Cities with aggressive climate standards are running into roadblocks. Achieving these goals will require strong building energy codes and ending the use of fossil fuels in buildings and homes. We’re starting to see that neither the natural gas utilities nor the real estate industry will sit by quietly as cities and states enforce stronger building codes and ban natural gas infrastructure in new construction.
Jan 27
2021
2021
Sep 25
2018
2018
Counting Down the Weeks to Election Day 2018
As we head into election season this November, it’s on us to hold New England’s elected representatives to a higher standard on their commitment to the environment.
May 11
2017
2017
Proposed Legislation Would Help Massachusetts Communities Prepare for Climate Change Impacts
Tackling the root causes of climate change by cleaning up our energy supply and making our homes, businesses, and cars cleaner and greener is critical in averting the worst impacts our changing climate will bring. But it’s not enough. We need to brace for the climate impacts already in motion by making our communities across…
Nov 3
2016
2016
Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Massachusetts’ Path Forward
In a recent Executive Order, Governor Baker broke his silence on this summer’s landmark decision by Massachusetts’ highest court on the Global Warming Solutions Act. The Court’s decision in Kain v. Dept. of Environmental Protection unanimously confirmed that Baker’s administration must act decisively to ensure the Commonwealth meets the Global Warming Solutions Act’s 2020 cap…
Jan 29
2016
2016
Gov. Baker’s Clean Energy & Climate Plan Merely Skims the Surface of Meaningful Climate Action
Last week, the Baker Administration released its first update to Massachusetts’ Clean Energy and Climate Plan. This plan – a requirement of the state’s landmark climate law, the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) – is intended to guide the state in reaching its statewide emissions limits of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. In its…
Aug 7
2015
2015
Sunny Days Ahead: Securing Massachusetts’ Role as a Renewable Energy Leader
Governor Baker’s administration announced late last week that it would file, this week or next, legislation designed to continue the growth of solar power in Massachusetts and achieve the state’s goal of 1,600 megawatts of installed solar capacity by 2020. No details have been released yet on the draft bill, but those are goals that CLF enthusiastically supports.
Jun 26
2015
2015
Oppose Big and Unpredictable MBTA Fare Hikes
It’s urgent that you act now and contact the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Tell them to leave in place the current limits on fare increases, so that riders are protected from big and unpredictable fare hikes.
Jun 24
2015
2015
CLF Supporters Defend Public Transportation and Protections for MBTA Riders
When a new bill from Gov. Charlie Baker threatened to make public transportation more expensive and less reliable, CLF supporters and other transit activists took action. Thanks to your efforts, some of the worst provisions of this bill are no longer on the table.
May 18
2015
2015
How NOT to Fix the MBTA: Governor Baker’s Reform Bill
Last week, I testified before the Massachusetts State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation. I was there, along with hundreds of other people, including Governor Baker himself, to comment on the Governor’s proposed MBTA reform bill, which would put the beleaguered transit system under the authority of a fiscal control board, among other reforms. Governor Baker…
Jan 12
2015
2015
MA Senate Committee says there’s “No Time to Waste” to Tackle Climate Change
When the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change released a new report last week called “No Time to Waste,” CLF knew it was one we could get behind. The report is a message from the legislature to the new Republican administration containing recommendations for how the state can achieve its greenhouse gas…