Making Sense of Climate #28: Catching up on climate news, touting action as antidote to despair (audio)

FM #1022 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1022 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Thursday, July 13, 2023.  

In this episode we cover multiple topics as we caught up on what has happened since our prior recording. Links to the articles we talk of are located below.  

Briefly

• Climate challenges are here, when will it be recognized that change is required?

• Solar, agrivoltaics, home wind turbines, nuclear

• ISO New England & grid intersections 

• Energize Franklin, action is the antidote to despair

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 42 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted McIntyre as he helps me ‘make sense of climate’

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1022-making-sense-of-climate-28-07-13-23

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Links to articles referenced:

Temperature records ->  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/05/tuesday-was-worlds-hottest-day-on-record-breaking-mondays-record

Solar power roof maps -> https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/07/06/solar-power-rooftop-map-technical-potential-climate-goals 

Electrical grid interconnections (ISO New England to ISO New York, etc.)

https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/07/05/electrical-transmission-power-lines-massachusetts-new-england-clean-energy-doe 

Shift in thinking about nuclear -> https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/shift-in-thinking-on-nuclear-power/ 

Agrivoltaics -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrivoltaics 

Home wind turbines -> https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/07/11/home-wind-turbine-renewable-energy/ 

Power cell efficiency ->

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/06/revolutionary-solar-power-cell-innovations-break-key-energy-threshold 

Turbine efficiency -> https://www.vernier.com/experiment/rev-12_turbine-efficiency/ 

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

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/ or www.franklin.news/

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!

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

Making Sense of Climate #28: Catching up on climate news, touting action as antidote to despair (audio)

Intro to the Town of Franklin Conservation Agent: Breeka Li Goodlander (audio)

FM #920 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 920 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my introductory conversation with the Town of Franklin Conservation Agent Breeka Li Goodlander, CWS, PWS. We had our conversation via conference bridge.  

Topics for this session

• Background on Breeka Li’s road to Franklin

• Role of a Conservation Agent; protection of wetlands, etc.

• Beaver institute training underway

• Liaison for community on potential issues with management of open space & wetlands, invasive species, 100-200 foot guidelines

• Typical day of an agent: office work, field work & lots of liaison work

The conversation runs about 13 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Breeka Li

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-920-town-of-franklin-intro-to-our-conservation-agent-01-12-23

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Conservation page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation 

Contact info ->  Conservation Agent/Natural Resource Protection Manager

(508) 520-4847

Open Space & Recreation plan update  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/pages/2023-open-space-and-recreation-plan-update 

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

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/ or www.franklin.news/

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"

 Town of Franklin Conservation Agent: Breeka Li Goodlander (LinkedIn profile photo)

sign up for the Environment MA release of "Renewable Communities 2022" webinar on Aug 10

Via Environment MA (https://twitter.com/EnvironmentMA) 

"Across Massachusetts, cities and towns are leading the way to a future powered by clean energy. Our new report shows how.

Join us for the release of Renewable Communities 2022 next Wednesday at 11 AM:"

Register for this event -> https://environmentmassachusetts.webaction.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=1353

sign up for the Environment MA release of "Renewable Communities 2022" webinar on Aug 10

Say "NO" to exempt from "a slew of environmental requirements" for a stadium

"The Massachusetts House passed legislation late Thursday that could clear the way for Robert Kraft to build a long-sought soccer stadium for the New England Revolution on a waterfront property steps from the Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett.

Without floor debate or public input, lawmakers added language to a wide-ranging, multibillion-dollar economic development bill Thursday evening that would exempt the 43-acre industrial property straddling the Everett and Boston line from a slew of environmental requirements so it could be developed as a “sports, recreation or events center.”

Two people briefed on the legislation said the amendment is designed to aid Kraft’s pursuit of a soccer stadium after more than a decade of searching, but repeatedly failing to secure a new home for the Revolution in or around Boston."

