Transitioning to clean energy and achieving climate justice require hard choices, and progressives and environmentalists need to recognize that those choices are necessary. The work to achieve a cleaner, more equitable future will not be possible unless we lead the cause of permitting reform and stop ceding that ground to the opposition.
With heavier rainfall events expected as a result of climate change, the groups said there’s little time to waste to protect Boston’s waterways. “These iconic rivers are suffering because of the EPA’s consistent foot-dragging,” said Heather Govern, CLF’s vice president of clean air and water.
Under its agreement with the Conservation Law Foundation, GlobalFoundries committed to build a 5-megawatt solar facility in Essex Junction and to comply with Vermont’s environmental laws — in particular, the state’s renewable energy standard, which requires utilities to obtain more and more of their electricity from renewable sources.
Fifty years ago this week, Congress adopted the Clean Water Act, a landmark in environmental legislation aimed at cleaning up many of the nation’s waterways that had become too polluted for people to swim or fish to survive.
But if history is any guide, we shouldn’t hold our breath for ISO-New England to take climate change seriously.
The lawsuit, brought by the Sierra Club and the Conservation Law Foundation, is a citizen’s enforcement case under the Clean Water Act, which turns 50 this week.
To fight climate change we need a strong and committed power grid operator that makes cleaning up our energy mix its first priority.
A federal judge has rejected a bid by lobstermen and the state of Maine to block new rules aimed at protecting endangered North Atlantic right whales.
Vermont has spoken. The other New England states have spoken. ISO hasn’t listened. We hope when ISO comes to Burlington on Sept. 8, they’ll finally listen to New Englanders and step up on climate change.
“The Department of Environmental Services is completely abdicating their responsibility to address out-of-state waste,” said Heidi Trimarco, an attorney with CLF New Hampshire. “DES should be committing to do something, anything about out-of-state waste.”
