http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/if-you-clean-it-they-will-ride-environmentalists-tout-public-transit In an effort to eliminate greenhouse gases and curb global warming in http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/if-you-clean-it-they-will-ride-environmentalists-tout-public-transit Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:43:53 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/supreme-court-rebukes-bush-administration-inaction-on-global-warming http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/supreme-court-rebukes-bush-administration-inaction-on-global-warming Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:43:53 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/bill-would-reduce-carbon-emissions BOSTON— Legislators working on a proposed law to cap the state’s carbon emissions and reduce them by 20 percent over the next 12 years yesterday pointed to a new report showing that New England has increased its global warming emissions since 2001 as evidence that more stringent emission control programs are needed. The report, put out by regional environmental organizations, shows that all New England states except Rhode Island increased emissions contributing to global warming since the region’s governors agreed on a goal to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2010. The biggest increases came in higher carbon emissions from transportation, electricity generation and residential energy use. Massachusetts emissions increased 2 percent from 2001 to 2005, the latest years for which federal data is available, driven mostly by transportation and energy sector emissions, according to the findings. The information comes as state officials are wrestling with a series of proposed initiatives to set goals to reduce carbon emissions and establish new programs to invest in alternative energy and energy conservation. A package of alternative energy incentive programs and conservation initiatives are included in energy bills that passed the House and Senate earlier and are in conference committee to iron out the differences. Another bill that would set steeper goals for the state over the next 12 years than those agreed to by the New England governors has not yet gotten that far. The Global Warming Solutions Act passed the Senate, but has yet to gain traction in the House or get clear support from the governor’s office. New England governors have agreed on a target of 10 percent reductions by 2020, but state Sen. Mark R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, said the 10 percent reduction does not go far enough in light of increasing evidence of damage from the greenhouse effect. He said further that unlike current goals stated by New England leaders, the proposed law would codify the 20 percent reduction. “I am calling on this administration to up the ante … to take a public stand on this bill,” Mr. Pacheco said of the governor’s position. “We need their help on this now.” He added that if the bill is not adopted before the Legislature ends its current two-year session this summer, it could be a year or two before the bill is up for consideration again. Mr. Pacheco said the report shows goals adopted in 2001 are not being met and firmer long-term caps are needed. “As long as we have goals and targets that do not get met, it will impact our economy, it will impact our public health, and we will not have a great future ahead of us,” Mr. Pacheco said. “We need a lot more courage and a lot more leadership to fix this problem. The longer we wait, the more we will have to do.” Lila Glick of Clean Water Action said evidence of global warming, from recent breakaway of large chunks of the Antarctic ice shelf to studies showing that spring is arriving a month earlier than it did 40 years ago, show the need to curtail carbon emissions. “We were pretty disturbed,” by the findings of the report, she said. “It shows we are basically going in the wrong direction.” Since 2001 she said population has grown by .3 percent, but transportation emissions have grown by about 7 percent, which she said primarily came from people switching from economy cars to less fuel-efficient trucks and sport utility vehicles and commuting longer distances. The state legislation to invest in renewable energy and more conservation would mark a “monumental” step in shifting the state toward cleaner energy, said Ben Wright of Environment Massachusetts. But, he said, “A cap on carbon emissions from all sectors of the economy is the next step,” to begin trying to slow climate change. Some manufacturing groups have said caps on emissions would hurt the state’s economy. Mr. Pacheco disputed that claim, saying that setting long-term caps would help spur alternative energy technology development as a growing part of the state’s industrial sector, create jobs and reduce the cost of doing business. Mr. Pacheco said emissions can be reduced significantly through energy conservation steps in buildings, improved standards for motor vehicle efficiency and expanded mass transit systems in the next several years while cleaner energy sources can also replace fossil fuel energy emissions. http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/bill-would-reduce-carbon-emissions Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:49:50 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/protesters-in-somerset-say-no-to-coal-gasification-plant SOMERSET — With a man-sized penguin outside in the cold trying to draw people in, members of an environmental coalition tried to rally opposition to plans by NRG Energy to turn its coal-fired power plant into a facility that uses superheated gas to turn coal and biofuels into synthetic natural gas. Although the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has given the proposal a green light, environmentalists are