Here in New England, we rely too much on fracked gas to heat and power our homes and businesses. If we want to avoid a climate catastrophe, we need to end fossil fuel use by 2050.
Maine just took a big step forward on climate. Last week, Governor Janet Mills announced a bill that could make significant progress toward addressing our climate crisis by drastically reducing climate-damaging emissions while growing our state’s economy.
Two bills introduced in the Massachusetts legislature this session could lead the way for the rest of New England to adapt to our new climate reality.
“From agriculture and fisheries to recreation and tourism, our regional economy, culture, and way of life are on a knife’s edge,” said Bradley Campbell. “Our ability to stem the loss of other species will tell us whether we have the capacity to save our own.”
The Governor supported the concept of mandatory, enforceable, economy-wide reductions in carbon emissions during her re-election campaign. That said, she has not yet supported the only legislation that would make that a reality: the Global Warming Solutions Act (H-5444; S-658). This Act would ensure our state reduces its carbon pollution and combats climate change.
“The devastating impacts of climate change are at our doorstep,” said Greg Cunningham, Vice President and Director of CLF’s Clean Energy and Climate Change program. “Drastically reducing our climate-damaging emissions is the only way to avert these looming economic, social and environmental disasters. This bill will push Maine to do just that. After eight years with a climate denier in the governor’s office, we have real climate leadership from Governor Mills.”
“This is a landmark, this is a symbol of pollution that has been destructive in this community for over 50 years,” said Amy Moses, Rhode Island director and vice president of the Conservation Law Foundation, which filed suit along with other environmental groups against Brayton Point Power Station in 2013.
Sean Mahoney, executive vice president of the Conservation Law Foundation, joins WPRI live on Eyewitness News This Morning to discuss the Brayton Point coal plant demolition.
“The last symbol of dirty coal in Massachusetts has come tumbling down, and a coal-free New England is within our reach,” said Sean Mahoney, Executive Vice President at CLF. “Brayton Point spewed toxic pollution into nearby communities for decades, sickening residents and devastating our environment. Now residents can literally breathe easier as clean, renewable energy will rise out of the rubble of this dirty, polluting dinosaur.”
Brayton Point Station spewed toxic emissions for nearly 60 years. Today, the massive cooling towers finally came down, bringing us one step closer to the end of coal in New England.
