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New England's six governors are banding together to explore collective plans on nuclear energy as the region braces for future electricity surges.

Why it matters: ISO New England projects electricity consumption will climb more than 40% over the next two decades, and peak winter demand could potentially double by 2045.

In a joint statement, the governors say nuclear is essential to keeping the New England grid reliable and affordable.

State of play: Democrats like Gov. Maura Healey, Connecticut's Ned Lamont, Maine's Janet Mills and Rhode Island's Dan McKee joined Republicans Kelly Ayotte from New Hampshire and Phil Scott from Vermont on a joint pledge Tuesday to direct state energy agencies to examine building advanced nuclear power systems.

The guvs' agreement has two tracks: preserving the region's existing, but aging, nuclear plants while exploring sites for next-generation reactors.

They say they'll only put reactors in communities willing to host them, so community input and local decision-making are top priorities.

The big picture: The announcement fits into a national push to fast-track nuclear construction.

At last week's CERAWeek conference in Houston, energy industry executives described how to streamline nuclear development.

Between the lines: Healey was already pretty bullish on nuclear, having directed Massachusetts agencies to seek out new nuclear power opportunities.

What we're watching: UMass Lowell is developing nuclear and fusion energy roadmaps that should inform Massachusetts decision-makers on the path forward.

At last week's CERAWeek conference in Houston

New England governors back nuclear in bipartisan push

All six chief executives signed on to explore next-generation nuclear power in their states.

Animated illustration of a smoking nuclear power power plant tower that twitches and multiplies into a line of towers into the distance.

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Illustration of a power outlet with a nuclear symbol-shaped outlet.

New England&#x27;s six governors are banding together to explore collective plans on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nuclear energy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/31/nuclear-reactor-plants-new-build-ai" data-vars-content-id="43ab131e-aa0f-4260-9ffc-a0e0299af9d4" data-vars-headline="New England governors back nuclear in bipartisan push" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/31/nuclear-reactor-plants-new-build-ai" target="_self">nuclear energy</a> as the region braces for future electricity surges.Why it matters: ISO New England projects electricity consumption will climb more than 40% over the next two decades, and peak winter demand could potentially double by 2045.<ul><li>In a joint statement, the governors say nuclear is essential to keeping the New England grid reliable and affordable.</li></ul>

News

The end of an international logjam involving the Trump administration could soon mean more new Red Line subway cars in the tunnels beneath Boston.

Why it matters: The clock is now ticking on a long-promised project already years behind schedule.

State of play: U.S. Customs and Border Protection last month released a batch of train car shells manufactured in China by the company working for the T to provide new subway vehicles.

The shells had been held for nearly 10 months over federal concerns that Uyghur people were forced to labor on them.

Gov. Maura Healey and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal helped secure the release after bringing the issue directly to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the Globe reported.

The customs detention pushed an already-slipping schedule further back. Now there are just under two years until the initial 2027 target to deliver all the new cars.

By the numbers: The T ordered 252 total Red Line cars from CRRC.

60 were delivered as of late January 2026.

What's next: The impounded shells are expected to finally make their way to the CRRC MA factory in Springfield by mid-April.

The plant is set to resume assembly and retrofitting operations on the shells. The company will begin recalling 142 workers furloughed since the shells were impounded, including electricians and engineers.

Zoom in: The MBTA's existing Red Line fleet is around 30 to 50 years old and has proven dangerously vulnerable to winter conditions and fair-weather breakdowns.

The newer CRRC cars have outperformed benchmarks for winter performance set by the T.

At least they could be here by next winter.

The bottom line: The parts are finally moving, but whether Springfield workers can make up lost ground before the 2027 deadline is still an open question.

What's next for MBTA's new Red Line cars held by Trump administration

Detained Red Line train shells cleared — but with 190 cars still unbuilt and no updated timeline from CRRC MA, the end-of-2027 delivery target isn't looking so good.

Animated illustration of an MBTA Red Line train with the T logo changing to a stop sign.

The end of an international logjam involving the Trump administration could soon mean more new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Red Line" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/11/25/mbta-red-line-boston-phillip-eng" data-vars-content-id="51ef8b4e-fcf7-4796-be42-ead0835a9f79" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s next for MBTA&#x27;s new Red Line cars held by Trump administration" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/11/25/mbta-red-line-boston-phillip-eng" target="_self">Red Line</a> subway cars in the tunnels beneath Boston.Why it matters: The clock is now ticking on a long-promised project already years behind schedule.

Transit

Massachusetts boaters need a new safety certification under a law that takes effect Wednesday and ups requirements for all motorized vessel operators.

Why it matters: Officials say drowning and boating accidents remain persistent public safety risks. 

The Hanson Milone Safe Boating Law's backers say mandatory training can reduce preventable deaths on lakes, rivers and coasts.

State of play: The law rolls out in two phases based on operator age.

Boaters born after Jan. 1, 1989 must obtain certification by April 1, 2026. 

Those born on or before that date have until April 1, 2028.

All motorized vessel operators, including jet ski riders, will eventually need a valid boating safety certificate.

