Governor announces budget increase for state parks
This January, Gov. Deval Patrick announced an 8 percent increase in funding for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the agency charged with caring for our parks, forests, beaches and reserves. The increase will allow DCR to hire more rangers and maintenance workers and to make some of the many repairs needed to preserve natural areas across the state.
The budget increase marks a reversal from years of underfunding that have starved state parks of the funds needed for basic maintenance and upkeep, resulting in a daunting $1.2 billion backlog for needed maintenance projects.
Environment Massachusetts Field Organizer Winston Vaughan praised the governor’s move as an important first step. “We’re lucky to have one of the most impressive parks systems in the country, but it’s critical that we reverse the years of neglect that threaten the beauty and safety of our state parks.”
Legislature works on strong energy bill
The Massachusetts House and Senate are finalizing a bill that would
mean less energy waste and more clean, homegrown power in the Bay State.
The legislation, a version of which has been passed by both the House
and Senate, puts in place new energy-efficient building codes and
institutes an energy-scoring program to calculate a house’s efficiency
for potential homebuyers. It also requires utilities to invest in
programs to cut waste rather than build more polluting power plants.
Now, both houses are meeting to draft the final bill, which will be
sent to Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk.
“This legislation will help us cut down on energy waste, and because it
will encourage investment in renewable sources, it will position our
state as an authority in the up-and-coming clean energy economy,” said
Environment Massachusetts’ Ben Wright.
At top, Mohawk State Forest in Charlemont.
