Showing posts with label climate crisis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label climate crisis. Show all posts

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, May 6

The Greater Franklin Node of 350 Massachusetts will meet this week, Thursday, May 6th, at 7:00 pm.  Here is the Zoom link: 
Password: 350ma
Audio by phone: +1 646 876 9923 
 
Residents of Franklin and nearby cities and towns are welcome to attend.
Meeting Agenda: While we are seeing positive developments at both the State House and the White House, we need to keep up the pressure on our legislators to sponsor and support key bills; we'll discuss related 350 Mass efforts. We are also planning statewide and local activities to implement our 2021/2022 campaigns to achieve the Green New Deal in housing and construction, transportation, and green energy (particularly solar). We want to collaborate with groups and individuals from the region who share the same concerns, so all our cities and towns can benefit. Please join us to learn and contribute.   
 
350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/) is building a powerful statewide social movement to confront the climate crisis, hold our politicians accountable and undermine the destructive influence of the fossil fuel industry. Our name comes from 350 parts per million, the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
350 Mass is made up of several local volunteer-led chapters we call "nodes" around the state that carry out both municipal-level and statewide campaigns, coordinated by a Statewide Steering Team (SST). The Greater Franklin Node includes Franklin and close to twenty nearby communities. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at 7:00 pm.
 
For questions and information, contact the node co-coordinators, carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net.
 
Ralph Halpern
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017 (c)
Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, May 6
Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, May 6

Monday, April 19, 2021

CommonWealth Magazine: real work begins on climate change; legislative fixes possible for essential worker problems

"The real work begins now on climate change" 

"THIS SPRING, as flowers and trees begin to bloom in New England, our clean energy industry is also ready to blossom after decades of delays and setbacks. 
Last month Gov. Charlie Baker signed one of the strongest climate bills in the nation, committing to reduce emissions 50 percent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Boston, Massachusetts’ largest city, launched a municipal energy program to expand access to renewable energy for residents, including low-income families, and is considering nation-leading regulations to address carbon emissions from our biggest source – large buildings. Worcester has committed to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.  Even smaller towns across the Commonwealth, like Arlington, Melrose, and Natick, are developing plans for net-zero emissions by 2050."
Continue reading the article online 

"Legislative fixes for essential worker problems"
"ESSENTIAL WORKERS have always played a significant role in our society, but their roles were especially amplified since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Elected officials, the public, and many business owners continue to praise the critical work these essential workers do. They had the difficult task of keeping our society afloat by being on the frontline of many services including healthcare, groceries, and mail delivery. But still, the workforce has been suffering from a lack of government support. The unemployment rate in Massachusetts has faced a 4.4 percentage point increase, with 165,423 more workers unemployed compared to March 2020.

Just as COVID-19 laid bare the racial and economic disparities present in sectors from education to healthcare, the deep inequities that create an uneven playing field for workers and working conditions have become more visible and severe."
Continue reading the article online 

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Rep Roy: What's happening in the district - April 2021 newsletter

From State Representative Jeff Roy's newsletter:

The Next Generation Climate Roadmap bill, which overhauls the state’s climate laws, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, advances the clean energy industry, and prioritizes and protects environmental justice communities was signed into law on March 26, 2021.

You can learn more about this landmark legislation by clicking here. You can view Rep. Roy’s floor remarks on the bill by clicking on the video below.

YouTube video link = https://youtu.be/ATUwnGlO-Sw

State Rep Roy's legislature page:  https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/JNR1

 


For the full newsletter content follow this link:


Greater Franklin Node of 350 Massachusetts - meeting Apr 15

The Greater Franklin Node of 350 Massachusetts will meet this week, Thursday, April 15, at 7:00 PM.  

Here is the Zoom link:  Join on Zoom

https://zoom.us/j/544734092?pwd=N3hwYzZBazRYZG9ycHRsbmliVkMxZz09
Meeting ID: 544 734 092
Password: 350ma
Audio by phone: +1 646 876 9923 

Residents of Franklin and nearby cities and towns are welcome to attend.

Meeting Agenda: While we are seeing positive developments at both the State House and the White House, we need to keep up the pressure on our legislators to sponsor and support key bills; we'll discuss related 350 Mass efforts. We are also planning statewide and local activities to implement our 2021/2022 campaigns to achieve the Green New Deal in housing and construction, transportation, and green energy (particularly solar). We want to collaborate with groups and individuals from the region who share the same concerns, so all our cities and towns can benefit. Please join us to learn and contribute.   

