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BEACON HILL HAPPENINGS
– AG Healey draws focus on intersecting impacts of COVID-19, environment, & race: This week, Attorney General Maura Healey released a report on the environmental factors that compound the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts in Massachusetts, especially around communities of color. In a statement, the AG’s office said the report, “outlines steps the state should take to address the longstanding impact of environmental injustice on families, including investing in clean energy jobs, strengthening regulatory procedures to protect vulnerable communities, and fighting rollbacks of federal environmental protection laws.” Other solutions mentioned include increasing clean transportation infrastructure and expanding air quality monitoring stations statewide.
The AG’s office has been increasingly vocal in recent years on energy and climate issues, having waded into fights in Washington DC (over environmental rollbacks), with regional energy market operators, and to block predatory energy sellers (that target local communities). Read the full brief on the AG’s website.
– “Controversial hydro project advances in Maine” (Colin A. Young, SHNS via Salem News): “Regulators responsible for the unorganized territories of Maine on Wednesday gave their approval to the plan to deliver clean power from Hydro-Québec to the Massachusetts and New England grid via the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project, though an environmental advocacy group in the state cried foul.”
– For the most up-to-date info on COVID-19 & Beacon Hill…..
- The State House News Service coronavirus updates tracker” see the latest updates here.
- MassTrac COVID-19 bill tracker: Check it out, and follow updates, here.
ALL POLICY IS LOCAL
– “Lawsuit says western Massachusetts pipeline approval ignored climate risk” (Sarah Shemkus, Energy News Network): [read the article]
– “Holyoke City Council nixes $275K energy grant” (Dennis Hohenberger, MassLive): [read the article]
– “EPA awards $2.7M in Brownfields grants to six Massachusetts communities facing blight, contamination” (Stephanie Barry, MassLive): [read the article]
LOCAL IDEAS
– “Can Mass. launch the fusion revolution?” by Edward M. Murphy, via Commonwealth Magazine.
– “Governors can lead the way on climate too” by Nicole St. Clair Knobloch, via the Boston Globe. [$]
– “Forging a future that works for us all” by Senate President Karen Spilka, via Wicked Local Newton.
– “To keep the air clear after COVID-19, take steps for clean transportation” by Anya Fetcher, via the Portland Press Herald.
– “No, no, no to buy, buy, buy“ by Janet Domenitz, via Commonwealth Magazine.
CLIMATE ACTION FEATURE
– “Disproportionately Impacted by the Climate Crisis, Indigenous Nations Lead on Lasting Solutions” (Noa Dalzall, Climate XChange): “Indigenous communities since the dawn of time have possessed the knowledge and self-restraint to live in harmony with ecosystems and all living beings within them. Despite having always understood the pillars of what we now call sustainability, they currently face some of the first and fastest-moving impacts of the climate crisis. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, increasing temperatures, and melting glaciers are all phenomena tribes must respond and adapt to.”
OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
– “The argument for killing your lawn” (Jon Gorey, Boston.com): [read the article]
THE GREEN ECONOMY, STUPID
– How are consumers thinking about solar during COVID?: A new report from EnergySage explores the impact of COVID-19 on solar shoppers and solar installers. Speaking to the Roundup, EnergySage Founder & CEO Vikram Aggarwal said, “Consumers are more interested in solar now than they were before COVID, and more inclined to shop for solar online. Meanwhile, few customers are canceling or delaying their timeline for solar by a year or more, and solar is open for business with 9 out of 10 installers still actively offering solar installations.” Read the full report here.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
– “Another casualty of the coronavirus: scientific research” (David Abel, Boston Globe): [read the article] [$]
BEYOND THE BAY STATE
– “Florida Passes its First Bill Addressing Climate Change” (Carlie Clarq, Climate XChange): [read the article]
– “Will governors use popularity from virus for climate action?” (Anne C. Mulkern, Climatewire via Energy News Network): [read the article]
INSIDE THE BELTWAY
– “More than 330 Major Businesses Call on U.S. Congress to Build Back a More Resilient, Sustainable Economy from COVID-19” [read more]
– “Senators Markey &Warren Applaud Committee Passage of Massachusetts Provisions in Water Resource and Infrastructure Bills” [read the press release]
ROUNDUP REDUX
Missed the last CXC Roundup? Here are the top three climate headlines from last week:
- Youth climate organizations meet threshold for renewable energy motion
- “AG sues solar array developer over environmental damage in Williamsburg”“
- Massachusetts Sets Target of 85% Cut in Emissions by 2050”
Read the full Roundup here from May 7th, 2020 here.
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