On August 15, Massachusetts lost a powerful voice for justice. Michaelann Bewsee was a fearless ally and treasured friend whose passion and selflessness profoundly impacted the lives of her neighbors in Springfield and beyond for generations. In her honor, we want to share this piece, originally published in March of 2015, about her work to…
Aug 21
2019
2019
Aug 13
2019
2019
Getting the Lead Out
When the Flint, Michigan, water crisis made national headlines, it served as a wake-up call for many New England communities. Across the region, cities and towns began looking at the state of their own water systems to ensure they were safe and lead-free. In Claremont, New Hampshire, a city of just over 13,000 near the…
Aug 13
2019
2019
Farmland Matters
Vermont residents fight to protect working land threatened by sprawl.
Aug 13
2019
2019
Local Food, Local Connections
Legal Food Hub launches in Connecticut to support local food economy
Aug 13
2019
2019
Stopping Big Oil
Perched on the edge of the Fore River, South Portland’s Bug Light Park offers visitors a spectacular view of Maine’s Casco Bay. Until recently, that view might also have included a massive oil tanker unloading its cargo for transport along the Portland-Montreal Pipeline, which starts at the park’s edge. Today, however, the pipeline terminal sits…
Aug 13
2019
2019
Historic Lawrence Canals in Danger
“Enel continues to extract from the city of Lawrence while refusing to protect these historic canals,” said CLF attorney Phelps Turner. “While the ruling will force the company to improve its practices, it falls far short in ensuring this critical resource is no longer littered with trash and putting residents in danger. We’re looking at all of our options moving forward to hold Enel accountable for protecting this core piece of the Lawrence landscape.”
Aug 8
2019
2019
Conservation Matters Summer 2019: Year in Review
CLF succeeds because we have people like you by our side. In this special annual report issue of Conservation Matters, we are honoring just a few of our many local heroes, people who have devoted their time, energy, and passion to defending our homes, protecting our children’s health, and supporting the vibrancy of our communities.
Aug 2
2019
2019
Big Oil Can’t Shirk Its Responsibility to Communities
Extreme weather caused by climate change may damage coastal infrastructure by degrading equipment containing hazardous chemicals or by flooding storage facilities. But fossil fuel companies like ExxonMobil and Shell would rather take their chances and do nothing to ready their facilities. CLF knows, however, that these companies have a legal duty (not to mention an ethical one) to adapt their facilities to the foreseeable effects of climate change.
Aug 1
2019
2019
MBTA Debuts Zero Emission Electric Buses
“Combatting climate change means we have to break our dependence on fossil fuels and go electric,” said Staci Rubin, Senior Attorney at CLF. “Traditional buses are a menace, spreading toxic pollution in our communities and making people sick. These buses are a good first step in the MBTA’s promise to provide a 100% electric fleet, and that transformation needs to happen much faster than is planned.”
Aug 1
2019
2019
Massachusetts Considers Bills to Slash Pollution from Cars, Trucks, and Buses
Air pollution poses a serious threat to our health, and the emissions from cars, trucks, and buses are some of the most dangerous. In Massachusetts, this pollution does not affect all communities equally.