April 10th Roundup: DeLeo Hints at a Climate Bill Despite Pandemic

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BEACON HILL HAPPENINGS


– DeLeo hints towards a climate change bill this session: Speaking to the State House News Service this week House Speaker DeLeo said: “it would be his recommendation to extend the session if the Legislature had still not finished the budget, a climate change bill or transportation financing.” Earlier this session the House passed a $1.3 billion climate bonding bill known as GreenWorks, while the Senate passed a package of three climate bills that included an economy-wide price on carbon. The House is yet to pass a requirement putting the state on a path towards net-zero emissions by 2050, which it was working on prior to the coronavirus crisis. Standalone House bills requiring 100% renewable energy and carbon pricing are currently stuck in committee.

Although the statement lacks specifics, it does raise hopes for climate activists and those pushing legislators to pass a bill addressing climate change this session. Although which emissions it will target, and how, are not certain at this point.

– For the most up-to-date info on COVID-19 & Beacon Hill…..

 

ALL POLICY IS LOCAL


– “Weymouth Compressor Construction Continues Despite Pandemic” (Michael P. Norton, SHNS via WBUR): [read the article]
– “Markey joins Jane Fonda on coronavirus, climate change” (Katie Lannan, SHNS via Milford Daily News): [read the article]

LOCAL IDEAS


– “Let’s bring disaster-response measures to the climate crisis” by Professor Craig Slatin, via the Boston Globe
– “We’re Thinking about Climate Change the Wrong Way” by Solomon Goldstein-Rose, via Scientific America.
– “Trump Administration Dumps Clean Car Standards for Dirty Air” by Krista Karlson, via the Sierra Club Magazine.
– “‘We are the vaccine’ for climate crisis” by Sarah Metcalf, via the Daily Hampshire Gazette
– “Let’s Deploy Local Solar for All to Help Restart Our Economy” by Luis Davila, via Morning Consult

OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT


– “Increased Sightings Of Endangered Right Whales Reported Along Massachusetts Coast” (CBS Boston): [read the article]
– “Nature Alert: Trustees Will Reopen 76 Properties To The Public Around Massachusetts” (Andrea Shea, WBUR): [read the article]

TALKING TCI


– “Transportation and Climate Initiative moves ahead amid pandemic uncertainty” (Lisa Prevost, Energy News Network) [read the article]

LOCAL CLIMATE SPOTLIGHT


– “Sunrise Movement Co-Founder On Bernie Sanders’ Exit, And What’s Next” (Bob Oakes & Wilder Fleming, WBUR): [read the article]

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE


– “Coronavirus Compounds Health Risks of Air Pollution” (Carlie Clarcq, Climate XChange): [read the article]

THE GREEN ECONOMY, STUPID


– “How New England Is Keeping The Lights On During The Pandemic” (Bruce Gellerman, WBUR): [read the article]
– “States step up climate efforts by requiring utilities to increase energy efficiency” (Rachel Gold, GreenBiz): [read the article]

 

ROUNDUP REDUX


Missed the last CXC Roundup? Here are the top three climate headlines from last week:

  1. House Leadership Explores options to extend the legislative session
  2. “Let’s Not Trade One Public Health Crisis for Another: COVID Response Can’t Ignore Climate”
  3.  “How Clean Energy is Part of Economic Recovery after Pandemic”

Readthe full Roundup here from April 4th, 2020 here.


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Featured Image: AbhiSuryawanshi on Wikimedia Commons