350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/) is building a powerful statewide social movement to confront the climate crisis, hold our politicians accountable and undermine the destructive influence of the fossil fuel industry. Our name comes from 350 parts per million, the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 

350 Mass is made up of several local volunteer-led chapters we call “nodes” around the state that carry out both municipal-level and statewide campaigns, coordinated by a Statewide Steering Team (SST). The Greater Franklin Node includes Franklin and close to twenty nearby communities. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at 7:00 pm.

For questions and information, contact the node co-coordinators, carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net.
 

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017 (c) 

Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node - Apr 15 = 7:00 PM
Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node - Apr 15 = 7:00 PM

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, April 1

The Greater Franklin Node of 350 Massachusetts will meet this week, Thursday, April 1, 7:00 pm.  
 
Here is the Zoom link: 
Password: 350ma
Audio by phone: +1 646 876 9923 
 
Residents of Franklin and nearby cities and towns are invited to attend. We will discuss ongoing legislative developments at the State House and the White House around climate action, including greater reliance on renewable sources of energy for electricity, home heating, and transportation. 
 
We are also planning local activities to educate and engage our communities about climate, renewable energy, home improvements, and related topics. We want to collaborate with groups and individuals from the region who share the same concerns, so all our cities and towns can benefit. Please join us to learn and contribute.  
 
350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/is building a powerful statewide social movement to confront the climate crisis, hold our politicians accountable and undermine the destructive influence of the fossil fuel industry. Our name comes from 350 parts per million, the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
 
350 Mass is made up of several local volunteer-led chapters we call "nodes" around the state that carry out both municipal-level and statewide campaigns, coordinated by a Statewide Steering Team (SST). The Greater Franklin Node includes Franklin and close to twenty nearby communities. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at 7:00 pm.
 
For questions and information, contact the node co-coordinators, carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net.
 
Ralph Halpern
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017 (c)
  
Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node - Apr 1 = 7:00 PM
Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node - Apr 1 = 7:00 PM
 

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Climate change legislation signed by Gov Baker

 

"IT TOOK BASICALLY all of the last legislative session and the first three months of the new one to get major climate policy signed into law, but the real work begins now that Gov. Charlie Baker has put his signature on the law.

After it took a long, winding and sometimes contentious road, the governor on Friday afternoon signed the long-discussed legislation designed to commit Massachusetts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, establish interim emissions goals between now and the middle of the century, adopt energy efficiency standards for appliances, authorize another 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind power and address needs in environmental justice communities."

Continue reading the article online 
 
Boston Globe coverage (subscription may be required)   https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/26/science/baker-signs-climate-bill/



Press conference video = https://youtu.be/XAY2gmgoC2U

Saturday, March 20, 2021

MA State News: climate change bill likely to get signed; Remote work likely here to stay

 

"WITH BOTH BRANCHES of the Legislature approving climate change legislation by veto-proof majorities, the Baker administration on Thursday declared victory and signaled that the governor will sign the bill into law.

“The governor and I are very pleased the Legislature adopted the vast majority of our amendments,” said Katie Theoharides, the governor’s secretary of energy and environmental affairs.

She said she couldn’t definitively say the governor will sign the bill until it actually reaches his desk and he can see it in its final form, but she signaled that was likely. “We are very pleased by the inclusion of key amendments as well as technical changes,” she said."
Continue reading the article online
 
The MA Legislature's press release on the passage of the climate change bill

The link to the legislation itself  https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S9

Remote work looks like it’s here to stay

"EASTERN BANK USED to be a typical employer. Be in the office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an hour break for lunch. Its employees in Lynn, Boston, and elsewhere fought the traffic with other rush hour commuters.

No more. That model, says CEO Bob Rivers, is likely gone for good.

Once the pandemic eases, Eastern Bank plans to implement for the first time a widely available work-from-home policy, which will give employers more options for whether they want to come into the office or not.

“Being able to work in this way with greater flexibility we think will make us a better employer, and certainly a more competitive employer,” Rivers said."


Friday, March 19, 2021

MA Legislature Passes Landmark Climate Legislation

The Massachusetts House of Representatives and state Senate on Thursday passed nation-leading climate legislation, known as the Next Generation Climate Roadmap bill, which overhauls the state’s climate laws, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, advances the clean energy industry, and prioritizes and protects environmental justice communities.

