Offshore headwinds

Also: Mass. regulators warn of out of control health care costs; Healey extends logging pause [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  June 8, 2023 ☁️ Cloudy, with a high near 67 and scattered afternoon showers. Good Morning Boston, Air quality alerts due to Canadian wildfire smoke [remain in effect today]( for western Massachusetts, but the National Weather Service says [we should see some improvement]( as the plume "gets shunted southward." State data shows [the air quality right now is good to moderate]( in the eastern half of the state — a far cry from the [eerie conditions]( places like New York saw yesterday (not to mention [the volcanic smog Hawaii is dealing with](. Here's [a tip sheet for staying safe]( if and when smoke conditions worsen again. For now, let's look at a different kind of air problem: - What does the SouthCoast Wind project's [recent move to pull out of its contract]( mean for Massachusetts' climate goals? State Sen. Michael Barrett told WBUR's Dave Faneuf the offshore wind farm developer's effort to renegotiate for more money will slow down the state's [massive shift to cleaner electricity]( — but not significantly so."The delay in generating offshore wind is going to put the 2025 and 2030 emissions limits for electric power in some jeopardy, but only for a year or two," Barrett said, adding that he hopes to see the state "hit those limits and more" soon after. - Give me some context: The SouthCoast Wind wind farm, which had planned to come online in 2028, accounts for 1,200 of the 3,200 megawatts of offshore wind power procured so far by Massachusetts. (The goal is to hit 5,600 by 2027.) However, it's also the second big project to pull out of its contract due to rising costs, [following 1,200-megawatt Commonwealth Wind last fall](. - Why are costs up? Inflation, supply chain disruptions, steel prices, rising interest rates. WBUR's Miriam Wasser has [more here on the challenges facing the industry](. - What's next: The developers of both projects are now slated to rebid for new contracts next year. (State officials [have also eased the rules]( in hopes of giving developers more price flexibility.) - "Steel in the water": At least one Massachusetts offshore wind project is moving forward. After resolving [a dispute with local unions]( the 800-megawatt Vineyard Wind said Wednesday it has begun installing the first of 62 ocean turbine foundations. - Gov. Maura Healey's administration is [extending a pause on logging contracts in state forests]( for another six months, as officials consider new guidelines aimed at conserving woods. The “Forests as Climate Solutions” initiative aims to ensure state forests are "managed to optimize carbon sequestration and mitigate climate harms." - Following through: During her gubernatorial campaign, Healey [promised a temporary moratorium]( on logging in state forests, and the state hasn't signed any new contracts since she took office. - Loggers aren't happy about it. Chris Egan, the head of Massachusetts Forest Alliance, [told New England Public Media]( the delay could wipe out "30% of your business for a year." - What's next: The Healey administration says it will begin signing contracts again as soon as December — after new forestry guidelines are drafted, put up for public comment and finalized. - Boston police released more details yesterday on the car crash involving a cruiser carrying Mayor Michelle Wu. WBUR's Walter Wuthmann [reports]( Wu talked of minor pain at the scene, but declined medical attention and went on to speak at [a school press conference](. - Why did Wu's car have its lights and sirens activated at the time? That part is still unclear. (Wu [told reporters]( they weren't headed to an emergency.) Police are still investigating whether the officer driving the car broke any department rules. - Late Nights at the Library: The JFK Library & Museum is staying open into the evening on several Wednesdays this summer, offering the public the rare chance to visit at night for free. - The Dorchester museum is extending its hours from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 21, July 10, August 9 and August 16. Not only will admission be free during those hours, but most nights will have special programming with trivia or music, as well as food and drinks. You can [check out the lineup and RSVP here](. P.S.— Today's the deadline to hit our June fundraising goal of 700 new members — and we still have a ways to go to reach it. Will you help us get over the top? If you rely on this newsletter, [please consider becoming a monthly donor.]( We wouldn’t be here without you and your support! Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Massachusetts regulators warn of out of control health care costs]( Massachusetts regulators delivered one of their most forceful warnings yet that health care prices are spiraling out of control, ramping up the pressure on lawmakers who have been unable to wrangle the trend and fulfill a consensus vision of cost control. [Read more.]