“With this announcement, it’s clear that Governor-elect Healey is treating the climate crisis with the urgency our future demands,” said CLF President Brad Campbell. “Choosing someone of Melissa’s stature and experience sends a strong signal and she will push the administration to hit the ground running on day one. Massachusetts communities are already feeling the impacts of the climate crisis and now is the time for bold action.”
“Rhode Island clearly has a lot of work to do when it comes to meeting the demands of the climate crisis,” said Darrèll Brown, Vice President of CLF Rhode Island. “The plan that the council approved today is a good first step, and it recommends some much-needed policies like electrifying transit fleets and expanding incentives for clean, efficient heat pumps. But this experience showed us how much time it takes to create an inclusive climate plan – we need to get to work now on the plan’s next iteration which is due in 2025.”
“People have a right to make their voice heard when harmful chemicals are being used in their neighborhoods,” said CLF attorney Mason Overstreet. “The proposed rule threatens public health and runs counter to the goals laid out in Vermont’s climate laws. Legislators made the right decision in postponing a vote, and this rule should go back to the drawing board.”
“After waiting 30 years, this is a historic day for communities that depend on the MBTA,” said CLF President Brad Campbell. “The long-delayed Green Line extension will finally unlock reliable rapid transit for thousands of people in Medford and Somerville. CLF will be continuing to push for the expansion of the Medford branch to Route 16 to bring access to even more residents in the coming years.”
“The Atlantic cod population is struggling, and this vote is finally a step in the right direction,” said Allison Lorenc, Senior Policy Analyst at CLF. “After two failed attempts, this new plan will reduce fishing pressure to help cod recover while supporting fishing communities. Our hope is that this is the first of many decisions that will set cod on a path to a healthy population.”
“We can’t burn our way out of this problem,” said Caitlin Peale Sloan, Vice President of CLF Massachusetts. “Burning oil and gas in our homes pollutes our air and worsens the effects of the climate crisis. The commission’s report is absolutely correct: we need to start planning now for a cleaner future without gas, whether it’s fossil gas or alternative methane gases.”
“Burning wood for electricity is a bad idea to begin with and building a biomass plant in a residential neighborhood is just evil,” said Johannes Epke, Staff Attorney at CLF. “The Department of Environmental Protection was right to revoke this permit the first time around, and the appeals office has made the right call today. We will continue our piece of this fight to protect air quality in Springfield by representing the City Council in Land Court in opposition to this facility.”
“The fact is that the community overwhelmingly opposes the construction of this substation, and state laws regarding the siting of this facility have been ignored,” said Staci Rubin, Vice President of Environmental Justice at CLF. “The Siting Board’s decision contributes to the inequitable distribution of environmental burdens and benefits and disregards East Boston residents’ voices. We’ll continue to partner with the community to challenge this facility.”
“Urban communities suffer disproportionately from toxic, polluted air,” said Heather Govern, Director of CLF’s Clean Air and Water program. “Holyoke and Worcester are two of the cities most burdened by negative health impacts like asthma because of this type of pollution. Durham School Services must own up to its role in this problem, stop violating anti-idling laws, and commit to reducing pollution from its buses.”
“Toxic pollution from cars and trucks overheats the earth and clogs the air in our communities,” said CLF staff attorney Chase Whiting. “These new rules will help us tackle the climate crisis while cleaning up the air for people and families in Vermont. This is truly a win-win, and it’s a huge step forward towards our clean energy future.”