“The Senate and House reaffirm today that this landmark climate legislation is too important to delay,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “These measures will put our Commonwealth on a path to lowering harmful carbon emissions, add fuel to our growing green economy and improve the lives of those living in underserved communities. Now is the time to be proactive in how we approach our climate crisis and to protect our environment for future generations. I want to thank my legislative partner, House Speaker Mariano for his collaboration, Senator Barrett and Representatives Golden and Roy for their steadfast support, and the residents of Massachusetts for their unwavering support in advancing this legislation.”

“I am proud the House and the Senate have not backed down from our ambitious goals and unwavering commitment to make Massachusetts a leader in climate protection and clean energy,” said Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy). “There is no doubt this legislation will set Massachusetts on the right path and benefit generations to come. I thank Chairman Roy and Leader Golden for their work over the course of two sessions, and Senate President Spilka for her collaboration in getting this bill once again back to the Governor’s desk.”

“This bill is about getting down to brass tacks. It's about getting the job done, one step at a time, starting now,” said Senator Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. “The pace of climate change is picking up—so the pace of climate policy must pick up. The Next Generation Climate Roadmap bill reflects the concerns of people of every age, from every part of the state. The grassroots climate movement of Massachusetts is a force to be reckoned with.”

"This historic legislation will set Massachusetts on a path towards reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 by establishing robust interim limits and providing key sectors of our economy with clear guidelines and goal posts for their decarbonization," said Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. "Each roadmap plan will tackle reducing emissions in a holistic manner, while also ensuring that environmental justice communities are included, and workers are not left behind by our transition to clean energy. I'm honored to have worked on getting this crucial climate bill to the finish line and thank Speaker Mariano and Leader Golden for their invaluable work and leadership on this bill."

“History has been made today with the passage of the Next-Generation Roadmap bill,” said State Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. (D-Lowell), former Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy.  “The Roadmap sets us on a strong course to net zero by 2050 and significantly advances offshore wind, truly representing the best ideas from both chambers.  Hats off to the House and the Senate for holding firm on ambitious emissions targets.  A special thank-you to Speaker Mariano for his tireless perseverance and vision in seeing this day become a reality.”

“This bill offers us a comprehensive roadmap to move us away from fossil fuels and towards ensuring environmental justice,” said Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem (D-Newton).  “The provisions of this bill represent a great step forward in our efforts to reduce harmful carbon emissions and it needs to become law now.”

The passage of the climate bill comes after a joint commitment from Senate President Karen E. Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano to quickly refile the legislation following a gubernatorial veto last session. This session Governor Baker offered amendments to the bill, which have been considered by the Legislature. Today, the House and Senate rejected efforts to slow the rate of progress toward net-zero emissions by 2050, while accepting a number of more technical amendments that improve the bill.

The final legislation:

  •     Sets a statewide net-zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and mandates emissions limits every five years, as well as sublimits for transportation, buildings, and other sectors of the economy.
  •     Codifies environmental justice provisions into Massachusetts law, defining environmental justice populations and providing new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods.
  •     Establishes a municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code which includes a definition of “net-zero building” and net-zero building performance standards.
  •     Requires an additional 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind, increasing the total authorization to 5,600 megawatts in the Commonwealth.
  •     Directs the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the regulator of the state's electric and natural gas utilities, to balance priorities going forward: system safety, system security, reliability, affordability, equity, and, significantly, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
  •     Sets appliance energy efficiency standards for a variety of common appliances including plumbing, faucets, computers, and commercial appliances.
  •     Adopts several measures aimed at improving gas pipeline safety, including increased fines for safety violations, provisions related to training and certifying utility contractors, and setting interim targets for companies to reduce leak rates.
  •     Requires utilities to include an explicit value for greenhouse gas reductions when they calculate the cost-effectiveness of an offering of MassSave.
  •     Increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 3 per cent each year from 2025–2029, resulting in 40 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
  •     A national first, this legislation factors the "carbon sequestration" capacity of Massachusetts' natural and working lands directly into our emissions reduction plans.
  •     Prioritizes equitable access to the state’s solar programs by low-income communities.
  •     Sets benchmarks for the adoption of clean energy technologies including electric vehicles, charging stations, solar technology, energy storage, heat pumps and anaerobic digestors.
  •     Establishes $12 million in annual funding for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to create a pathway to the clean energy industry for environmental justice populations, minority-owned and women-owned businesses, and fossil fuel workers.
  •     Provides solar incentives for businesses by exempting them from the net metering cap to allow them to install solar systems on their premises to help them offset their electricity use and save money.
  •     Creates a first-time greenhouse gas emissions standard for municipal lighting plants that requires them to purchase 50 percent non-emitting electricity by 2030, 75 percent by 2040 and “net zero” by 2050.  


