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By CHRIS LARABEE

Local advocates are urging the Legislature to remove a specific provision in Gov. Maura Healey’s Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act that would repeal a 1982 referendum requiring voters at a statewide election to approve any new nuclear facilities in Massachusetts.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

ERVING — Town officials and residents got a first look this week at preliminary plans for a battery energy storage facility being proposed by Spearmint Energy.

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL — The citizens group that formed in 2023 in opposition to a since-withdrawn proposal for a battery storage facility has filed a motion asking the Land Court to overturn the state Attorney General’s rejection of the group’s proposed bylaw.

By COLIN A. YOUNG

BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey is proposing to repeal a law put in place by voters as part of a worldwide nuclear freeze movement, a bid to open the door to greater deployment of newer nuclear energy facilities as part of a push to save ratepayers $10 billion over a decade.

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — The White House’s discretionary budget request for fiscal year 2026, released on May 2, proposes slashing two line items that, if approved, could significantly alter Community Action Pioneer Valley’s services.

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – In the wake of recent resignations, town officials are seeking residents willing to serve on the Town Energy Committee or the Municipal Decarbonization Task Force.

By ALEXA LEWIS

HOLYOKE — Unperturbed by the rain that pelted their colorful signs, dozens of impassioned community members hailing from cities and towns across the region gathered in song and frustration to protest state clean energy siting practices they think will be more harmful to the environment than helpful.

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — Solar panels have been installed on Fisher Hill Elementary School’s roof, another step in a renovation project that began nearly five years ago.

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL — The citizens group that formed in 2023 in opposition to a since-withdrawn proposal for a 105-megawatt battery storage facility plans to present clean energy siting suitability findings to state policymakers in Holyoke on May 5.

By COLIN A. YOUNG

A recommendation from a task force the Legislature created a decade ago resurfaced last week before the Revenue Committee, which took testimony related to the machinations involved when a farm wants to use a portion of its land to generate both renewable electricity and supplemental income.

By CHRIS LARABEE

Beginning more than a decade ago and wrapping up in 2016, a wide-ranging coalition in western Massachusetts banded together to resist Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.’s Northeast Energy Direct project, which proposed a pipeline running through eight Franklin County towns.

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – Karen Chapman and Zack Kay of the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission appeared before the Selectboard at its March 18 meeting to provide an annual report on the town’s status relative to a FY24 Green Communities grant.

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – In 2008, the Massachusetts Legislature passed the Green Communities Act to support those communities throughout the commonwealth committed to reducing energy consumption, among other goals.

By MIKE LIVINGSTON

Bolstered transparency and a money back guarantee are a few of the ideas being floated by governors to smooth the path for energy projects in the face of growing power demands.

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL — The citizens group that formed in 2023 in opposition to a now-withdrawn proposal for a 105-megawatt battery storage facility has started a crowdfunding campaign to defray legal costs for the town, which is appealing the state attorney general’s rejection of a battery energy storage bylaw.

By CHRIS LARABEE

WARWICK — Thanks to the work of a dedicated team of volunteers over the last 17 years, Warwick residents were able to slash town energy use and pave a path forward for green energy, even in a town of just under 800 residents.

By JAMES BUCKSER

It’s getting cold in Massachusetts, and as the cost of living rises, some families will have trouble paying to keep their homes warm. One option they may not have considered is the Home Energy Assistance Program.“It’s a program that’s been available...

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

WENDELL — The Selectboard plans to appeal the state attorney general’s recent rejection of the town’s battery energy storage bylaw.During a Dec. 18 executive session, the Selectboard opted to contract with Springfield-based law firm Doherty Wallace...

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL — The citizens group that formed last year in opposition to a now-withdrawn proposal for a 105-megawatt battery storage facility held a virtual forum this week to shed light on local permitting and the role of municipal power in the wake of...

By MARA MELLITS

With the new climate and clean energy law changing the permitting process for solar and battery storage projects, western Massachusetts residents are left wondering how the regulations will impact their rural communities.“An act promoting a clean...

By EMILEE KLEIN

AMHERST — The past few weeks have been tough for climate activism, and longtime climate activist Bill McKibben, who makes his home in Vermont, is feeling the heat.This year will be the hottest year on record, breaking the record-setting temperatures...