How to comply: Boaters must complete a state-approved safety course, online or in person, covering water safety rules, boat operation, emergency procedures and state-specific regulations.

What's next: The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association is running a public awareness campaign with a TV commercial airing on NESN.

New Mass. boating safety law kicks in

All Massachusetts motorized vessel operators must get certified under new Hanson Milone law — here's what you need to know and when.

Illustration of a series of roadsigns on a pole with boat, train, and building icons

Massachusetts boaters need a new safety certification under a law that takes effect Wednesday and ups requirements for all motorized vessel operators.Why it matters: Officials say drowning and boating accidents remain persistent public safety risks. <ul><li>The Hanson Milone Safe Boating Law&#x27;s backers say mandatory training can reduce preventable deaths on lakes, rivers and coasts.</li></ul>

Public Safety

MBTA riders in Cambridge, Medford and Somerville will be thrilled to find out the T has plans to extend electrified rapid transit well into the suburbs — but not for long. 

That's because the news is an elaborate April Fools' Day prank put on by a political candidate.

Why it matters: Cambridge Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem says his campaign spent more than $5,000 putting digital video ads on 109 MBTA station billboards to get riders hyped about expanding the T.

The Green Line to Woburn and Bird's Hill in Needham

The Orange Line to Greenwood in Wakefield

The other side: The MBTA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Whomp whomp: The truth is the advertised "Coolidge Plan" at the heart of the expansion was actually shelved by officials in the mid-20th century in favor of more highways and automobile-focused infrastructure.

It's a very real 1947 plan that proposed extending the Red, Green, Blue and Orange lines to 29 cities and towns.

What they're saying: "In the '70s and '80s, we added, like, 22 stations in a decade. And now we're just struggling to keep the lights on," Azeem told Axios.

Catch up quick: The original Coolidge Commission, chaired by Lt. Gov. and presidential cousin Arthur W. Coolidge, called for a $100 million electrified regional rail buildout using existing railroad rights-of-way.

Between the lines: Azeem's real target isn't MBTA management, it's the Beacon Hill leaders who fund the T.

The T videos are also political ads for Azeem's run for the 2nd Middlesex state Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Patricia Jehlen.

A QR code on the ads drives traffic to a historical explainer video that's racked up 300,000 Instagram views.

The bottom line: The joke is that it's not a joke, and Azeem's April Fools' "prank" is a real, if far-fetched, policy platform.

And he thinks the ad buy was a good investment, calling the $5,000 price tag "my little way of contributing to the MBTA budget shortfall."

No, the MBTA is not expanding the Red Line to Lexington

Cambridge Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem spent $5K on fake MBTA expansion billboards.

Three posters: two orange posters with blue train-track borders; center on navy shows an orange circle with a white 5 and the text the expansion of 5 train lines! April Fools!

MBTA riders in Cambridge, Medford and Somerville will be thrilled to find out the T has plans to extend electrified rapid transit well into the suburbs — but not for long. <ul><li>That&#x27;s because the news is an elaborate April Fools&#x27; Day prank put on by a political candidate.</li></ul>

Politics

Dunkin' has a new banana-based lineup for Spring 2026 and as a diehard banana Stan, I tried out some oft he new flavors on tap.

What I'm saying: "Wow, that is not what a banana tastes like," I blurted out to the dog, who has never had a banana and did not dispute my claim.

What I drank: Two banana cold foam treats: the Banana Puddin' Cloud Latte ($6.59) and the Banana Shakin' Espresso ($5.49.)

The espresso one was tastier, but that might have been because the stronger coffee flavor masked the banana better.

The cloud latte was more like the kind of coffee-adjacent milkshake you might get at Marylou's.

Now it's not quite fair to hold Dunkin's new banana flavor syrup up to the standards of fresh fruit, but the candy flavor was more "yellow runts" than "cavendish."

The intrigue: If you want to know why imitation banana flavor usually tastes nothing like bananas, check out "Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World" by Dan Koeppel.

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

We tried Dunkin's new banana lineup so you don't have to

Here is how the new cold foam treats actually taste.

Two Dunkin' iced coffees on a red tray with attached order labels reading Mobile Walk In and Michael D; a white Dunkin bag with orange logo in the background.

Now you know my government name. Photo: Mike Deehan/Axios

Dunkin&#x27; has a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="banana-based lineup" data-vars-click-url="https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog/banana-lineup-2026" data-vars-content-id="fc19061a-d87f-43f5-a989-5ea6c5193467" data-vars-headline="We tried Dunkin&#x27;s new banana lineup so you don&#x27;t have to" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog/banana-lineup-2026" target="_blank">banana-based lineup</a> for Spring 2026 and as a diehard banana Stan, I tried out some oft he new flavors on tap.What I&#x27;m saying: &quot;Wow, that is not what a banana tastes like,&quot; I blurted out to the dog, who has never had a banana and did not dispute my claim.

Mike Deehan

Featured stories

What's next for MBTA's new Red Line cars held by Trump administration

New Mass. boating safety law kicks in

We tried Dunkin's new banana lineup so you don't have to

No, the MBTA is not expanding the Red Line to Lexington

New England governors back nuclear in bipartisan push