appealing the decision, contending that NRG should be required to comply with its original promise to either shut the plant down or covert to clean natural gas by 2010. “The state is allowing NRG to break its promise,” said Sylvia Broude, of the Toxics Action Center. NRG says the process, using cutting-edge technology that has been used in a plant in Japan, will dramatically reduce pollution from the coal-fired plant and that the plant is needed to produce energy. But critics say the proposed gasification process is untested. And although the new process would produce less pollution than now, it will still add more climate-changing carbon dioxide into the air than a plant that burns natural gas. Broude called the NRG gasification process “dirty and dangerous and untested,” and “an incinerator in disguise.” At a news briefing before the meeting, the opponents repeatedly focused on an even more insidious threat, disputed by NRG, that the plant could — and most likely will — be used to burn construction and demolition debris, releasing all kinds of toxic chemicals in the air. In fact, NRG’s state permit does not allow such debris to be burned. At the news conference, the activists grudgingly confirmed that such incineration would not be possible without additional state approval. Yet because NRG has permission to burn clean biomass such as wood chips, they said, it’s an easy step for them to shoehorn the state into getting approval to go with the dirtier material, which might be laced with deadly chemicals such as dioxin, mercury, lead and arsenic. “We have had enough environmental and health insults put on us by the State of Massachusetts,” David Dionne, a founding member of the Massachusetts Clean Air Coalition, told the crowd of nearly 100 people at AmVets Hall. “The debate is whether we move forward with a carbon-based economy or a sustainable future with renewable energy.” Joseph Carvalho, another founding member and an anti-LNG activist, said data from the American Lung Association show that the area has higher-than-normal respiratory problems and premature deaths, and the upgraded plant would do nothing to help that. Broude said that compared to having the plant burning just natural gas, the plasma gasification process would increase asthma attacks, lung problems, and “even premature death.” Winston Vaughan, a field organizer for Environment Massachusetts, said NRG talks about the reengineered plant being able to pull out and store carbon dioxide in the earth, a process called “sequestration.” But the rock structure makes sequestration impractical in the region. “Allowing this proposal to go forward instead of repowering with cleaner fuel or shutting down as previously proposed would signal that the Department of Environmental Protection is not as serious about reducing global warming pollution as their public statements would suggest,” Vaughan said. “This makes no sense in a state that is trying to be a leader in environmental technology and environmental policy.” http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/protesters-in-somerset-say-no-to-coal-gasification-plant Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:44:18 -0600 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/protesters-in-somerset-say-no-to-coal-gasification-plant2 SOMERSET — http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/protesters-in-somerset-say-no-to-coal-gasification-plant2 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:00:02 -0600 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/state-climate-change-bill-advances http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/state-climate-change-bill-advances Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:13:12 -0600 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/global-warming-speakers-want-state-to-lead http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/global-warming-speakers-want-state-to-lead Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:24:09 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/green-groups-praise-state-senates-global-warming-solutions-act LYNN-Environmental advocates from across the state are praising the Senate this http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/green-groups-praise-state-senates-global-warming-solutions-act Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:48:35 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/green-groups-praise-state-senates-global LYNN-Environmental advocates from across the state are praising the http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/green-groups-praise-state-senates-global Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:45:20 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/blogs-and-a-bill2 AFTER READING Joan Vennochi's article "The two sides of DiMasi" (Op-ed, July 31), http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/blogs-and-a-bill2 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:00:22 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/brownsberger-an-outstanding-legislative-session It ain’t over until it's over. The 2007-2008 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/brownsberger-an-outstanding-legislative-session Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:51:03 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/global-warming-solutions-act-passes-legislature Late Thursday night, the state Senate and House http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/global-warming-solutions-act-passes-legislature Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:12:43 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/mass_-house-approves-bill-to-curb-greenhouse-gases BOSTON - House lawmakers raced to http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/mass_-house-approves-bill-to-curb-greenhouse-gases Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:18:59 