Chad Hunter covers a lot of ground in his job. Make that water. As Plymouth’s harbormaster, Hunter’s domain is larger than you might think. It extends well beyond what’s visible from atop Coles Hill. Three miles out to sea from any land point in Plymouth and all its many ponds are within his jurisdiction. That’s […]
Category: Environment & Health
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Fernandes seeks to halt venting of radioactive vapor at Pilgrim
State Senator Dylan Fernandes has introduced legislation that would prevent Holtec Decommissioning International from venting radioactive vapor at the former Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Manomet until state officials can evaluate the potential effect on Plymouth and surrounding communities. “We want a study on this to find out what the impact is, confirm that it […]
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How did a giant wind turbine blade end up in a bog?
A week after a blade from a 300-foot-tall wind turbine fell into a cranberry bog on Head of the Bay Road, RWE, the company that owns the project, says it’s already begun an “exhaustive” analysis of the incident with Spanish company Siemens Gamesa, which built and maintains the equipment. “The project has been shut down […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Holtec appears unlikely to win appeal of radioactive water ruling
An appeals officer for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is recommending that the state uphold its decision to deny Holtec Decommissioning International’s request to dump more than 800,000 gallons of treated radioactive water from the former Pilgrim nuclear power station into Cape Cod Bay. Holtec is decommissioning the Pilgrim plant in Manomet, which […]
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On the road again: Section of Water St. to be dug up
Pardon us if this story sounds too familiar. Water Street will soon be dug up for the third time since 2023, with traffic detoured through early spring. That’s because a contractor needs to repair a relatively new sewer line that has settled, which could cause waste to back up. Northern Construction is expected to start […]
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State funding squeeze delays downtown project
A planned transformation of Court and Main streets aimed at improving walkability, pedestrian safety, aesthetics, and climate resiliency will be delayed for at least a year after funding for the project fell through. The work would have been largely paid for by a $3 million state grant that did not come through, said Michael Cahill, […]
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Bill Nye sounds alarm on climate change deniers
Bill Nye, known for the long-running public television series “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” told attendees at the 4th annual Plymouth Blue Future conference Thursday that science is under siege. “People are attacking science for reasons that are deeply tribal within us,” said Nye, who was the keynote speaker at the conference, held at the […]
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Reshaping Brewster Gardens: ‘It’s a lot of work’
The early stages of major repairs to the Jenney Pond dam, the construction of a nature-like fishway around the Plimoth Grist Mill, and the remaking the pathway through Brewster Gardens are underway. The work is part of an ambitious project to revitalize the popular park area all the way through to the waterfront. The first […]
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Makepeace defends ‘distasteful’ posts about environmental activist
Environmental lawyer Meg Sheehan spent a lot of time and money trying to identify the person who created “Meg Costs Us Millions,” a Facebook page where she was ridiculed by anonymous critics. Unnamed posters called her “old crone” and “the second coming of Cruella De Vil.” They photoshopped her “attractive face to make her unattractive […]
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‘Swap shop’ aims to boost reuse of household goods
Wondering what to do with that mixer you bought to make bread during the pandemic now that you’re not using it anymore? Thinking of picking up a guitar, but aren’t ready to invest in one? Here’s a deal that might be hard to resist. Starting Saturday, Plymouth residents will be able to turn in items they […]