NEWSLETTER: What’s Next for the Climate Movement?, Siting Reform in the Climate Bill: Challenges and Next Steps

Photos by Rene Theberge

Climate Action Now Monthly Gathering

Monday, November 25

7-8:30 pm via Zoom 

Register here

What’s Next for the Climate Movement?

Grounding Ourselves in Compassion and Community;

Finding Our Strength in Solidarity

Featuring

Jeff Ordower, North America Director, 350.org  

Senator Jo Comerford

Representative Lindsay Sabadosa

Everyone is warmly invited to this interactive event!

Photo by Rene Theberge

The U.S. must pay its fair share of climate costs

World leaders have gathered at COP29, to make critical decisions about our future. Who should pay for the just transition to clean energy? The US is one of the biggest contributors to the climate crisis, while the Global South is bearing the brunt of the impacts. It’s only fair that the U.S. and other wealthy nations pick up the tab for mitigating the climate crisis at home and abroad.

Please join Climate Action Now and 350.org in calling on U.S. special envoy John Podesta to commit the U.S. to funding — at the levels the climate crisis demands — a just transition to renewable energy and mitigating climate disasters in the Global South.

Sign our petition today!

Photos by Rene Theberge

The new Clean Energy Bill moves Massachusetts closer to a just transition away from gas systems!

Despite the absence of specific language halting gas system expansions, the new Clean Energy Bill includes meaningful changes that provide greater protection to Environmental Communities (EJ) communities and moves us forward in the transition away from gas.

A triumph worth celebrating, these positive components of the bill made it through because of our statewide grassroots organizing, advocacy, and persistence!

Scroll down to see what the bill includes.

• Changes the methane gas only system by allowing utilities to include geothermal powered energy 
• Gives the Dept. of Public Utilities (DPU) the power to deny new requests for gas and expansion into new territories 
• Allows the DPU to deny new requests for gas service if adequate substitutes are available 
• Requires the DPU to consider the potential cost of “stranded assets” (abandoned gas systems whose ongoing costs would be borne by rate-payers) when considering the expansion of the gas service system 
• Changes the mandate of our gas leak repair program (GSEP) to include “remediating” pipes instead of “replacing” them and requires that this program comply with our emissions goals 
• Repeals a requirement that our gas leak repair program promote more gas use.

The new climate bill includes a requirement to undertake a cumulative impact analysis when considering siting an energy project in an environmental justice community – a component of this bill that our EJ allies around the state fought long and hard to get included with the proper language.

And it includes changes to the MassPort charter which requires MassPort to consider greenhouse gas emissions and environmental justice impacts in its operations.

Onward to the complete halt on gas expansion!

Photos by Rene Theberge

Biomass Loophole Remains in Final Climate Bill 

Burning woody biomass to generate electricity is even more polluting than burning most forms of coal. So electricity generated by burning woody biomass should not be eligible for rate payer subsidies meant for “clean” energy.

Provisions ending this “biomass loophole” were stripped from the final climate bill. This means that Municipal Light Plants (town- and city-owned electric companies known as MLP’s) still qualify for rate payer funded subsidies when purchasing electricity from biomass plants. Until we close this loophole, incentives for wood-burning power plants in Massachusetts and neighboring states remain.

Amendment 34 would have removed the “biomass loophole” from our clean energy laws. Despite Senate leadership’s support this measure was stripped out of the bill in the final moments of the session.

The active MLP loophole means that the proposed biomass plant for Springfield remains a threat as Palmer Renewable continues to appeal their permit denials in the Massachusetts court system. And polluting biomass facilities from neighboring states including CT, VT, and NH, are still eligible to receive Massachusetts ratepayer clean energy dollars.

Amendment 34 would have eliminated this wasteful and harmful ratepayer subsidy. Climate Action Now and Springfield Climate Justice Coalition will continue working with Partnership for Policy Integrity and our other partners statewide to eliminate this loophole once and for all.

Siting Reform in the Climate Bill: Challenges and Next Steps

Siting reform was hailed as a way to speed up approval of projects deemed necessary in Massachusetts’ transition to “net zero” by 2050. Requiring a consolidated permit to expedite the solar buildout is a key feature of the bill.

This expedited process sounds good but in actuality could facilitate the ongoing statewide destruction of ecosystems like forests, which help regulate the climate, all in the name of healing the climate.

We oppose the cutting of forested land to build industrial solar arrays. Life throughout our ecosystem depends on forests for their essential role in regulating both the water cycles and the climate as well as supporting biodiversity.

Cities and towns, already overpowered by big developers subsidized by rate payer dollars and emboldened by an outdated zoning law, need the power to protect the environmental resources they uniquely understand and depend on.

At a time when 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.

Our next steps include mobilizing to ensure that the Healey administration and state agencies impose strong regulations and protect our towns’ rights and natural resources.

We will work with allied organizations to amplify our voices. Please contact us to find out more at farms-forests-food@climateactionnowma.org. More to come soon!

Photos by Rene Theberge

Join Our Campaign to Protect Wildlands in Massachusetts!

Do you find solace in woods and other wild places?

Would you like to join a positive, collaborative campaign that will protect wildlife areas where you live and across the Commonwealth?

Climate Action Now welcomes individuals and organizations ready to take action to identify and protect priority Wildlands to join our new campaign. Learn about the campaign here, and sign up for our first campaign planning meeting on December 11 at 6:30pm here.

Climate Action Now’s Regenerative Farming, Forests and Food Systems group decided to launch the Wildlands campaign in response to the report Wildlands in New England: Past, Present, and Future and because we understand that:

Healthy forests are key for carbon storage, biodiversity, regulating planetary systems and our well-being;

Our state is 60% forested but only 2% has been preserved as Wildlands — much of which lacks permanent protection;

In a time when our ecosystem is under assault, protecting nature is an act of love and a defense of life itself.

We look forward to seeing you at our first meeting at

6:30pm on December 11th!

Photo: Rene Theberge

Climate Action Now is a people-powered, grassroots Western Mass organization dedicated to building a powerful, unstoppable and just climate movement. We work in our communities and in collaboration with diverse partners across the region to educate, advocate, and mobilize for climate justice.

The Climate Action Now Steering Committee includes a representative from each working group and campaign. Climate Action Now warmly welcomes newcomers. Let’s work together to create an inclusive climate justice movement!

Please send feedback, comments, and suggestions to:

Susan Theberge, Newsletter Editor

Photo Editor: Rene Theberge

Special thanks to Mary Jane Else!

 climateactionnowma.org

climateactionnowmass@gmail.com

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