Sep 13, 2019

New Englanders Hit the Road for Drive Electric Week

It’s that time of year again—National Drive Electric Week! Every year, people across the nation celebrate the benefits of electric vehicles and showcase their cars during events throughout the country. From not shelling out money at the gas pump to not spewing pollution, there’s a lot to celebrate. Pollution from transportation, including the cars and trucks we drive every day, is the leading cause of climate-damaging emissions in New England. If we want to tackle the climate crisis, we have to fight for cleaner cars and a cleaner transportation system overall.

Electric vehicles are a critical part of our climate solutions.
Aug 06, 2019

Vermont Makes Slow Progress in Getting Electric Vehicles on the Road

Getting serious about tackling the climate crisis means getting around without burning fossil fuels. Unfortunately, most cars and trucks still run on gasoline, which pollutes both our air and our climate. In fact in New England, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses accounts for more than a third of our climate-damaging emissions. This needs to change. Vermont needs to put at least 50,000 electric cars and trucks on the road by 2025 to meet the goals set forth in the State’s energy plan. With only around 3,000 on the road right now, we are far from on track to get there.

An electric vehicle is charging
Jul 08, 2019

Maine Makes Progress on Climate, Energy, Toxins, and More

Maine’s newly elected governor and legislature delivered on critical new laws that will cut climate-damaging emissions, protect Maine’s families and children from toxic chemicals, clean up our rivers, and save energy – all while creating jobs, growing new industries, and strengthening the economy.

Rooftop solar panels on a barn in Maine
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
Feb 16, 2019

Massachusetts eyeing more renewable energy-friendly future

One bill sponsored by Stoneham Democratic state Rep. Michael Day seeks to help save taxpayer dollars spent trying to recycle what the Conservation Law Foundation describes as wasteful packaging. Another piece of legislation supported by CLF would require all large-scale fleets of vehicles in Massachusetts — public and private — to go electric by 2035.

Feb 11, 2019

New England Needs to Hit the Accelerator on Electric Vehicles

Americans are embracing electric vehicles and moving away from our dependency on fossil-fuel guzzling engines. But the transition needs to happen much more quickly if we’re going to reduce carbon pollution to the level required to avert climate catastrophe by 2050.

Electric car parking symbol
Feb 06, 2019

Bills to Watch as Massachusetts Kicks off Legislative Session

CLF is focusing this session on five critical areas of groundbreaking, proactive legislation: cutting carbon pollution, boosting clean transportation, reducing plastic pollution in our environment, and preparing our cities and towns for climate change impacts. Learn more about the bills before the legislature and how you can get involved.

The Massachusetts Legislature missed their chance to lead on energy today. Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Dec 18, 2018

Transportation Advocates Commend States’ Announcement to Develop Regional Program to Modernize Transportation and Reduce Vehicle Pollution

“The health and economic well-being of people and our planet depend on bold action today to create a transportation system for the future,” said Amy Laura Cahn, director, Healthy Communities & Environmental Justice program at Conservation Law Foundation. “Environmental justice communities have the fewest resources to adapt to the impacts of climate change but have long borne the greatest burdens of pollution and transportation inequity. We welcome a regional problem-solving approach, but our most disadvantaged residents must have a seat at the table.”

test drive an electric car during national drive electric week