New Energy Solutions In the News

HYANNIS — City officials in Austin, Texas, push plug-in hybrid cars. In Israel, solar heating systems provide hot water for cooking and bathing. A nonprofit group promotes "green" jobs in the South Bronx.

These are a few of the case studies outlined in "Global Warming Solutions that Work," a 72-page report released yesterday by Environment America, a research and police center associated with the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups.

"We're focusing right now on the solutions knowing that the inevitable is coming," Sally Williams, a director at the group's Hyannis offices, said yesterday at a press conference announcing the report's release.

Negative effects from global warming such as rising sea levels may be "inevitable" but solutions exist, Williams said. On Cape Cod, more investment in public transit would help, she said.

Politically, the state should pass the Global Warming Solutions Act, a bill that calls for an 80-percent reduction in fossil fuel emissions by 2050, Williams said. The legislation, which seeks to curb emissions that cause global warming, has the support of more than 100 legislators, state Rep. Matthew Patrick, D-Falmouth, said at yesterday's press conference.

The bill is being held up in the House Ways and Means Committee but could be passed by the end of the current legislative session, Patrick said.