Regenerative Farming, Forests and Food Systems’ Response to MA Clean Energy Bill November 2024
Though we at RF3/CAN appreciate efforts to finally pass needed climate legislation, especially now that we don’t have a federal partner, we are again frustrated with the blind spots of the clean energy bill, especially with the local siting and permitting process. Requiring a consolidated permit to expedite the solar buildout sounds good but in actuality will facilitate the ongoing statewide destruction of ecosystems like forests, which help regulate the climate, all in the name of healing the climate.
Towns are already overpowered by big developers who are subsidized by taxpayer dollars and emboldened by an archaic 1985 law and 2023 judicial decision, but now communities would have even less control to protect the environmental resources they uniquely understand and depend on. Larger projects, favored by corporate energy projects driven by profit, would be reviewed by a state committee, and if municipalities manage to review the smaller projects in the allotted time with limited resources, the developer can simply appeal the decision and a new review by the state will start from scratch, amounting to a fool’s errand for local governments. In this time where we need to rebuild faith in the democratic processes of civil society, this top down, one size fits all approach leaves our neighbors feeling abandoned and betrayed.
We have heard from our reps that it’s now just an up and down vote before the House so no amendments or change to the language is possible at this stage. But our next steps can be to write and pressure the administration and state agencies to impose strong regulations and protect our town’s rights and natural resources. We can work with allied organizations to amplify our voices. Please contact us to find out more at farms-forests-food@climateactionnowma.org and add your voice.
