The Saturday Send: Oct. 11, 2025

 

The Saturday Send

Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed.  This week, Jordan Wolman reports on how the offshore wind industry has been sluggish to cash in on millions of dollars worth of tax breaks in Massachusetts -- and what that tells us about the cost of building renewable energy infrastructure in 2025. Plus: municipalities warn about fiscal trouble to come, new research shows that benefits from a state program to upgrade schools have been distributed unequally, Bay Stater homeowners contemplate growing wildfire risks, and more. Check out those stories below, and, as always, thanks for reading. — The CommonWealth Beacon team

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Massachusetts offered up $35M in offshore wind tax breaks. They’ve gone unclaimed for two straight years.   By Jordan Wolman A state tax program meant to catalyze the offshore wind industry in Massachusetts hasn’t drawn any interest. READ MORE

Municipalities crank up the heat with report warning of financial ‘perfect storm’ By Chris Lisinski A new report from the Massachusetts Municipal Association could put more pressure on Beacon Hill to reconsider stalled reforms amid bigger-picture economic uncertainty and a persistent “affordability” debate. READ MORE

State school building program favors wealthier districts, leaving lower-income urban students in aging, dilapidated buildings, according to new study  By Hallie Claflin Despite efforts by the Legislature aimed at adequately funding school building projects, “students in Boston and the Gateway Cities continue to learn in buildings that are deteriorating, lacking in basic features, and often cramped and overcrowded,” according to a new report by the MassINC Policy Center. READ MORE

Mass. begins 2030 Census prep amid national redistricting fights By Chris Lisinski With mid-decade redistricting fights erupting elsewhere, Massachusetts officials are ramping up their preparations for the 2030 Census as they grapple with new housing development and concerns about community trust. READ MORE

Planning for wildfire risk a puzzle for homeowners, Mass. officials  By Jennifer Smith Massachusetts summers are expected to experience more variable and severe dry spells due to rising temperatures and less frequent rainfall. Meanwhile, the state is juggling a goal of 220,000 new housing units to beat the crunch while trying to plan for a world with more extreme weather, be it floods or fire. READ MORE

Job Board Chief Executive Officer – Boston Public Market Association Chief Financial and Operating Officer – Massachusetts Housing Partnership Legislative and Membership Administrator – Utility Contractors’ Association of New England Executive Director – Massachusetts Housing Partnership Executive Director – Metro Housing|Boston (Metro Housing) Director of Training and Capacity Building – Mass Mentoring Partnership Deputy Director – Free Software Foundation Director of Development – Boston Debate League Director of Green Infrastructure – City of Boston Sr. Business Development Manager – Resonant Energy ADVERTISE YOUR JOB LISTING

The math of rural health access This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith talks with Michael Leary, director of media relations for Berkshire Health Systems. They dive into what makes Berkshire County such a complicated place for health care access – with rural towns, busier cities, college students, and of course the seasonal visitors looking to peep some leaves or take in the snowy mountains. The far-flung region’s geography is a challenge on its own, and that’s before factoring in the system-wide staffing crunches and looming Medicaid LISTEN NOW

Published by MassINC

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