The bill now returns to the Governor’s desk

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, March 18

The Greater Franklin Node of 350 Massachusetts will meet this week, Thursday, March 18th, at 7:00 pm.  Here is the Zoom link: 
 
Meeting ID: 544 734 092
Password: 350ma
Audio by phone: +1 646 876 9923 
 
Residents of Franklin and nearby cities and towns are invited to attend. We will discuss ongoing legislative developments at the State House around climate action, including greater reliance on renewable sources of energy for electricity, home heating, and transportation. We are also planning local activities to educate and engage our communities about climate, renewable energy, home improvements, and related topics. We want to collaborate with groups and individuals from the region who share the same concerns, so all our cities and towns can benefit. Please join us to learn and contribute.  
 
350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/) is building a powerful statewide social movement to confront the climate crisis, hold our politicians accountable and undermine the destructive influence of the fossil fuel industry. Our name comes from 350 parts per million, the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
350 Mass is made up of several local volunteer-led chapters we call "nodes" around the state that carry out both municipal-level and statewide campaigns, coordinated by a Statewide Steering Team (SST). The Greater Franklin Node includes Franklin and close to twenty nearby communities. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at 7:00 pm.
 
For questions and information, contact the node co-coordinators, carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net.
 
Ralph Halpern
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017 (c)
 

Friday, March 12, 2021

Senate President Karen E. Spilka: "to act boldly and quickly on climate change"

Statement from Senate President Karen E. Spilka

"Generations of Massachusetts residents are calling on us, as their elected representatives, to act boldly and quickly on climate change, which threatens our planet, our livelihoods, our economy and our future. I am profoundly disappointed that the Republican caucus in the Senate is stopping the NextGen Roadmap climate bill from being debated and passed today. The majority of the Senate remains prepared to take swift action on this bill."

Senate President Karen E. Spilka

D-Ashland

--------------

Why was this statement issued? CommonWealth Magazine provides the answer:

"THE SENATE REPUBLICAN leader, raising concerns about an attempt by Democrats to push climate change legislation through the chamber quickly on Thursday, used a parliamentary maneuver to delay action until next week.

The move triggered a strong reaction from Senate Democrats, who accused Sen. Bruce Tarr of Gloucester of unnecessarily delaying action on climate change legislation which they said desperately needs to pass."

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/environment/republican-delays-action-on-climate-change-bill/


Thursday, March 4, 2021

New York Times: "a poster child for the idea of climatic 'tipping points'”

"In the Atlantic Ocean, Subtle Shifts Hint at Dramatic Dangers
The warming atmosphere is causing an arm of the powerful Gulf Stream to weaken, some scientists fear."

Follow the link to review this article online at the New York Times. This is one article that is much better viewed with the visuals they use due to the interactive nature of their presentation.

"IT’S ONE OF THE MIGHTIEST RIVERS you will never see, carrying some 30 times more water than all the world’s freshwater rivers combined. In the North Atlantic, one arm of the Gulf Stream breaks toward Iceland, transporting vast amounts of warmth far northward, by one estimate supplying Scandinavia with heat equivalent to 78,000 times its current energy use. Without this current — a heat pump on a planetary scale — scientists believe that great swathes of the world might look quite different."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Meeting Notice: 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node - Mar 4 = 7:00 PM

The Greater Franklin Node of  350 Massachusetts will meet this week, Thursday, March 4th, at 7:00 pm.  
 
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755   Passcode: 350ma  Audio by phone: 1-646-876-9923
 
Residents of Franklin and nearby cities and towns are invited to attend. We will discuss ongoing legislative developments at the State House around climate action, including greater reliance on renewable sources of energy for electricity, home heating, and transportation. We are also planning local activities to educate and engage our communities about climate, renewable energy, home improvements, and related topics. We want to collaborate with groups and individuals from the region who share the same concerns, so all our cities and towns can benefit. Please join us to learn and contribute.  
 