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/activists-lobbyists-and-legislators-rally-to-cut-emissions BOSTON/Beacon Hill - A crowd of about a hundred ex-hippie http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/activists-lobbyists-and-legislators-rally-to-cut-emissions Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:32:31 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/group-pushes-global-warming-laws A report issued by the advocacy group Environment Massachusetts, in cooperation with several state legislators, outlines more than 20 strategies to reduce energy emissions. The report, “Global Warming Solutions That Work,” is part of the effort to persuade the Statehouse to implement statewide energy and pollution policies. Some Massachusetts communities already are working to reduce energy usage, but Worcester Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes said it isn’t quite enough. “Here in Worcester, we’ve worked with the Community Development Corporation to install solar panels on our low-income housing, have switched to energy efficient light bulbs in city buildings, and our new North High School will be a LEED certifiable building,” she said, “but more needs to be done.” With regards to North High, the mayor was referring to certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design by the U.S. Green Building Council. The state Senate in March passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which would enforce caps on pollution levels in the state, and earlier this week passed a measure that would force utility companies to invest in conservation and provide incentives for development and marketing power from renewable resources. The goal of the bill is to reduce pollution levels by 20 percent in 2020, from what they were in 1990, and by 80 percent in 2050. Passing those bills demonstrated the Senate’s commitment to the issue, said Benjamin Wright, a spokesman for Environment Massachusetts. The organization hopes that commitment will be echoed by the state House of Representatives, where both measures are awaiting approval. Mrs. Lukes urged lawmakers to be an example for the rest of the state by passing the legislation. “By passing the Global Warming Solutions Act, leaders on Beacon Hill will make it easier for cities across the commonwealth to put in place bold, common-sense solutions to global warming that clean our air and save our residents money on their energy bills,” she said. The advocacy group’s report makes several suggestions for reducing pollution such as adopting mandatory caps on emissions. It also recommends putting energy-efficient improvements and development of renewable energy at the forefront of environmental and economic policy. Strong building energy and efficiency standards are among the policies that can help reduce pollution, according to the report. State Rep. Martha M. Walz, D-Boston, said the seriousness of global warming makes it imperative to approve the environmental legislation. “With the consequences of global warming becoming increasingly obvious, each of us must take action to curb global warming pollution, and our city and state governments must also adopt laws to reduce emission,” she said. “This report gives specific examples of what we should do to help our planet.” Environment Massachusetts, in its report, calls global warming the “defining challenge of our time” and said states and communities across the United States should make the goal of reducing energy emissions by 15 percent to 20 percent by 2020 a priority. “Only bold, science-based action can stave off catastrophic effects of global warming,” Mr. Wright said. http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/group-pushes-global-warming-laws Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:13:16 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/greener-energy-boots-up-senate-bill-pushes-savings-efficiency BOSTON— The state Senate yesterday unanimously passed an energy bill that would force utilities to invest in conservation when it is less costly than buying more power, have the state buy more energy-efficient vehicles and help local governments and homeowners pay for energy-saving programs. The legislation, which also includes incentives for development and marketing of power from renewable energy sources, was first proposed by House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi last year and redrafted with input from the Senate and Gov. Deval L. Patrick. It is expected to be approved by the House tomorrow before being sent to the governor for his review. The bill, which got broad support from environmental groups after several key provisions were changed, also calls for the state to get at least 15 percent of its electricity from clean, renewable energy sources by 2020. It also puts the governor and state energy and environment secretary in a position to oversee spending for renewable energy projects from a fund that comes from a surcharge on residential energy bills. Until now an independent agency has distributed those funds. Advocates from Environment Massachusetts said the “least cost procurement” provisions — that would require the use of conservation programs when they are cheaper than buying electricity from power plants — would dramatically increase investment in energy efficiency across the state. The legislation also calls for the state to update building codes to international efficiency standards, and to start a program to help homeowners, neighborhoods, cities and towns more readily afford small-scale energy generation and energy conservation projects. One provision would allow homeowners and renters to purchase renewable energy systems for their homes with no upfront costs and pay them off in monthly installments on their utility bill. Not all the provisions were backed by