October 12, 2017

Rick Perry Wants to Prop Up Old Coal and Nuclear Plants at Taxpayers’ Expense

by Jerry Elmer

In a stealth move that went virtually unnoticed by major media outlets, Energy Secretary Rick Perry last week used an obscure provision of law to essentially put the government’s thumb on the scale in favor of coal-fired and nuclear power plants. Secretary Perry directed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a new rule… Continue reading Rick Perry Wants to Prop Up Old Coal and Nuclear Plants at Taxpayers’ Expense

October 12, 2017

Rhode Island 2017 Legislative Recap: Food and Water

by Amy Moses

The 2017 Rhode Island General Assembly session recessed on June 30, leaving the fate of lots of proposed legislation up in the air. The House and Senate reconvened on September 19 to handle much of the unfinished business. It appears that this year’s session is now done until January (save for PawSox hearings). CLF was… Continue reading Rhode Island 2017 Legislative Recap: Food and Water

Photo: Rhode Island State Capitol Building
October 12, 2017

Rhode Island 2017 Legislative Recap: Energy

by Amy Moses

With the Rhode Island General Assembly on hiatus until January, we’re reviewing progress made on key bills this past year – and highlight bills that we will be pushing forward when the Assembly reconvenes in the new year. In this blog, we’ll talk about bills related to energy. You can find our round-up of food-… Continue reading Rhode Island 2017 Legislative Recap: Energy

October 12, 2017

Lead Poisoning is 100 Percent Preventable – So Why Is It Still a Problem Today?

by Tom Irwin

When discussing the tragedy of childhood lead poisoning, I’m often met with the incredulous response “Haven’t we already solved that problem?” It’s a fair question. After all, we’ve known that lead is a dangerous toxin, especially for kids, for decades – even long before the federal government banned lead from paint in 1978 and from… Continue reading Lead Poisoning is 100 Percent Preventable – So Why Is It Still a Problem Today?

October 11, 2017

Maine Makes Progress in Efforts to Prevent Lead Poisoning

by Phelps Turner

Maine has taken significant strides in preventing childhood lead poisoning by implementing a more protective standard for what constitutes poisoning. But a stronger standard will only help Maine’s children if local officials can actually implement it. And here’s where the State is falling short. As National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 22–28, 2017) approaches, we… Continue reading Maine Makes Progress in Efforts to Prevent Lead Poisoning

October 6, 2017

City Park Land Constitutionally Protected, says Massachusetts Supreme Court

by Phelps Turner

In a decision with significant implications for open space planning and protection across Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that municipal parklands are protected by the state’s Constitution as long as the land has been dedicated and used as a public park. The open space at issue was the Cross Street Playground in Westfield,… Continue reading City Park Land Constitutionally Protected, says Massachusetts Supreme Court

October 6, 2017

Advocating for More Renewable Energy in Massachusetts

by Caitlin Peale Sloan

CLF is working with our partners to advance clean energy jobs for people in New England and to help make dirty fossil fuels a thing of the past. That’s what brought me to the State House recently, where I testified in favor of a strong renewable energy policy for Massachusetts. Updating Our Clean Energy Directives I… Continue reading Advocating for More Renewable Energy in Massachusetts

October 4, 2017

UPDATE: Fighting the Vermont Gas Pipeline – at the State Supreme Court

by Sandy Levine

UPDATE: CLF argued our case this morning, taking Vermont gas to task for trying to charge hardworking vermonters for a polluting pipeline. The Vermont Supreme Court was engaged in our argument – we’re asking that the Vermont Public Utilities Commission follow its own rules and re-examine this project based on ballooning costs. We’ll let you… Continue reading UPDATE: Fighting the Vermont Gas Pipeline – at the State Supreme Court

September 29, 2017

Codfather Penalties Set New England on Path to Better Accountability

by Allison Lorenc

On Monday, September 25, a federal court sentenced New England fishing magnate Carlos Rafael – “the Codfather”– to 46 months incarceration, a $200,000 fine, and three years’ probation, during which he is barred from the fishing industry. The sentence sends a strong message that systemic abuse of our fishery resources and management mechanisms will not… Continue reading Codfather Penalties Set New England on Path to Better Accountability

September 29, 2017

Why We Need Solar Energy Now

by Bethany Kwoka

We all know that climate change is a big problem. From more severe storms to prolonged heat waves, climate change is here and it’s happening now. Luckily, clean energy solutions like solar panels can help both our planet and our economy. In the last five years, the amount of power generated by solar panels has… Continue reading Why We Need Solar Energy Now