HAPPY EARTH WEEK- Welcome back to the CXC Roundup, your weekly source for clean energy and environmental policy news from Massachusetts and beyond.

Have a news story, suggestion, feedback, or any other info for the CXC Policy Roundup? Email: tim.cronin@cabaus.org.

New Study Finds Enormous Offshore Wind Potential in Massachusetts: Using data from the NREL, Environment Massachusetts has calculated that Massachusetts has the technical potential to generate enough energy from offshore wind to provide 19 times as much electricity as the entire state consumes each year. If fully utilized, offshore wind has the potential to not only push the Bay State towards 100% renewable but help our neighbors get there too. Read the full study here.

-“Gov. Baker commits $5 million to climate change preparedness” by MV Times: On Friday the Baker administration announced $5 million in new additional funding to the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. MVP was created last year by the Governor in order to fund climate change preparedness across Massachusetts communities, but the program’s original $1 million has already been awarded to over 71 cities and towns.

-Rest in Peace State Rep. Jim Miceli: Over the weekend longtime State Representatives James Miceli from Wilmington James Miceli passed away at the opening of a Little League Game in his hometown. This dedicated public servant will be missed.

-Increasing Opposition to Maine’s CMP Project Met with Big Spending: Since New Hampshire’s rejection of Massachusetts’ first choice for a new transmission line bringing hydro from Canada to Massachusetts, attention has turned to the next best plan in Maine. The Globe highlights this opposition and dives into the money Central Maine Power is spending to counteract it.

-Report: RGGI program fuels local economies by State House News Service: A new report published last Tuesday shows that RGGI’s cap-and-trade system, established in 2008, is continuing to spur local economies while reducing carbon emissions. The study also finds that RGGI has created more than 14,500 year-long jobs between 2015-2017.

-“New York accelerates 2025 energy efficiency targets by 40%” by Utility Dive: The goal is to achieve annual electric efficiency savings of 3% of investor-owned utility sales in 2025.

-“Banks Are Sweetening Their Terms for Solar as Confidence Rises” by Bloomberg Tech: Interest rates may be rising but the solar business seems to be the exception. Investors are confident in solars future, a healthy sign for an industry in turmoil this past year. One reason for this: national solar installations are expected to rebound in 2018 after a two-year slump.

-“U.K. Just Went 55 Hours Without Using Coal for the First Time in History” by Bloomberg Markets: Britain went for a record of 55 hours without its any of its power plants producing electricity by burning coal. At the same time, wind turbines produced more power. According to Bloomberg, the government seeks to turn off every coal plant by 2025, while giving renewables priority access to the nation’s grid.

-“2018 Earth Day — black women are leading the fight against environmental racism” via the Hill: “As the nation watches the EPA’s actions, Earth Day should not only be a day to celebrate our planet and protect our natural environment but should also serve as a harsh reminder of how environmental racism continues to burden black communities, specifically black women.”

-“Carbon fee can help state meet energy goals” via the Times Union: Sam Horowitz argues that New York should institute a carbon fee and dividend and that state leaders should do so this session.

-TODAY Gubernatorial Forum on Energy and the Environment:

Hosted by the Environmental League of Massachusetts

Monday April 23 @ 5:00 PM, Boston MA [RSVP link]
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NEW EPISODE OF THE POD: This week the Cooler Earth podcast team is focusing on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and new controversies over drilling there arising from Washington DC. They explore the complexities surrounding the controversy with skier and preservation advocate, Brennan Lagasse.

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Have a news story, suggestion, feedback, or any other info for the CXC Policy Roundup? Email: tim.cronin@cabaus.org.