Massachusetts

Pilgrim power plant closing plan heats up state’s energy debate

Pilgrim power plant closing plan heats up state’s energy debate

State House News Service

PLYMOUTH — Hampered by heightened federal oversight of its operations and low natural gas prices, the owners of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, which began operations in 1972, announced plans Tuesday to close the Plymouth facility by 2019, jolting the regional electricity market, spurring new calls for renewable energy, and forcing Massachusetts officials to think about long-term plant decommissioning and plans for spent nuclear fuel.

The announcement Tuesday morning by Louisiana-based Entergy Corp. triggered a wave of reactions. Pilgrim workers urged Entergy to reconsider, citing 600 jobs and the plant's role in covering about 12 percent of the state's electricity needs. Gov. Charlie Baker said the closure could mean an energy shortage and promoted his hydro energy plans. Solar energy, transmission, and other power industry officials said they were ready to fill voids. Sen. Edward Markey urged Entergy to devote the resources needed to remove spent nuclear fuel from an "overcrowded" pool. And officials began coming to grips with potential adverse impacts in the area where Pilgrim is located.

Disclosure of fetal organ sales almost became law
new hampshire

Disclosure of fetal organ sales almost became law

Evan Lips

"The lawyers went to work," he said, "as only lawyers can do. "They found a loophole: How can we sell this tissue, make a profit at the expense of this poor woman and hide it all by calling it research?"

The statement above is not recent. The statement was not made in response to the furor generated last month after a pro-life organization released a video documenting the harvesting and selling of fetal body parts by Planned Parenthood.

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