( [Massachusetts regulators warn of out of control health care costs]( Massachusetts regulators delivered one of their most forceful warnings yet that health care prices are spiraling out of control, ramping up the pressure on lawmakers who have been unable to wrangle the trend and fulfill a consensus vision of cost control. [Read more.]( [New report examines if the Community Preservation Act could help address the housing crisis]( The report found that one third of Massachusetts communities aren’t meeting the CPA's spending requirements on housing, and a real estate industry group wants to see the program retrofitted to put a greater emphasis on housing production. [Read more.]( [New report examines if the Community Preservation Act could help address the housing crisis]( The report found that one third of Massachusetts communities aren’t meeting the CPA's spending requirements on housing, and a real estate industry group wants to see the program retrofitted to put a greater emphasis on housing production. [Read more.]( [Chris Licht ousted at CNN after a year of crisis]( CNN's embattled CEO, Chris Licht, is out after a turbulent first year that included layoffs, a botched town hall with former President Donald Trump and a no-holds-barred profile in The Atlantic. [Read more.]( [Chris Licht ousted at CNN after a year of crisis]( CNN's embattled CEO, Chris Licht, is out after a turbulent first year that included layoffs, a botched town hall with former President Donald Trump and a no-holds-barred profile in The Atlantic. [Read more.]( [Soccer shocker: Lionel Messi says he will join Miami's MLS team]( After months of speculation, Messi announced his decision Wednesday to join Inter Miami, a franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon, David Beckham, since its inception. [Read more.]( [Soccer shocker: Lionel Messi says he will join Miami's MLS team]( After months of speculation, Messi announced his decision Wednesday to join Inter Miami, a franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon, David Beckham, since its inception. [Read more.]( [What we know about a large dam's catastrophic breach in Ukraine]( The near obliteration of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River has triggered evacuations and raised concern about Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which uses the reservoir to cool its reactors. [Read more.]( [What we know about a large dam's catastrophic breach in Ukraine]( The near obliteration of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River has triggered evacuations and raised concern about Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which uses the reservoir to cool its reactors. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Boston's Pride parade and festival makes its long-awaited return this weekend — and that's not all. The nation's longest-running youth film festival and a first-of-its-kind dragon boat festival are also coming to Boston. Check out [our full weekend events preview here](. - Greg Hawkes — best known as the keyboardist in the Boston new wave band The Cars — is embarking on a new adventure in the arts world. Music writer Jim Sullivan[reports Hawkes' whimsical photo collages are on view at the Lincoln Public Library](. - The Tuskegee Airmen are the subject of [a new permanent exhibit at the New England Air Museum in Connecticut](. The exhibit tells the story of America's first Black military aviators "through the eyes of the airmen themselves" as they fought both the Nazis and domestic racism. - Where there's smoke, there may soon be fire. Kevin Connor [writes in this commentary]( that the wildfires burning in California and Canada may soon threaten the Bay State's own leafy suburban developments.  What We're Reading 📚 This section is supported by [Beacon Hill Books]( a new independent bookstore. - Fear, loathing, and bike lanes in West Roxbury ([The Boston Globe]( - Pence Seeks to Go Where No Vice President Has Gone Before ([The New York Times]( - Our Lemonade Stand Is Powered by AI ([McSweeney's](  Tell Me Something Good [A Kowloon documentary is coming, and you can help (Boston.com)]( The iconic North Shore-based restaurant is creating a documentary — and asking customers to provide some of the footage. [Read more.]( [A Kowloon documentary is coming, and you can help (Boston.com)]( The iconic North Shore-based restaurant is creating a documentary — and asking customers to provide some of the footage. [Read more.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: ["Apologize to Market Basket immediately, Michael."]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2023 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.