350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/) is building a powerful statewide social movement to confront the climate crisis, hold our politicians accountable and undermine the destructive influence of the fossil fuel industry. Our name comes from 350 parts per million, the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
350 Mass is made up of several local volunteer-led chapters we call "nodes" around the state that carry out both municipal-level and statewide campaigns, coordinated by a Statewide Steering Team (SST). The Greater Franklin Node includes Franklin and close to twenty nearby communities. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at 7:00 pm.
 
For questions and information, contact the node co-coordinators, carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net.
 
Ralph Halpern
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017 (c) 
 
 
Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node - Mar 4 = 7:00 PM
Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node - Mar 4 = 7:00 PM

“We’re not going to want to dredge and fill forever”

"Officials in Miami-Dade County, where climate models predict two feet or more of sea-level rise by 2060, have released an upbeat strategy for living with more water, one that focused on elevating homes and roads, more dense construction farther inland and creating more open space for flooding in low-lying areas.

That blueprint, made public on Friday, portrayed rising seas as mostly manageable, especially for a low-lying area with a century of experience managing water.

Climate experts, though, warned that the county’s plan downplayed the magnitude of the threat, saying it failed to warn residents and developers about the risk of continuing to build near the coast in a county whose economy depends heavily on waterfront real estate."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/climate/miami-sea-level-rise.html

Does Boston have a plan for rising tides? Does the Cape have a plan?

Thursday, February 25, 2021

FM #470 - Interview with State Rep Jeff Roy - 02/22/21 (audio)

FM #470 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 470 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin’s State Representative Jeffrey Roy. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: 
  • Indoor riding to prepare for his 19th PanMass Challenge
  • Thursday night continues COVID-19 modified rehearsal with Ben Gardner’s Boat 
  • Outlook for 2021
  • Pandemic, vaccine, oversight of Gov Baker and pandemic process
  • Committee assignment: Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities, and Energy
  • What bills did you Intro/or re-introduce for this session
Links to Jeff's personal web page as well as his Legislative pages are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 42 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jeff.  Audio file = 
https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c7fea725-a210-4022-8eeb-1024c04e576a


--------------

Rep Roy’s State Legislator profile page which lists the bills he filed for the 192nd Session  https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JNR1 

Rep Roy’s personal page  https://jeffreyroy.com/ 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
 
How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
  • If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
 
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Rep Roy on his tour of UMass Medical in Nov 2019 as part of his visits to all 29 MA Commonwealth public colleges
Rep Roy on his tour of UMass Medical in Nov 2019 as part of his visits to all 29 MA Commonwealth public colleges

Sunday, February 21, 2021

“We are colliding with a future of extremes”

 

"Even as Texas struggled to restore electricity and water over the past week, signs of the risks posed by increasingly extreme weather to America’s aging infrastructure were cropping up across the country.

The week’s continent-spanning winter storms triggered blackouts in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and several other states. One-third of oil production in the nation was halted. Drinking-water systems in Ohio were knocked offline. Road networks nationwide were paralyzed and vaccination efforts in 20 states were disrupted.

The crisis carries a profound warning. As climate change brings more frequent and intense storms, floods, heat waves, wildfires and other extreme events, it is placing growing stress on the foundations of the country’s economy: Its network of roads and railways, drinking-water systems, power plants, electrical grids, industrial waste sites and even homes. Failures in just one sector can set off a domino effect of breakdowns in hard-to-predict ways."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting, Thursday, February 18, 7:00 PM

Hello to our members and supporters. The Greater Franklin Node of 350 Massachusetts will meet this weekThursday, February 18 , at 7:00 PM.  Here are the the Zoom details, and a preview of the meeting.
 
Join Zoom Meeting. 
Meeting ID: 544 734 092
Password: 350ma
Audio by phone: +1 646 876 9923  
 
There's no need to RSVP, and we'll send a reminder on Thursday.
 
Meeting Agenda
The principal topics at this meeting will be: 
  • State legislative action on climate: In January the state Senate and House of Representatives passed the Next Generation Roadmap Climate Bill, only to see it vetoed by Governor Baker. The legislature proceeded to vote again and pass the same bill. The Governor sent it back with amendments. Read about it and take action here. 
     
