Following a week of mild temperatures, New England is bracing for the cold to come. Last year, we weathered the worst cold snap that we’d faced in 100 years, complete with a new phenomenon known as a “bomb cyclone.” Now don’t be mistaken, this “bomb cyclone” did not involve Armageddon, the sky falling, or even blackouts… Continue reading Cold Snap Shows We Still Don’t Need New Gas Pipelines
“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.”
This week, Massachusetts had a chance to make meaningful progress on clean energy. With a slew of bills in front of them, the legislature was poised to minimize electricity costs, bolster local job growth, and protect its people from the worst effects of climate change. Instead, our legislators made only half-hearted nods towards progress, falling… Continue reading Massachusetts Legislature Fails to Take Meaningful Action on Clean Energy
Even before New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu took office in 2016, we knew that he might be a climate change denier. But he was also a ski resort owner, who should know from experience that increasingly warm and volatile weather hurts our economy, our environment, and our way of life. So we kept an open… Continue reading Governor Sununu Gets Failing Grade on Energy and Climate
In the realm of energy and climate change, this year’s legislative session was a big yawn. Legislators took some baby steps towards progress at a time when big leaps are needed. But all journeys begin with a single step, so these modest actions can set the stage for the hard work ahead. While it’s good… Continue reading Vermont Sets the Stage for Climate Action
“This legislation is an important step forward in combatting climate change, growing real local jobs, and making Massachusetts a healthier place to live. It works to ensure that we will meet our 2050 climate mandate by setting a reasonable timeline with milestones along the way, while adding protection for vulnerable communities and our workforce. We urge the House to follow the Senate’s lead and pass this legislation.”
This week, CLF joined with a host of partner organizations to lend support for Governor Charlie Baker’s home energy scorecard program.The program, outlined in H. 4371, An Act relative to consumer access to residential energy information, would require homeowners to undertake a home energy audit and include a home energy scorecard when they sell their… Continue reading New Home Energy Audit Bill Has Right Idea But Wrong Funding
Talking Trash CLF Launches Zero-Waste Project to Tackle Massachusetts’s Trash Problem Getting Smart about Energy Energy Efficiency Under Fire in Maine Why I Give Rebecca LaRocque Five Questions For… Rebekah Weber, Lake Champlain Lakekeeper
Last week Massachusetts finalized and released the state’s latest inventory of its statewide emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases (GHGs). The final numbers indicate that in 2014, the Commonwealth released the equivalent of 74.6 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is a slight improvement over 2013. That’s good news and is far better than the increase in climate-damaging emissions we saw the year before. But a single year of slightly lower emissions isn’t good enough.
CLF took the Maine Public Utilities Commission to court today for underfunding the state’s three-year energy efficiency budget by $30 million – resulting in losses of $270 million dollars for Maine citizens and businesses. You read that right – shortchanging energy efficiency translates to lost benefits totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for hardworking Mainers.
