In this Making Sense of Climate episode we go from doom & climate grief to transformative talk & action (audio)

FM #1164 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1164 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. The list of articles we drew from:

• Nature article - Are we all doomed? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00790-6  
• Office of Energy Transformation https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-establishes-nations-first-office-of-the-energy-transformation 
• False info from activists on whale impact for wind power https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/25/science/activists-use-whales-to-fight-wind/ 
• MBTA to improve battery/electric efforts  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/24/metro/battery-powered-improved-service-could-be-coming-to-ts-commuter-rail-in-2027/ 

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 37 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1164-making-sense-of-climate-41-03-26-24    

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

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

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

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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.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" 

In this Making Sense of Climate episode we go from doom & climate grief to transformative talk & action (audio)

Jalapeño enhances flavors and starts our Making Sense of Climate episode this time (audio)

FM #1159 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1159 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. The topic list:

• Pickled jalapeño, blueberry, strawberry, raisins, & flax seed added to steel cut oats

• State of the Union, Inflation Reduction Act

• Conservation land, rewilding to restore carbon balance

• Gulf Stream, and implications of climate change

• Boston Globe article on smart electrical panels

• Stranded asset, reuse with geothermal possible

• Total eclipse, April 8

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 47 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1159-making-sense-of-climate-40-03-12-24

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

Boston Globe article on monitoring devices for electricity in the home

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/07/nation/want-to-electrify-your-home-it-might-need-this-upgrade-first/ 

“Ministry of the Future” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future 

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

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

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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.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"

Jalapeño enhances flavors and starts our Making Sense of Climate episode this time (audio)

Starting with a bicycle story, we shift gears to cover climate topics around the region and cycle back to a key report (audio)

FM #1102 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1102 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 Monday, November 13, 2023.  

In this episode we cover multiple topics from the release of the Hopper Report, we run through a series of articles from around New England, and then back to MA, covering what has been happening recently to close with some quotes from the Hopper Report.

Links to the many articles we talk of are collected in one PDF doc linked to below.   

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 47 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted as we help ‘make sense of climate.’ Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1102-making-sense-of-climate-35-11-13-23

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

  

Links to articles referenced for this episode are collected in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fYRQvznj3SB1YU4NqXOR7NslMPM2gArf/view?usp=drive_link

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

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

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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.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"

Starting with a bicycle story, we shift gears to cover climate topics around the region and cycle back to a key report (audio)

In this Making Sense of Climate episode we talk about tough choices on the climate roadmap (audio)

FM #1084 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1084 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 Monday, October 16, 2023.  

In this episode we cover the following topics

• Legal challenges tossed

• Inspector General editorial

• Brayton Point conundrum

Links to the articles we talk of are collected below.   

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 37 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted as we help ‘make sense of climate.’ Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1084-making-sense-of-climate-34-10-16-23

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

  

Links to articles referenced:

Legal challenges tossed

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/legal-challenges-by-fishing-groups-to-vineyard-wind-rejected/

Inspector General Editorial

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/government/push-for-electric-school-buses-faces-procurement-bump-in-the-road/ 

Brayton Point Conundrum

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/brayton-point-offshore-wind-prize-in-doubt/ 

Another conundrum arises as we go to press 

EV Charging challenges for condo owners vs. homeowners 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/my-energy-efficiency-efforts-were-frustrated-by-mass-save/

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

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

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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.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"

In this Making Sense of Climate episode we talk about tough choices on the climate roadmap (audio)

Voices of Franklin: Ted McIntrye on "Luke, Frodo, and you"

It is winter, 2023, in Franklin MA. The Shaw’s parking lot is bare of snow. As you begin the long march into the store, you see a fellow shopper in shorts and a light vest. If it all seems surreal, you are right to trust your spidey-sense. Winters in Franklin are getting warmer.  In fact, local scientists say "The climate I lived in as a kid is long gone." Boston Globe reporter Billy Baker notes that due to climate change, this winter is a bust, and “our very identity is at stake… We pride ourselves on being “true” New Englanders … it is a story of hardiness, and hardiness is earned in winter; it is the story we use to keep ourselves warm.” Our stories about keeping warm are easier to tell this year.

In the 1880’s, Mark Twain is reported to have said: “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” Times have certainly changed, and we humans in the 2020’s have, in fact, managed to change the weather! The big question is if - having dangerously upset the weather systems - we are heroic enough to face the challenge of reducing the risk from climate change. On that front, the New Year brings good news. 

