BEACON HILL HAPPENINGS
– Historic show of support for carbon pollution pricing at the MA State House: Over 200 citizens, business leaders, and elected officials from across the state packed a Beacon Hill hearing room on Tuesday in Massachusetts to show their support for legislation to put a price on carbon pollution. For almost three hours the hearing was standing room only, with some 70 additional people left outside.
The hearing offered a chance for the state’s carbon pricing coalition to inform and push for a number of legislative efforts, including a forthcoming climate bill expected to be released by the Senate by the end of January. The Senate looks to build off of previous language and offer a comprehensive legislation package later this month.
Speakers at the Tuesday hearing included Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, climate scientist William Moomaw, economists from Harvard and other top institutions, and multiple state lawmakers. Read the full breakdown of the hearing, and what it means for Massachusetts, here.
– “DeLeo doesn’t see ‘a whole lot of support’ for a regional climate pact” (Matt Stout, the Boston Globe): “House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo cast fresh doubts on the prospects of a regional pact designed to curb carbon emissions while likely raising gas prices, saying Wednesday he doesn’t see “a whole lot of support” for it. Instead, DeLeo suggested the Legislature will plow ahead with its own transportation financing bill, which could include a gas tax hike, regardless of Governor Charlie Baker’s decision to join the multistate effort.” [$]
ALL POLICY IS LOCAL
– “Cambridge businesses back Carbon Pricing” (Wicked Local Cambridge) [read the article]
LOCAL IDEAS
– “Should Massachusetts move forward with its participation in the Transportation Climate Initiative?” by Deb Pasternak and Representative David F. DeCoste, via the Boston Globe. [$]
– “Time To Double Down” by Ben Downing, via WAMC.
– “Mass. Clean Energy Center needs more funding” by Peter Rothstein, Emily Reichert, Robert Rio and Elizabeth Turnbull Henry, via Commonwealth Magazine.
OFFSHORE WIND
– “Mayflower Wind, without contract, moving ahead” (Commonwealth Magazine) [read the article]
– “Offshore wind in New Hampshire: Now what?” (Michael Behrmann, NH Business Review) [read the article]
LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION SPOTLIGHT
– “How A Climate Change Nonprofit Got Eversource Thinking About A Geothermal Future” (Bruce Gellerman, WBUR) [read the article]
THE GREEN ECONOMY, STUPID
– “Clean energy industry continues to grow in Massachusetts” (Adam Strzempko, WWLP) [read the article]
BUSINESS CLIMATE
– “It’s 60+ degrees in January & these businesses want climate action now” (Tim Cronin, Climate XChange): “A letter signed by over 150 businesses from 57 communities across the state was sent to legislators asking that they move quickly to take action on climate change by supporting pending legislation that would price carbon as pollution.” Learn more, and read the letter here.
– “Stop & Shop to Convert 40 Stores to Bloom Energy AlwaysON Microgrids to Better Serve Customers During Severe Weather and Power Outages” (BusinessWire) [read the article]
BEYOND THE BAY STATE
– “Virginia moves forward on RGGI with the Clean Economy Act” (Carlie Clarcq, Climate XChange): “In November 2019, for the first time since 1994, Virginia Democrats gained a majority in the state’s House and… Now that Democrats have a majority in both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly, joining RGGI is back on the table, along with passing sweeping emissions reduction legislation through the Clean Economy Act.”
– “Recap: Governors Leading the way on Climate Action” (Carlie Clarcq, Climate XChange) [read the article]
ROUNDUP REDUX
Missed the last CXC Roundup? Here are the top three climate headlines from last week:
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“Day of reckoning looms for state’s clean-energy agency amid funding shortfall”
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Carbon pricing hearing finally scheduled, advocates prepare for packed statehouse
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Rep. Benson takes over local business group
Read the full Roundup here from January 9th, 2020 here.
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