[Not a subscriber? Sign up here]
BEACON HILL HAPPENINGS
– Report: Green investments create up to 80% more jobs for Massachusetts (Christian Morris): This week researchers at Climate XChange released a new report — “Investing in a Better Massachusetts: An Analysis of Job Creation and Community Benefits from Green Investments” — which highlights how targeted investments into green public infrastructure and climate community programs can address the need for economic recovery from the pandemic and action on climate change.
According to report authors Ruby Wincele and Jonah Kurman-Faber, the report models the social, economic, and public health benefits of 18 different investment programs, finding that on average for every million dollars invested in green programs, over $2.2 million in benefits are realized by Massachusetts residents. Additionally, the study finds that investing in a standard portfolio of green investments generates 80% more jobs per dollar than similar investments in the state’s ten largest industries.
“This report provides an example of what an investment strategy focused on local benefits, economic prosperity, and climate action can look like in Massachusetts. Every metric we highlight in the Green Investment Portfolio, including good-paying jobs, cleaner air, and affordable energy, show these are smart investments for communities and the economy,” said lead report author Ruby Wincele. [Read the full report]
– Senate FY22 budget includes funding for new climate law implementation (Tim Cronin): This week Senate lawmakers approved a budget amendment, championed by Senator Barrett, to ensure the state has enough staff to properly implement Massachusetts’ new 2021 Climate Law. The amendment (#365), which was successfully added to the Senate budget, directs the state to spend an additional $160,000 to hire 2 full-time employees at the EEA to work on implementing the state’s new aggressive emissions reduction agenda.
In a statement to the Roundup, Senate Chair of the joint energy committee and a chief architect of the Next-Gen Roadmap Law, Senator Barrett said. “The 2021 Climate Act directs several state agencies to act much more decisively to reduce emissions. Given their new responsibilities, we want to make sure these agencies — key players in the fight against global warming in Massachusetts — are staffed up and able to do the work by the deadlines the Legislature has set.”
The Senate budget, originally drafted by Ways & Means Chair Rodrigues, also includes money for additional staff for three EEA-overseen agencies charged with implementing the new climate law (DOER, DPU, and DEP). According to Senator Barrett’s office, this means the Senate’s budget would allow for a total of 8 new full-time staff people to be hired to help implement the new law.
A House version of the budget, passed in April, included $10 million for offshore wind career training. Any difference between the House and Senate budgets will be negotiated into a final bill between House and Senate leaders in the coming months. [Learn more about the budget process here].
ALL POLICY IS LOCAL
– “Energy company reports natural gas release at Weymouth compressor site” (Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger): [read the article]
– “[Senator] Cyr explains aviation bill intent” (Lucas Thors, MV Times): [read the article]
LOCAL IDEAS
– “Gearing up to cope with extreme heat” by Rebecca Davis and Melanie Garate, via Commonwealth Magazine
– “Cape Cod is cleaning up its act” by Wendy Northcross, Andrew Gottlieb and Jeff Mahoney, via Commonwealth Magazine
– “So You’re Serious About Climate Change: Vote In Your Local Elections” by Nathaniel Stinnett, Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project, via WBUR
OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
– “The Surprising Root of the Massachusetts Fight Against Natural Gas” (Jenessa Duncombe, EOS): [read the article]
– “Will lion’s mane jellyfish return to the South Shore this summer? A Maine institute is trying to track sightings” (Joe Difazio, The Patriot Ledger): [read the article]
– “Quincy Oil Terminal Endangering Community” (CLF): [read the article]
LOCAL CLIMATE POLITICS
– “Candidates for Boston mayor face off on environment” (Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe): [read the article]
– “Cape Cod Commission Extends Public Comment Period For Draft Climate Action Plan” (Patch): [read the article]
– “Actions to increase climate change resiliency focus of joint Northfield, Warwick listening session” (Zack Deluca, Greenfield Recorder): [read the article]
THE GREEN ECONOMY, STUPID
– “The Biggest Winner In Green Jobs? Construction, Report Says” (Jesse Remedios, Earthwhile): [read the article]
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
– ”Doctors put a price tag on the annual health impacts of climate change. It’s $820 billion.” (Zoya Teirstein, Grist): [read the article]
– ”The Best Way To Prevent The Next Pandemic? Maybe Saving Tropical Forests” (Barbara Moran, Earthwhile): [read the article]
OFFSHORE WIND
– “Program spins out new tech to monitor marine life near offshore wind farms” (Sarah Shemkus, Energy News Network): [read the article]
– “Mayflower Wind Plans Connection Point in Somerset” (Colin Young, SHNS via Fall River Herald News): [read the article]
COMMUNICATING CLIMATE
PRICE THAT CARBON
– “Carbon Pricing at the State Level: A ‘Helpful Adjunct?’” (Naomi Shimberg, Climate XChange): [read the article]
THE MASS. CONNECTION
– “Now That the Climate Commitment Act Has Passed, What Does That Mean For the Future of Cap-and-Invest in the United States?” (Zac Pinard, Climate XChange): [read the article]
ROUNDUP REDUX
Missed the last CXC Roundup? Here are the top three climate headlines from the previous weeks:
- “The state has $13 billion it didn’t expect. Will the state spent some of it on climate, environmental priorities?”
- “Weymouth compressor shuts down for the fourth time in less than a year”
- “An ‘Army of 16-Year-Olds’ Takes On the Democrats”
Read the full Roundup here from May 22nd, 2021 here.
FOR MORE CONTENT from us subscribe to the Climate XChange Newsletter (Fridays, weekly) and check out the fourth season of the Cooler Earth Podcast.
Featured Image: Photo by StellrWeb via Unsplash