environmentalists. Some objected to parts of the bill that would allow utilities to use ratepayer funds for financial incentives to develop electrical generation from coal gasification. Critics said the process may increase greenhouse gas emissions. State Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, who has proposed other legislation to cap and gradually reduce global-warming emissions, said legislation on the state level cannot replace better energy policy on the national level. He blamed the Bush administration for failing to develop alternative energy. “If the oil men vacate the White House, we may have an energy policy that makes sense for the future of America, and what makes sense is to become independent of foreign oil and fossil fuels and getting us into a position where we can become competitive again,” Mr. Pacheco said. “It is an environmental issue and an economic issue.” He said the state should support production of biofuels such as ethanol and other alternatives as supported in the legislation, but he criticized what he called “subsidies for coal” in the bill. “I’m going to have to swallow it, I guess, because it is one piece of a bill that has so many good pieces,” he said. Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, complained the state was ignoring the need for more power supplies. “Give me a break,” he said in response to Mr. Pacheco’s comments. “The oilman in the White House? We point the finger? My constituents are paying $4 a gallon for gas. There is nothing in the bill that is going to help them,” he said, arguing new conventional energy sources were needed and not being encouraged. “Let’s not go crazy with the accolades and patting ourselves on the back. God forbid we drill,” he said, arguing for more domestic oil drilling. Mr. Knapik also complained about opposition and delays in development of a proposed wind turbine farm in Nantucket Sound that would provide clean power to Cape Cod. “Wind power — God forbid, we help the Cape. We can’t even get that right,” Mr. Knapik said. He said the state has the highest electric rates in the nation and there is serious worry about heating costs next winter. “This legislation does nothing to drive down those costs,” he said. Mr. Knapik, however, supported the legislation, commenting, “It does begin to move us incrementally in the right direction.” Another Republican, Sen. Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester, said the bill would restrict electrical supply at a time when the state needs more power. “There is no doubt we need to be exploring renewables … but does that mean we need to restrict ourselves on our supply of energy?” he asked. Mr. Tarr said conservation will not bring the state the energy it needs and it should be finding ways to site new energy facilities, including nuclear power plants and ethanol production facilities. “We need to increase supply, that is the Achilles’ heel of this bill,” he argued, predicting severe spikes in energy costs without new power BOSTON— The state Senate yesterday unanimously passed an energy bill that would force utilities to invest in conservation when it is less costly than buying more power, have the state buy more energy-efficient vehicles and help local governments and homeowners pay for energy-saving programs. The legislation, which also includes incentives for development and marketing of power from renewable energy sources, was first proposed by House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi last year and redrafted with input from the Senate and Gov. Deval L. Patrick. It is expected to be approved by the House tomorrow before being sent to the governor for his review. The bill, which got broad support from environmental groups after several key provisions were changed, also calls for the state to get at least 15 percent of its electricity from clean, renewable energy sources by 2020. It also puts the governor and state energy and environment secretary in a position to oversee spending for renewable energy projects from a fund that comes from a surcharge on residential energy bills. Until now an independent agency has distributed those funds. Advocates from Environment Massachusetts said the “least cost procurement” provisions — that would require the use of conservation programs when they are cheaper than buying electricity from power plants — would dramatically increase investment in energy efficiency across the state. The legislation also calls for the state to update building codes to international efficiency standards, and to start a program to help homeowners, neighborhoods, cities and towns more readily afford small-scale energy generation and energy conservation projects. One provision would allow homeowners and renters to purchase renewable energy systems for their homes with no upfront costs and pay them off in monthly installments on their utility bill. Not all the provisions were backed by environmentalists. Some objected to parts of the bill that would allow utilities to use ratepayer funds for financial incentives to develop electrical generation from coal gasification. Critics said the process may increase greenhouse gas emissions. State Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, who has proposed other legislation to cap and gradually reduce global-warming emissions, said legislation on the state level cannot replace better energy policy on the national level. He blamed the Bush administration for failing to develop alternative energy. “If the oil men vacate the White House, we may have an energy policy that makes sense for the future of America, and what makes sense is to become independent of foreign oil and fossil fuels and getting us into a position where we can become competitive again,” Mr. Pacheco said. “It is an environmental issue and an economic issue.” He said the state should support production of biofuels such as ethanol and other alternatives as supported in the legislation, but he criticized what he called “subsidies for coal” in the bill. “I’m going to have to swallow it, I guess, because it is one piece of a bill that has so many good pieces,” he said. Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, complained the state was ignoring the need for more power supplies. “Give me a break,” he said in response to Mr. Pacheco’s comments. “The oilman in the White House? We point the finger? My constituents are paying $4 a gallon for gas. There is nothing in the bill that is going to help them,” he said, arguing new conventional energy sources were needed and not being encouraged. “Let’s not go crazy with the accolades and patting ourselves on the back. God forbid we drill,” he said, arguing for more domestic oil drilling. Mr. Knapik also complained about opposition and delays in development of a proposed wind turbine farm in Nantucket Sound that would provide clean power to Cape Cod. “Wind power — God forbid, we help the Cape. We can’t even get that right,” Mr. Knapik said. He said the state has the highest electric rates in the nation and there is serious worry about heating costs next winter. “This legislation does nothing to drive down those costs,” he said. Mr. Knapik, however, supported the legislation, commenting, “It does begin to move us incrementally in the right direction.” Another Republican, Sen. Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester, said the bill would restrict electrical supply at a time when the state needs more power. “There is no doubt we need to be exploring renewables … but does that mean we need to restrict ourselves on our supply of energy?” he asked. Mr. Tarr said conservation will not bring the state the energy it needs and it should be finding ways to site new energy facilities, including nuclear power plants and ethanol production facilities. “We need to increase supply, that is the Achilles’ heel of this bill,” he argued, predicting severe spikes in energy costs without new power BOSTON— The state Senate yesterday unanimously passed an energy bill that would force utilities to invest in conservation when it is less costly than buying more power, have the state buy more energy-efficient vehicles and help local governments and homeowners pay for energy-saving programs. The legislation, which also includes incentives for development and marketing of power from renewable energy sources, was first proposed by House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi last year and redrafted with input from the Senate and Gov. Deval L. Patrick. It is expected to be approved by the House tomorrow before being sent to the governor for his review. The bill, which got broad support from environmental groups after several key provisions were changed, also calls for the state to get at least 15 percent of its electricity from clean, renewable energy sources by 2020. It also puts the governor and state energy and environment secretary in a position to oversee spending for renewable energy projects from a fund that comes from a surcharge on residential energy bills. Until now an independent agency has distributed those funds. Advocates from Environment Massachusetts said the “least cost procurement” provisions — that would require the use of conservation programs when they are cheaper than buying electricity from power plants — would dramatically increase investment in energy efficiency across the state. The legislation also calls for the state to update building codes to international efficiency standards, and to start a program to help homeowners, neighborhoods, cities and towns more readily afford small-scale energy generation and energy conservation projects. One provision would allow homeowners and renters to purchase renewable energy systems for their homes with no upfront costs and pay them off in monthly installments on their utility bill. Not all the provisions were backed by environmentalists. Some objected to parts of the bill that would allow utilities to use ratepayer funds for financial incentives to develop electrical generation from coal gasification. Critics said the process may increase greenhouse gas emissions. State Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, who has proposed other legislation to cap and gradually reduce global-warming emissions, said legislation on the state level cannot replace better energy policy on the national level. He blamed the Bush administration for failing to develop alternative energy. “If the oil men vacate the White House, we may have an energy policy that makes sense for the future of America, and what makes sense is to become independent of foreign oil and fossil fuels and getting us into a position where we can become competitive again,” Mr. Pacheco said. “It is an environmental issue and an economic issue.” He said the state should support production of biofuels such as ethanol and other alternatives as supported in the legislation, but he criticized what he called “subsidies for coal” in the bill. “I’m going to have to swallow it, I guess, because it is one piece of a bill that has so many good pieces,” he said. Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, complained the state was ignoring the need for more power supplies. “Give me a break,” he said in response to Mr. Pacheco’s comments. “The oilman in the White House? We point the finger? My constituents are paying $4 a gallon for gas. There is nothing in the bill that is going to help them,” he said, arguing new conventional energy sources were needed and not being encouraged. “Let’s not go crazy with the accolades and patting ourselves on the back. God forbid we drill,” he said, arguing for more domestic oil drilling. Mr. Knapik also complained about opposition and delays in development of a proposed wind turbine farm in Nantucket Sound that would provide clean power to Cape Cod. “Wind power — God forbid, we help the Cape. We can’t even get that right,” Mr. Knapik said. He said the state has the highest electric rates in the nation and there is serious worry about heating costs next winter. “This legislation does nothing to drive down those costs,” he said. Mr. Knapik, however, supported the legislation, commenting, “It does begin to move us incrementally in the right direction.” Another Republican, Sen. Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester, said the bill would restrict electrical supply at a time when the state needs more power. “There is no doubt we need to be exploring renewables … but does that mean we need to restrict ourselves on our supply of energy?” he asked. Mr. Tarr said conservation will not bring the state the energy it needs and it should be finding ways to site new energy facilities, including nuclear power plants and ethanol production facilities. “We need to increase supply, that is the Achilles’ heel of this bill,” he argued, predicting severe spikes in energy costs without new power supplies. http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/greener-energy-boots-up-senate-bill-pushes-savings-efficiency Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:17:46 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/environment-massachusetts-hails-new-approach-to-global-warming Environment Massachusetts applauded new legislation to address global warming unveiled today by Representative Ed Markey, Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The "Investing in Climate Action and Protection Act" (iCAP Act) is a detailed bill that would reduce global warming emissions in line with the latest science while protecting American consumers and building a clean energy economy. "Global warming is one of our greatest challenges, and this bill is up to the task. By adopting a fair and efficient approach, this bill will achieve greater reductions in global warming pollution and at lower cost to society than other proposals currently being considered. It is smart for the environment, smart for consumers, and smart for our future," said Environment Massachusetts Field Organizer Winston Vaughan. The iCAP Act's cap-auction-and-trade program would reduce global warming emissions to 2005 levels by 2012, to 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and to 85 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. Last year, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that if Advertisement we don't act quickly and boldly to reduce our emissions of global warming pollution, the United States and the world risk devastating damage to our environment, natural resources, and economy. The iCAP Act would begin by auctioning 94 percent of the pollution allowances in 2012 and transition to a 100 percent auction in 2020. The 6 percent of allowances not initially auctioned would be distributed to U.S. industries that are energy-intensive and exposed to international trade competition, such as iron, steel, aluminum, cement, bulk glass, and paper. "This bill shows that we can tackle global warming and make our lives better at the same time. By mobilizing American ingenuity and resources, we can liberate America from its dependence on fossil fuels, reduce pollution and threats to our health, create new economic opportunities, and bring new life to cities and small towns alike. We applaud Chairman Markey for this visionary bill," said Vaughan. The iCAP Act would return more than half of the proceeds of the auction to low- and middle-income households to help compensate for any increase in energy costs as a result of the legislation. It would invest the remaining auction proceeds in energy efficiency and other programs that will reduce the costs of the policy and in clean renewable energy, like wind and solar power, creating jobs and spurring the transition to a clean energy economy. In addition to its cap-auction-and-trade program, the iCAP Act also would establish performance standards for power plants, which are the largest source of U.S. global warming emissions. http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/environment-massachusetts-hails-new-approach-to-global-warming Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:39:54 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/senate-passes-anti-global-warming-bill STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, MARCH 6, 2008.....Without debate, the Senate on Thursday approved a bill aimed at drastically cutting back on the commonwealth’s greenhouse gas emissions over the next 40 years. The bill, filed by Sen. Marc Pacheco, would require Massachusetts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. “Global climate change is the most pressing problem facing our state and our nation and the world,” Pacheco said just before his bill was engrossed and sent to the House. “It’s an historic moment. If we pass this legislation with the help of our colleagues in the House of Representatives, we will be a state in the nation where we will see increased investment.” According to U.S. EPA statistics, Massachusetts carbon emissions levels are already hovering around 1990 levels, with the latest measurement, from 2004, calculating that Massachusetts releases 83.21 million metric tons of burned fossil fuels each year, compared to 83.92 million tons in 1990. The bill charges the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs with developing a "statewide emissions reduction plan" by Jan. 1, 2009. The plan would be based on information kept in a comprehensive "greenhouse gas registry and inventory" run by the Department of Environmental Protection, which would catalogue major sources of emissions across the commonwealth. Other components of the bill include charging EOEEA with setting up a revolving loan fund