The Massachusetts Legislative Session is over, and CLF has our recap of the good, the bad, and the “meh” from the last two years of work by our elected officials.
Updated on Friday, July 27. As a runner, I know what it’s like to reach the end of a long race. That last mile is when a marathon truly does become a sprint, and it takes tremendous will and energy to push yourself over the finish line. That’s a lot like the end of a… Continue reading Six Bills, Three Weeks: Massachusetts Legislators Need to Hear from You Today
“This legislation is an important step forward in combatting climate change, growing real local jobs, and making Massachusetts a healthier place to live. It works to ensure that we will meet our 2050 climate mandate by setting a reasonable timeline with milestones along the way, while adding protection for vulnerable communities and our workforce. We urge the House to follow the Senate’s lead and pass this legislation.”
“What this means for New Englanders is that there is less need than ever for new fossil fuel infrastructure (including both new natural gas pipelines and new fossil fuel power plants) as more and more lower cost renewables replace older, higher-cost fossil fuel power plants,” writes Jerry Elmer.
“The impacts of weakening these landmark standards will be widespread and severe,” said Emily Green, CLF Staff Attorney. “American families and businesses will be forced to pay more at the pump for gas, while the air we breathe becomes dirtier and the health of our communities is put at risk.”
This week, CLF joined with a host of partner organizations to lend support for Governor Charlie Baker’s home energy scorecard program.The program, outlined in H. 4371, An Act relative to consumer access to residential energy information, would require homeowners to undertake a home energy audit and include a home energy scorecard when they sell their… Continue reading New Home Energy Audit Bill Has Right Idea But Wrong Funding
Melissa Birchard of the Conservation Law Foundation says the Senate’s defeat of the bill goes against Gov. Chris Sununu’s new energy policy, which says efficiency should be a priority to help lower people’s bills.
“The least expensive energy is the energy you don’t use,” said CLF Attorney Amy Laura Cahn. “We have programs that could save everyone in our state money, but utilities aren’t making enough of an effort to reach middle-income families and renters and are not tracking their own progress in serving these groups. These are serious problems. But we have the chance to change course — it’s time for Massachusetts to stop resting on its laurels and move forward with energy efficiency.”
The Conservation Law Foundation filed a lawsuit in Maine’s Superior Court Tuesday seeking to block Gov. Paul LePage’s recent executive order imposing a moratorium on new wind project permits and creating a special commission to make recommendations on wind power development. CLF’s lawsuit argues that LePage’s executive order violates the separation of powers clause of the… Continue reading Conservation Law Foundation sues LePage over wind power moratorium
New England was recently blasted by an early winter storm. It was called a “bomb cyclone” and a “snow hurricane,” and for a while we all tried to huddle inside and stay warm. While temperatures have now risen back to a balmy 60 degrees, we know it won’t stay that way. So when the temperature… Continue reading How to Save Energy (and Money!) During a Cold Snap
