“Our marine monument – the only one in the Atlantic – protects rare and fragile ocean life and serves as an important deep-sea laboratory that will propel forward our nation’s commitment to scientific understanding and innovation. We intend to continue to fight for full, comprehensive protection of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts monument on behalf of all New Englanders who rely on a healthy ocean.”
“This weekend, we saw thousands of homes destroyed, streets flooded and families displaced by Hurricane Harvey,” said CLF president Bradley Campbell. “We can’t wait around for the next natural disaster to inundate our communities. Shell’s facility sits on the banks of the Providence River, poised to spew toxic chemicals into our waters and our neighborhoods with no adequate safeguards in place. If the loss of life and damage from storms like Hurricane Harvey aren’t enough of a wake-up call, then legal action is needed to protect the public.”
“The fate of these treasures shouldn’t be left hanging in the balance,” said Peter Shelley, Senior Counsel for Conservation Law Foundation. “Some 3 million people — more than 98 percent of commenters — voiced their support for keeping our national monuments intact. Submitting recommendations that defy the will of the American people and then withholding these recommendations from the public is utterly unacceptable. The president has no legal authority to alter national monuments, and we will take him to court if he tries.”
“With the Trump Administration making every effort to turn back the clock on environmental progress, it falls to state and regional collaboration to lead the way in protecting public health and defending clean air and water,” said CLF attorney Phelps Turner. “For nearly a decade, RGGI has been a sterling example of the positive impact such collaboration can have on both the environment and the economy, and today’s new commitments represent a significant contribution to our work to leave a cleaner and safer home for future generations.”
“The new rule penalizes homeowners and businesses that generate solar energy, hampering our opportunities to increase energy independence, reduce electricity costs and support one of the fastest growing sectors in Maine’s economy,” said CLF Executive Vice President Sean Mahoney. “This LePage-appointed commission wants us to believe that charging Mainers for the energy we generate in our own homes is just and fair, but we’re not falling for it. If this rule remains on the books, it will undermine state policy and threaten an industry already providing hundreds of good jobs across our state.”
“These rules re-establish the Commonwealth as a national leader in developing sensible, enforceable standards to transition our economy to a low-carbon future,” said CLF President Bradley Campbell. “Much more needs to be done, and Governor Baker’s leadership will be essential to getting neighboring states to take meaningful action to prepare New England for the energy future being shaped by the Paris Climate Agreement.”
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement today in response to Casella Waste’s announcement that it will shut down Massachusetts’ largest landfill by 2018. “After decades of living in the shadow of a landfill that contaminated the water and fouled the air, residents have finally buried this menace to our environment, our health, and our economy,” said Kirstie Pecci, Conservation Law Foundation Senior Fellow and resident of Southbridge. “The closing of Southbridge sends a strong message across Massachusetts that residents will resist and persist until the polluting legacy of all landfills and incinerators come to an end.”
“Today’s failure is one that has a direct impact on the wallets of businesses and families across our state,” said CLF attorney Emily Green. “Despite the bill’s overwhelming passage in June and widespread public support, clean energy in Maine has once again fallen victim to Governor LePage’s and utilities’ anti-progress stance. Regardless of this regressive decision by the legislature, CLF will continue fighting to ensure that solar power has a bright future in Maine.”
CLF President Bradley Campbell said, “Community health is vitally dependent on neighborhood design and smart investment, which is why CLF is proud to partner with MHIC on projects researched and designed to promote affordability, mobility, and better health outcomes.”
“Vermonters across our state are calling for real, measurable action to reduce harmful carbon emissions into the air we breathe, and this commission is a step in the right direction,” said CLF senior attorney Sandra Levine. “But to meet the Paris climate commitments, Vermont needs more than a new commission — we need concrete policy outcomes. These include putting a price on carbon pollution, increasing energy efficiency measures statewide and cutting carbon emissions every year. CLF looks forward to working with the Governor in order to ensure that this commission delivers real solutions for Vermonters to meet the challenge of climate change.”