Massachusetts recently elected a new Governor, one who seems to correctly accept the reality and implications of climate change. Governor Maura Healy is off to a good start. In her Inaugural speech she said “Let’s build a Climate Corridor that stretches from the Berkshires to Barnstable harnessing research, innovation and manufacturing. We’ll create thousands of new jobs in clean tech and blue tech, coastal resiliency, and environmental justice.” Then she appointed a first-in-the-nation climate chief thus “ensuring that climate change is considered in all relevant decision-making.” This is a critical step because the state already has a clear roadmap but also an alphabet soup of agencies (DOER, DPU, DEP, DOT, MBTA) that are not always aligned to the same goal. 

What is the “climate roadmap,” anyway? Once you accept that the climate science is accurate, the concept of a climate roadmap is pretty simple. It is a guide to what the state needs to do over the next 27 years (from 2023 right up to 2050) in order to reduce carbon pollution to safe levels while maintaining a thriving economy. This is a big job (sometimes called “decarbonization”), and there are lots of uncertainties about how we will do this. The roadmap lays out CO2 emission reduction goals for 2030 and 2050, with intermediate goals every 5 years.  For example, we need to reduce our annual CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030.  Right now, our job is to figure out how to reach that target. 

2022 was a year of progress, and saw the passage of Next Generation Climate Roadmap law, under the able leadership of our own Jeff Roy. The new law lays out specifics about how we will reach the 2030 roadmap goals. The year 2023 will see the implementation of many aspects of the law. As a town, we should be proud to have elected such a visionary leader as Rep Roy.  2022 also saw the release of the Clean Heat Commission report. It delivered a strong proposal for real progress on decarbonization, and will be useful throughout 2023 as our legislators consider next steps along the roadmap. If you want to learn more about the roadmap, how it is being implemented and how it impacts Franklin, turn to Franklin Matters. The podcast series Making Sense of Climate is there to help you understand.

The Massachusetts Climate Roadmap is more than a plan. It is an epic quest that we have embarked upon, which will lead us to a new and exciting future. Our journey along the roadmap is nearly mythical, and ranks with the tales of Ulysses, Luke Skywalker and Frodo Baggins for audacity and daring. As a state, we have collectively embarked on a heroic mission, not to find Princess Leia, or to destroy the Ring, but to save the future. There will be hard work, difficulties and setbacks along the way. The journey will require all the New England hardiness we can muster, but in the end we will have transformed our state into a better, more sustainable and more human place. 

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-clean-energy-and-climate-plan-for-2025-and-2030

Beyond Mobility, the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan schedules a virtual public meeting for Oct 20 at 6 PM

Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) tweeted Mon, Oct 03, 2022:

How should #Massachusetts invest in transportation in the future? 

Join #BeyondMobilityMA, the statewide 2050 transportation plan, for a virtual public meeting on 10/20, at 6 PM to learn more.

More info and to register visit: https://t.co/vV7lghP0js   or  https://www.mass.gov/beyond-mobility

"Beyond Mobility, the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan, is a planning process that will result in a blueprint for guiding transportation decision-making and investments in Massachusetts in a way that advances MassDOT’s goals and maximizes the equity and resiliency of the transportation system. 

Your input is needed to help develop this vision. The process for developing Beyond Mobility is underway." 

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/MassDOT/status/1576980555383595009

GATRA, electrifying the MBTA, bringing the double track to Franklin, improving the handicap access to the Franklin/Dean station; all of these topics should be part of this planning process. Oh, and 2050 is the key as this is part of the climate roadmap.  For more about the climate roadmap, check out the podcast series on "Making Sense of Climate" 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

Beyond Mobility, the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan schedules a virtual public meeting  for Oct 20 at 6 PM

Making Sense of Climate #16 - from municipal aggregation to zoning changes (audio)

FM #855 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 855 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 Tuesday, Sep 27, 2022.  

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. 

Topics covered this time

Electric rate increases

DPU process, Inequity around New England, ISO New England

Municipal aggregation for Franklin shields us

Machin and side deal

FERC role mentioned for aiding in interstate transmission role

Ezra Klien podcast with Jesse Kenkins

Scope of work required

Heat pump explanation

Affordable housing, zoning for residential & commercial neighborhoods

 

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 48 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-855-making-sense-of-climate-16-09-27-22

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

Jesse Jenkins https://netzeroamerica.princeton.edu/   and https://repeatproject.org/

Podcast link

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS84MkZJMzVQeA/episode/NzEwY2Y1NTMtMGFjYS00YmI0LTg3YWUtMGUxYjAxNjk2Zjgw?ep=14 

There is a great section on heat pumps as well as an explanation on the side effect of reducing premature deaths due to improved air quality

Other climate podcast referral -> https://www.volts.wtf/p/welcome-to-volts

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

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

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"

Franklin's Municipal Aggregation program