Will Sennott

Oct 31, 2024 | oceanstatestories.org | Will Sennott

This story was originally published in The New Bedford Light, a publication partner of Ocean State Stories. NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The city’s Port Authority published a letter to offshore wind regulators on Wednesday, raising “grave concerns” over a 13.4 million acre tract of ocean recently opened to wind farm developers in the Central Atlantic that could put up to $2 billion in commercial fishing revenue at risk.

Oct 31, 2024 | newbedfordlight.org | Will Sennott

New Bedford fishermen fly many flags. There is the American flag; the skull and crossbones flag. There are flags expressing resistance to offshore wind development. And there are many — many — flags for former President Donald Trump. But one flag is rarely hoisted on the New Bedford waterfront. “I have yet to see a Harris-Walz flag on a fishing vessel,” said Drew Minkiewicz, an attorney representing the industry’s Sustainable Scalloping Fund. Key 2024 election datesNov.

Oct 29, 2024 | newbedfordlight.org | Will Sennott

ACUSHNET — Campaign signs supporting Jesse St. Gelais line the winding, rural roads in the candidate’s hometown. An independent, St. Gelais is running to fill an open state representative seat for the 8th Bristol District, and has campaigned on both promoting government transparency and his deep local roots. “We need someone that is grounded in the community who is going to help this community,” the 41-year-old-political newcomer said in a recent interview with The Light.

Oct 25, 2024 | savingseafood.org | Will Sennott

October 25, 2024 — The city’s Port Authority published a letter to offshore wind regulators Wednesday, raising “grave concerns” over a 13.4 million acre tract of ocean recently opened to wind farm developers in the Central Atlantic that could put up to $2 billion in commercial fishing revenue at risk. “BOEM has painted with too broad a brush,” New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell wrote in the letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

Oct 24, 2024 | newbedfordlight.org | Will Sennott

NEW BEDFORD — Vineyard Wind released its latest jobs report at Thursday’s offshore wind conference, stating that in its third year of operations, it has exceeded some of its targets for union hiring, but fallen short on its goals for employing women and people of color. As the project approaches completion, the workforce will be reduced, the company said, to pivot from construction to operations and maintenance.