also the author of the new book, Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures as a Fisherman Turned Restorative Ocean Farmer.

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