Continue reading the article online at the Boston Globe (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/15/metro/house-measure-could-help-open-door-professional-soccer-stadium-everett/ 

Seth Godin in his podcast "Akimbo" addresses Stadium subsidies

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5hY2FzdC5jb20vcHVibGljL3Nob3dzLzA3MDU4YjIwLWU1MzctNDIyNS05YzU2LTNhZGYwZTJhNjY5YQ/episode/NjJhODljNWMyNjEwMDQwMDEyZjI1YmNl

And while there is economic value to such a proposed exemption, the worth of government subsidies for such stadiums was debunked by the Brookings Institute

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/sports-jobs-taxes-are-new-stadiums-worth-the-cost/

Disclosure: yes, I happen to follow the Revolution as a season subscriber but that doesn't change my opinion on the "one" earth we have that is already challenged by climate change. We shouldn't be creating exemptions for this kind of building.

construction on new lighthouse tower at Gillette in June 2022

On the Climate front: gas companies say more gas is the answer; researchers finally calculate the cost in lives by acting now

Boston Globe:  "As gas companies plan for a climate future, their vision: more gas "

"Up on the fourth floor of Westin Copley Place this week, hundreds of natural gas representatives mingled among glossy posters and tables littered with branded baseball hats and Oreos. Among the niceties and exchanges of business cards it became quickly clear — the climate crisis is very much on people’s minds. Another thing became clear, too. The solution, as they see it, is more gas.

“Additional natural gas pipelines are the answer to many of the questions we face today,” Amy Andryszak, chief executive of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, told a panel audience Tuesday.

It was the 27th annual gathering of the Northeast LDC Gas Forum — nicknamed the “Best Deal-Making Conference” in the industry, according to the organizers, and seemingly as good a place as any to get the gas industry’s view of the climate crisis as it is lived every day in the executive suites, field sites, and maintenance trucks of the scores of companies that operate in New England."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/16/science/gas-companies-plan-climate-future-their-vision-more-gas/

The Guardian: "How millions of lives can be saved if the US acts now on climate"

"The rapidly shrinking window of opportunity for the US to pass significant climate legislation will have mortal, as well as political, stakes. Millions of lives around the world will be saved, or lost, depending on whether America manages to propel itself towards a future without planet-heating emissions.

For the first time, researchers have calculated exactly how many people the US could save by acting on the climate crisis. A total of 7.4 million lives around the world will be saved over this century if the US manages to cut its emissions to net zero by 2050, according to the analysis.

The financial savings would be enormous, too, with a net zero America able to save the world $3.7tn in costs to adapt to the rising heat. As the world’s second largest polluter of greenhouse gases, the US and its political vagaries will in large part decide how many people in faraway countries will be subjected to deadly heat, as well as endure punishing storms, floods, drought and other consequences of the climate emergency."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/16/us-climate-crisis-millions-lives-saved

Just 10 US states could save 3.7 million lives worldwide by cutting their emissions to net zero. Photograph: Iuliia Bondar/Getty Images

Making Sense of Climate #11 - Steve talks with Ted McIntyre - 06/09/22 (audio)

FM #817 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 817 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We recorded this via the Zoom conference bridge Thursday, May 19, 2022.  

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while helping me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 44 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-817-making-sense-of-climate-11-06-09-22

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Articles referenced are collected in one PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rczYh14x-r6emEQM7QXSHIkKIKHD7hQ6/view?usp=sharing 

See the page that collects the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

Conference committee members (3 from MA House & 3 from MA Senate)

House of Representatives: 

• Roy - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JNR1 

• Chan - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/T_C1 

• Jones - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/BHJ1 

 

MA Senate: 

• Barrett - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/MJB0 

• Creem - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/CSC0 

• Tarr - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/BET0 

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

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/ or www.franklin.news/

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"

Making Sense of Climate #11 - Steve talks with Ted McIntyre - 06/09/22 (audio)

State Representative Jeffrey Roy Endorsed for 10th Norfolk District by Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund

The Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund has endorsed Jeffrey Roy  in the election for State Representative of the 10^th Norfolk District, a credit to his commitment to the environment and climate action. With issues of public health, environmental justice, transportation, and energy policy inextricably linked, we need leaders at every level of government who understand the pressing issues of their community and will call for ambitious action. 

 

“Chair Roy was central to the passage of the 2021 Roadmap Bill, one of the strongest climate laws in the nation,” said Casey Bowers, Executive Director of the ELM Action Fund. “He also crafted the House’s offshore wind bill which will ensure the industry takes off in Massachusetts and provides the clean energy we need to reach our Roadmap targets. We’re grateful for his leadership in addressing the climate crisis.”

