Blog
September 29, 2017 | Codfather Penalties Set New England on Path to Better AccountabilityOn 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 NowWe 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 |  |
September 26, 2017 | Connecticut Needs a More Ambitious Energy StrategyBy Caitlin Peale Sloan and Max Greene Last month, CLF reported on Connecticut’s new Comprehensive Energy Strategy, which is designed to help the state meet its clean energy goals. The plan would lock in Connecticut’s addiction to climate-damaging fossil fuels – a bad idea when Connecticut is already floundering on its climate commitments and urgently… Continue reading Connecticut Needs a More Ambitious Energy Strategy |  |
September 25, 2017 | Myths About Self-Driving Cars Debunked: Part 1Self-driving cars feel like the stuff of science fiction. Given the speed at which self-driving cars are joining conventional vehicles on the road, it’s important to address some myths about them. Only by getting at what’s really happening right now can we make sensible plans for how self-driving cars can be safely and sensibly integrated into New England’s transportation network. |  |
September 25, 2017 | Myths About Self-Driving Cars Debunked: Part 2Self-driving cars are no longer a dream of the future, but are here now. While we’re still in the early stages of testing and adoption, it’s expected that we will see a major proliferation of self-driving cars here in the States soon. That means we need to plan for them now – and what a proliferation of self-driving cars will mean for our roadways, our environment, and our daily lives. |  |
September 19, 2017 | Breaking: CLF’s ExxonMobil Lawsuit Passes Major MilestoneCLF has crossed a major milestone in our case against oil giant ExxonMobil when a federal judge in Boston ruled that our lawsuit could move forward. |  |
September 19, 2017 | Monuments on Paper Only?National monuments without protections from commercial activities won’t do what they’re meant to do – comprehensively protect our natural, scientific, and cultural treasures In late August, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke submitted to President Trump a report on his summer-long, unnecessary “review” of 27 of America’s treasured national monuments, including two of the newest: the Northeast… Continue reading Monuments on Paper Only? |  |
September 19, 2017 | New Regulations Signal End of Fossil Fuel Power in MassachusettsIn August, Massachusetts announced new regulations that take a critical step forward in ensuring we meet our 2050 climate goals – signaling the beginning of the end of fossil fuels in the Commonwealth. These new regulations were issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) as the result of a unanimous decision by the state’s… Continue reading New Regulations Signal End of Fossil Fuel Power in Massachusetts |  |
September 18, 2017 | Who Owns Downeast Maine’s Seaweed?If you’ve spent any time along the Downeast Maine coast, then you’ve encountered rockweed. The green-brown seaweed known officially as Ascophyllum nodosum is ubiquitous here. At low tide, it carpets the rocky coastline and provides a refuge from the heat or the cold for a variety of shellfish and crustaceans, including juvenile lobsters, crabs, mussels,… Continue reading Who Owns Downeast Maine’s Seaweed? |  |
September 18, 2017 | Vermonters: Speak Up on Climate Action!The devastation left by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma shows that bold action is needed now — and needed everywhere — to cut climate-damaging emissions. We can build stronger communities by hastening our transformation to cleaner, renewable energy. Renewable energy not only reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, but also provides good local jobs. This summer, Vermont’s… Continue reading Vermonters: Speak Up on Climate Action! |  |