for green building and charging the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development with establishing various renewable energy grant and training programs. The bill has numerous reporting requirements, including a comprehensive EOEEA report on the progress of the emission plan by 2010. Robert Keough, a spokesman for EOEEA, declined to comment on the bill’s specifics. “The Patrick administration is broadly supportive of moving toward an economy-wide standard for greenhouse gas emissions,” Keough said. “We look forward to working with the legislature on this important challenge.” Environmental activists said they were thrilled about the bill’s passage in the Senate and are gearing up for a push in the House. Senate Republicans stayed quiet during proceedings Thursday, allowing the bill to advance on a voice vote and watching their amendments get rejected without debate. Business leaders in Massachusetts have come out swinging, contending that tough emissions restrictions would devastate Massachusetts’s manufacturing industry. Senate Democrats tacked on a handful of amendments. After the session, Senate Republican issued a statement blasting the bill as “a feel good exercise” and “window dressing on the issue of climate change.” “With the state’s economy on the brink of a recession, it would have been more productive to use today’s session to work on issues that will help employers create more jobs, rather than once again adding to the cost of doing business in Massachusetts,” according to the statement. But a nationwide business coalition is pushing back, arguing that good environmental policy is good economic policy. Although Associated Industries of Massachusetts called the Senate’s Global Warming Solutions bill a “disaster” and the “last nail in the coffin” for manufacturers in Massachusetts, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), a national association business and environmental industry executives, countered that, “It’s an economic disaster if we fail to take action.” “AIM is not the only voice of business,” said Berl Hartman, co-founder of E2. “We are the voice of business that looks at the economic issues involved. We think that the global warming bill and the targets that are set are required to strengthen the economy.” Hartman said the bill’s provisions to invest in green jobs, invest in innovation and establish a public-private partnership with venture capitalists would help businesses thrive. Senators filed 22 amendments to the bill, including a Sen. Michael Morrissey amendment to nix the 20 percent and 80 percent benchmarks, opting instead to call to reduce emissions to 1990 and to let EOEEA develop its own additional targets. The amendment, which was blasted by environmental activists, was ultimately not adopted. Hartman said the relatively stagnant rate of Massachusetts’s emissions between 1990 and 2004 stems from stagnant population growth and a shift in the economy from manufacturing to service jobs. Frank Gorke, executive director of Environment Massachusetts, said a third factor was a switch from oil burning power generation to the burning of natural gas. Other business and energy interests charged that the bill would damage the Massachusetts economy, with John Quinn, executive director of the Massachusetts Petroleum Council citing “a potential supply catastrophe” if the bill is implemented. Quinn, in a statement, said similar policies in California have led to “a pitched battle with elements of the environmental community that argue that this standard could lead to a biofuels mandate resulting in a significant worsening of Green House Gas emissions.” AIM, using slightly more conciliatory language, reiterated its concern about the bill in a statement issued today while the Senate debated the bill. “While reducing green house gasses is a noble cause, the entire cost of solving this global problem should not fall on the back of Massachusetts, while other states and nations continue to emit many times what we emit, while selling their products here in the Commonwealth,” John Regan, AIM’s Executive Vice President-Government Affairs, said in a statement. The bill passed today was redrafted by the Senate Ways and Means Committee to strike out language requiring waste collection vehicles and other heavy trucks to be retrofitted with the "best available" technology to cut back on diesel emissions. Sen. Jack Hart filed an amendment to reinsert that language but the amendment was rejected. http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/senate-passes-anti-global-warming-bill Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:21:10 -0600 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/resor-backs-call-for-global-warming-initiative Maynard - Legislators, http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/resor-backs-call-for-global-warming-initiative Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:35:13 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/report-state-tops-region-in-global-warming-gas-emissions http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/report-state-tops-region-in-global-warming-gas-emissions Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:31:55 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/bill-a-small-step-to-big-green-change One area lawmaker calls the legislation a "small step." The state's http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/bill-a-small-step-to-big-green-change Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:36:17 -0500 http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/blogs-and-a-bill AFTER READING Joan Vennochi's article "The two sides of DiMasi" (Op-ed, July 31), http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/in-the-news/global-warming/global-warming/blogs-and-a-bill Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:55:45 -0500