Stories
One of the largest remaining elm trees in New England has died. But the wood from the 109-foot-tall slippery elm tree is heading on to a new life — as custom furniture. And a percentage of the sales proceeds will support research to breed elms that are resistant to Dutch elm’s disease.
Read MoreEarlier this year, it seemed a commuter rail line could really happen for southern New Hampshire. Polling had shown 74 percent of residents support it, and lawmakers were voting on whether to use $4 million in federal dollars to connect Boston’s commuter rail to Nashua and Manchester.
Read MoreAn American Offshore Wind Market Is Here
Has little Rhode Island become the center for offshore wind power in the United States? Sure seems like it. The nation’s first offshore wind farm will start operating there next month. The project drew interest from European visitors recently, and this week, it hosted an offshore wind energy conference.
Read MoreNew National Wildlife Refuge to Protect Northeast Shrubland
The rare New England cottontail rabbit and other shrubland species are getting some new help from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency is targeting 15,000 acres of land in six northeastern states, including Maine, to be included in a new Great Thickets National Wildlife Refuge.
Read MoreIf you spend any time walking in the woods, you see a lot of strange looking trees — trees shaped by the wind, split by lightning or reaching toward. And — occasionally — some twists and turns are man-made.
Read MoreConnecticut Energy Officials Pull Plug on Pipeline in Favor of Renewable Energy Investments
A decision by Connecticut energy officials could have a major impact on Massachusetts and all of New England. The decision pulls the plug on plans to construct more natural gas pipelines in Connecticut, while boosting the use of renewable energy throughout the region.
Read MoreSome Housatonic River Advocates Question Whether Capping Toxins Will Stand Up Over Time
Some Housatonic River advocates say they wish the EPA’s cleanup plan called for digging up more PCBs. This comes as the agency released its final plan Monday to remove toxins from the river.
The $613 million plan calls for removing and capping PCBs from the river bottom and floodplain.
Read MoreRhode Island Shows Off Offshore Wind Farm
The nation’s first offshore wind farm off the coast of Block Island is in the middle of its testing phase. It’ll start producing electricity next month.
Read MoreWhy Did The Bear Cross The Road? Project Aims To Create Safe Crossings For Wildlife
Conservation biologists say that the good news for wildlife is there are still extensive tracts of forest habitat in the northeast. Yet as humans have built up roads and housing developments, crossing between key habitat areas — such as from the Adirondacks to the Green Mountains — can be a dangerous trip for a moose or a bear.
Read MoreFarming is a growing industry in Rhode Island, with many new farmers starting small businesses. But when they don’t come from farming families, finding land can be a challenge, especially in a state with the most expensive farmland in the country.
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