Jun 28, 2019

MBTA Fare Increases Take Effect Monday

“It’s simply insensitive and unfair to ask riders to pay more while the Red Line struggles to get people to and from their jobs,” said Staci Rubin, Senior Attorney at CLF. “The T clearly needs more funding and staffing, and some of those funds should come from predictable fare increases that do not disproportionately impact transit-dependent riders. However, this round of hikes should absolutely have been postponed at least through the summer.”

Jun 27, 2019

Vermont Attorney General Suing Companies for PFAS Contamination

“DuPont and 3M have knowingly poisoned our water for decades while reaping billions in profits,” said Jen Duggan, Vice President and Director of CLF Vermont. “These companies have no right to pollute our drinking water and our bodies.  Attorney General Donovan recognizes the need to hold the responsible parties accountable for putting these toxic forever chemicals into our water and our health at risk.”

Jun 26, 2019

Maine Governor Signs Landmark Climate Bill Into Law

“We need only look out our windows to see that climate crisis is real and it is here,” said Emily Green, Staff Attorney at CLF. “We owe it to future Mainers to confront climate change head-on to protect our health, our economy and our way of life before it’s too late. This bill truly makes Maine a national leader in responding to the greatest crisis of our generation.”

Maine Statehouse.
Jun 25, 2019

Baker Administration Announces New Funds for MBTA

“It shouldn’t take two derailments in the span of a week to finally give the T some desperately-needed new funding and staffing,” said Staci Rubin, Senior Attorney at CLF. “The MBTA has been in a state of crisis for years, and this immediate infusion of cash will speed up improvements and should benefit train and bus riders across the board. Thousands of people rely on the T every day and it’s time riders have a safe trip they can depend on.”

mbta blue line
Jun 24, 2019

Massachusetts to Cancel Popular Electric Vehicle Rebate in September

“Ending this rebate while the program is gaining such momentum is a huge lost opportunity,” said Amy Laura Cahn, Director of CLF’s Healthy Communities and Environmental Justice program and a member of the Massachusetts Zero Emission Vehicle Commission. “Gas-burning cars accelerate our climate crisis and pollute our neighborhoods, and the rebate program helps families make the switch to clean electric vehicles. Eliminating the program without providing alternatives takes away needed resources and threatens to set us back in reaching our climate goals.”

Electric car parking symbol
Jun 20, 2019

Invenergy Defeated, Power Plant Denied Permit

“This is a huge victory for Rhode Island and for the health of our communities,” said CLF Senior Attorney Jerry Elmer. “In the face of climate emergency, opening a fossil fuel plant that will spew carbon pollution for decades is simply reckless. After years of lies and misinformation, Invenergy’s efforts to pave over a forest to build this dirty plant have been dealt a substantial loss. Today’s decision is proof that communities can stand up to big gas and win.”

Jun 19, 2019

Trump EPA Continues Attack on Environment and Public Health

“By rolling back even modest efforts to curb climate-damaging pollution from the power sector, the EPA has signed the death certificates of thousands of Americans,” said CLF President Bradley Campbell. “Dirty coal and fracked gas spew toxic pollution into our communities and bring the looming climate crisis even closer to reality. Yet again, this administration has sacrificed public health and safety at the altar of the fossil fuel industry.”

Trump's Clean Power Plan Replacement would worsen climate and air pollution
Jun 19, 2019

Maine Legislature Passes Pair of Critical Energy Bills

“It’s time we leave dirty, polluting fossil fuel plants in the past,” said Emily Green, Staff Attorney at CLF. “The future of energy is clean and local, and these bills come not a moment too soon. Our communities will now be able to harness Maine’s natural resources to power homes and businesses. We must all do our part to preserve a livable planet while we still have time.”

A view of the statehouse against the clear sky.
Jun 17, 2019

Maine Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags

“Plastic bags are used for mere minutes before they poison our communities and our bodies for years,” said Kirstie Pecci, Director of the Zero Waste Project at CLF. “We cannot recycle our way out of this. Banning single-use plastics is the only way to protect our health and environment from this dangerous blight on our communities.”

Single-use plastic bags threaten our environment.
Jun 17, 2019

Vermont Governor Signs Nation’s Strongest Lead in Drinking Water Law

“Our children deserve to go to school or daycare without being poisoned by lead lurking in water fountains,” said Jen Duggan, Vice President and Director of CLF Vermont. “The only safe level of lead is zero, and Vermont is leading the nation in making sure that the health of our children comes first.”