    • In a related development, the coalition Mass Power Forward has scheduled a Lobby Day (via Zoom) for March 4th. For the new legislative session, Mass Power Forward will be advocating for 3 main groups of bills: the Environmental Justice Table's priorities; the MA Renews Alliance work to rapidly retrofit homes to be affordable, efficient, electric and climate healing; and continuing our work from last session to get Massachusetts to 100% renewable energy. Information and registration here.
  • 350 Mass 2021-22 Campaign: Our priorities will include promoting energy-efficient housing and transportation. We will discuss these projects and roles for our Node within this region of the state.
As always, we'll touch on other developments in climate and energy news, and we'll identify ways that we can contribute as a Node and individually. 
 
Thanks for your participation and support.
 
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
 
Ralph Halpern
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017 (c)

Monday, February 8, 2021

“There will be disagreements there, but I liked the new theme”

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER sent the Legislature’s twice-passed climate change bill back on Sunday with new, compromise language that strikes a more conciliatory tone and dials back some of his earlier objections.

When the Legislature first passed the bill in early January at the end of the last legislative session, the governor could only approve or reject it. He rejected it, raising concerns about its costly emissions target for 2030, its separate emission targets for six industry subsectors, its offshore wind procurements, its support for community energy codes that could deter the production of affordable housing, and the narrowness of its environmental justice provisions.

Lawmakers, irked by the administration’s attitude, responded by passing the same bill again and sending it back to Baker. But administration officials and legislative leaders over the last three weeks also began talking, trying to sort out their differences. “We did try to find areas of common ground,” said Kathleen Theoharides, the governor’s secretary of energy and environmental affairs."

Link to the S9 legislation text https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S9

 

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting, Thursday February 4, 7:00 PM

Hello to our members and supporters. The Greater Franklin Node of  350 Massachusetts will meet this week, Thursday, February 4, at 7:00 PM.  Here are the the Zoom details, and a preview of the meeting.
 
Join Zoom Meeting. 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Audio by phone: +1 646 876 9923  
 
There's no need to RSVP, and we'll send a reminder on Thursday.
 
Meeting Agenda
The principal topics at this meeting will be: 
  • State legislative action on climate: In January the state Senate and House of Representatives passed the Next Generation Roadmap Climate Bill, only to see it vetoed by Governor Baker. The legislature proceeded to vote again and pass the same bill. It is now up to the Governor to take action by Sunday, February 7. We call on everyone to contact the Governor and urge him to sign the bill. SEE THIS TOOLKIT FOR ACTION

  • 350 Mass 2021-22 Campaign: The organization is on the verge of selecting priority projects for this year and next, to address the escalating climate crisis by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and moving to a 100% clean, sustainable, and just energy future. We will discuss likely projects and roles for our Node within this region of the state.

  • State Legislature Transparency Campaign: 350 Mass, Act on Mass, and other organizations have advocated for rules reform in the House of Representatives to improve and make public the House's decision-making. The new Speaker of the House Ron Mariano has postponed the vote on this session's rules for several months. We will share updates and strategies.   

In addition, we will share announcements about local meetings and activities, and relevant webinars and reports so we can all be better informed.  
 
This year holds promise for major progress on slowing the climate crisis, led by our state legislature and the Biden Administration. There is much to be done. 350 Mass and our Greater Franklin Node will continue to inform you about developments and opportunities for your help. We hope you can attend our meetings (1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month) as your schedule allows, to learn more and to contribute to this most important cause.
 
Thanks for your participation and support.
 
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
 
Ralph Halpern
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017 (c)
       
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting


Friday, January 29, 2021

Legislature Passes Landmark Climate Change Bill

The Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate reaffirmed its commitment today to addressing the climate crisis facing our Commonwealth by passing legislation that overhauls our state’s climate laws, drives down greenhouse gas emissions, creates clean energy jobs, and protects environmental justice communities.

The passage of An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy (S.9), comes after a joint commitment from Senate President Karen E. Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano, as well as last session’s House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, Senator Michael Barrett and Representative Thomas Golden, to refile the legislation following a gubernatorial veto last session.

“This legislation outlines a clear roadmap to address our immediate climate crisis,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Time is of the essence and we could not let a delay hamper our efforts to protect future generations. The necessary tools included in this legislation will soon lead to lower emissions, a thriving green economy, and cleaner air and water for all. I want to thank my legislative partner, House Speaker Mariano for his collaboration, Senator Barrett and Representative Golden for their steadfast support, and the residents of Massachusetts for their support in this endeavor.”