 

“I am honored and grateful to receive the endorsement from the ELM Action Fund, a group that has led efforts to fight global warming and has been a great partner at the State House in advancing climate policy,” said Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin). “Massachusetts has been a national leader in combating climate change and producing clean energy and I look forward to working with ELM to ensure that we continue to lead in this area.”

  

Chair Roy was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 10th Norfolk District in 2012 and represents the residents of Franklin and Medway. He serves as the House chair of the Telecommunications, Energy, and Utilities (TUE) Committee. In 2021, he led efforts to finalize the Roadmap Bill on climate change. He is a proven leader in his work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prioritize environmental justice (EJ) communities.

 

To learn more about Jeffrey Roy, visit his website at https://jeffreyroy.com/.

 

The Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) Action Fund is a nonpartisan organization that helps pass laws that protect our environmental legacy, holds our elected officials accountable, and works to build the political power of the environmental community. To learn more about our work and our recent electoral victories visit www.elmaction.org/elections.  

 https://twitter.com/EnviroLeagueMA/status/1526571203992989696

State Representative Jeffrey Roy Endorsed for 10th Norfolk District by Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund 

Report: "Massachusetts Cities and Towns Leading the Way to 100% Renewable Energy"

"Cities and towns are taking ambitious steps to increase renewable electricity generation, reduce energy use, and shift to clean heating technologies, according to a new report from the Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center.

“The best ideas for clean energy often start at the local level,” said Ben Hellerstein, state director for the center. “If we want to have cleaner air, healthier communities, and a safer future for our children, we need to move rapidly toward 100% renewable energy from sources like the sun and the wind. These communities are showing how to make it happen.”

The report, Renewable Communities 2021, features the following seven case studies of Massachusetts cities, towns and regional agencies that are leading the way to 100% renewable energy. "

Continue reading the article online

https://www.mma.org/report-highlights-leading-clean-energy-communities/ 

Download the report PDF ->   https://environmentmassachusettscenter.org/sites/environment/files/reports/Renewable%20Communities%202021.pdf 

Visit Environmental Massachusetts for more information ->   https://environmentmassachusettscenter.org/

Report:  "Massachusetts Cities and Towns Leading the Way to 100% Renewable Energy"

In the News: "Baker plugs police reform, climate investments"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Beacon Hill has been nearly silent for more than six weeks since the House and Senate extended formal sessions beyond their traditional July 31 end, and Gov. Charlie Baker made a call Tuesday for legislators to wrap up their work on his State Police reforms and a $1 billion climate resiliency proposal.

Baker highlighted those two issues as priorities he hopes to see lawmakers advance, adding emphasis to those matters more than a month after wide-reaching law enforcement and climate bills were steered into conference committees for private negotiations.

When the topic of State Police came up at a Tuesday press conference, Baker said his administration referred about 40 individuals to state and federal attorneys for criminal review, then touted a bill he filed in January.

That legislation would make it easier to suspend troopers without pay following misconduct and create a “fraudulent pay statute” allowing the state or municipalities to seek triple the amount of damages from police who falsify timesheets, among other changes."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200916/baker-plugs-police-reform-climate-investments?rssfeed=true

 

Gov Baker press conference on Tuesday = https://youtu.be/CtXQBsxbC9k 

Significant Drought Conditions Continue Across MA

"Due to four months of below normal rainfall, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides today declared a Level 2 – Significant Drought in all seven regions of the Commonwealth – the Western, Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, Southeast, Cape Cod, and Islands regions. The drought level remains unchanged from the previous month’s declaration. 

At a Level 2 – Significant Drought, as outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, conditions are becoming significantly dry and warrant detailed monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies, emphasis on water conservation, more stringent watering restrictions, and technical outreach and assistance for the affected municipalities.

“Although recent rain events have been helpful, the combination of four months of below normal rainfall and consistently above normal temperatures throughout the summer have led to very dry conditions in every region of Massachusetts,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. 

“All levels of government are coordinating to address these critical drought conditions, and it is essential that residents and businesses across the Commonwealth take extra care to conserve water both indoors and outdoors and be mindful of the increased risk of brush and wildland fire when using any fire or smoking materials.”

Continue reading the article on the MA.gov page  

https://www.mass.gov/news/significant-drought-conditions-continue-across-massachusetts

Significant Drought Conditions Continue Across MA

Picked up for Franklin radar from Twitter  https://t.co/vccgSca2fD