“The House and Senate again acted to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, lead on clean energy, and protect environmental justice communities,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Senate President Spilka for her commitment to joining the House in responding immediately to Governor Baker’s veto of this important legislation. I am also grateful for the work and leadership of Chairman Golden, and for my colleagues in the House for acting with the urgency the climate crisis demands.”

“The most recent numbers tell us Massachusetts is backsliding in terms of reducing emissions,” said Senator Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. “This bill is our chance to get back on track and stay there. It’s ambitious but balanced, and the most important piece of climate legislation to come before us since 2008. Tip of the hat to President Spilka and Speaker Mariano for putting us back to work on climate immediately. Because of them, the legislation’s odds of ultimate success are excellent.”

“If not for the initiative and resolve of Speaker Mariano and Senate President Spilka, the Next-Generation Roadmap bill would not have been before the Legislature in the first month of the 2021 - 2022 session,” said Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. (D-Lowell), Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. “I am beyond proud to have once again voted with my colleagues on this path-breaking legislation and I look forward to continued collaboration to make it law and propel the Commonwealth towards its clean energy future.”
 
The bill sets a 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions limit, as well as statewide limits every five years; increases the requirements for offshore wind energy procurement bringing the statewide total authorization to 5,600 megawatts; requires emission reduction goals for MassSave, the state’s energy efficiency program; and, for the first time, establishes the criteria in statute that define environmental justice populations. The legislation also increases support for clean energy workforce development programs including those targeting low-income communities, and improves gas pipeline safety.

The legislation includes, among other items, the following provisions.

•    Sets a statewide net-zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and mandates emissions limits every five years, as well as limits for specific sectors of the economy, including transportation and buildings.
•    Codifies environmental justice provisions into Massachusetts law, defining environmental justice populations and providing new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods.
•    Requires an additional 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind, building on previous legislation action and increases the total authorization to 5,600 megawatts in the Commonwealth.
•    Directs the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the regulator of the state's electric and natural gas utilities, to balance priorities going forward: system safety, system security, reliability, affordability, equity, and, significantly, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
•    Sets appliance energy efficiency standards for a variety of common appliances including plumbing, faucets, computers, and commercial appliances.
•    Adopts several measures aimed at improves gas pipeline safety, including increased fines for safety violations and regulations related to training and certifying utility contractors.
•    Increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 3 percent each year from 2025 – 2029, resulting in 40 percent renewable energy by 2030.
•    Establishes an opt-in municipal net-zero energy stretch code, including a definition of “net-zero building.”
•    Prioritizes equitable access to the state’s solar programs by low-income communities
•    Establishes $12 million in annual funding for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in order to create a pathway to the clean energy industry for environmental justice populations and minority-owned and women- owned businesses.
•    Provides solar incentives for businesses by exempting them from the net metering cap to allow them to install solar systems on their premises to help offset their electricity use and save money.
•    Requires utilities to include an explicit value for greenhouse gas reductions when they calculate the cost- effectiveness of an offering of MassSave.
•    Creates a first-time greenhouse gas emissions standard for municipal lighting plants that requires them to purchase 50 percent non-emitting electricity by 2030 and “net-zero” by 2050.
•    Sets benchmarks for the adoption of clean energy technologies including electric vehicles, charging stations, solar technology, energy storage, heat pumps and anaerobic digestors.

The bill is now with the governor. 

Link to the legislation text  https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S9

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Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Statements from Senate President Karen E. Spilka on climate legislation and Commonwealth address

Statement from Senate President Karen E. Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano

"Today, the Temporary Senate Committee on Ways and Means is advancing the bipartisan climate bill that passed last session.  The Senate and House have scheduled formal sessions for Thursday and will vote once again to take bold action to combat climate change, protect environmental justice communities, and ensure environmentally responsible economic growth."

 

Senate President Karen E. Spilka on State of the Commonwealth Address

“Governor Baker reminded us of the true strength of our Commonwealth – our people. Like the Governor, I am so grateful to the people of Massachusetts for their perseverance during this most difficult year. It is for them that the Massachusetts State Senate has kept working hard throughout this pandemic, and they are the reason we are getting right back to work. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Governor Baker and the House of Representatives on behalf of the people of this great state.”