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Dear Members and Supporters,
The utilities are slowing our transition to a clean energy future. Why? Their business model and their profits are based on fossil fuels.
Eversource and National Grid are not interested in a booming Massachusetts economy. Why? Because of the $22 billion we spend on energy every year, much of
the $18 billion that leaves the state goes out in their pockets.
The utilities are lobbying Governor Baker, Speaker DeLeo and others, urging them to perpetuate business as usual. They bemoan solar energy credits yet say
nary a word about fossil fuel subsidies, which are six times greater than renewable subsidies worldwide.
Why are National Grid and Eversource pushing pipelines instead of plugging leaks? Because we are being asked to pay for the pipelines, as we already pay
for the leaking gas. They want us to subsidize their business model for decades to come - to the detriment of our economy, our environment, our safety, and
our wallets.
Please tell the utilities - Steven John Holliday, CEO of US operations at National Grid (781-907-1000) and CEO Tom May at Eversource (413-785-5871) - that we want to kick our
fossil-fuel habit as soon as possible. Together, let's move to a clean, renewable energy future - fossil-fuel free.
Cathy A. Buckley
Chapter Chair
 Action Alert: Carbon Pricing
What do Michael Bloomberg, Bill McKibben, The World Bank and Pope Francis all have in common? They all agree that putting a price on carbon is the most effective tool we can use to address climate change.
 Hit the button to send a message to Governor Baker and your state legislators
to urge them to support carbon fee and rebate legislation. This legislation has already been filed and is waiting for action.
The Massachusetts Sierra Club is a partner in the Massachusetts Clean Energy Future coalition,
working with over 40 organizations to enact carbon pricing legislation
in Massachusetts. Governor Baker can help make us the first state in the
nation to pass a carbon fee and rebate system, so that our state can
reach legally-required emissions reduction goals, and send a signal to
other states - and Capitol Hill - that it's beyond time to get serious
about climate change.
 Action Alert: Solar Still At Risk
As we reported last month, solar is under attack in Massachusetts. Last November the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted 150-2 for a bill that
would decimate our state's solar industry by slashing the reimbursement rate solar customers receive for sending power back to the grid. A final bill is
being negotiated with the Senate now.
Hit the button to send a message to your State Rep. that you want Massachusetts to make it easier, not harder, for residents,
businesses and municipalities to go solar.
 Electric Vehicle Rebates Get an Additional $2M
Great news! Massachusetts has added $2M to the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle (EV) rebate program. Drivers are eligible for up to $2,500 for the purchase
or lease of a new EV, and that is on top of a $7,500 federal tax credit. EVs emit 70% fewer greenhouse gases than petroleum-powered vehicles, and have NO
tailpipe emissions. They are also really fun to drive! Visit https://mor-ev.org/ to learn more.
Electrification of our transportation fleet is a key component of meeting our state climate goals. Massachusetts is committed to having 300,000 EVs on the
road by 2025. (There are
≈6,000 on the road now.) Massachusetts is also a signatory to the International Zero-Emission Vehicle Alliance, which sets a goal for all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2050.
 Sierra Club Chapters Working Together to Fight Fracked Gas Pipelines
Eight northeastern Sierra Club chapters met in
December to stop the proliferation of fracked gas
pipelines. The gas industry's ultimate purpose is to
carry fracked gas to US
and Canadian liquified natural gas facilities for shipment overseas. All of these will adversely affect our economy and
environment and
increase the price of natural gas here in Massachusetts.
Sierra Club has filed as an intervenor in
the Northeast Energy Direct (NED) pipeline's Federal Regulatory Energy
Commission
(FERC) proceedings. Proposed by a Kinder Morgan Energy subsidiary, NED
would carry Pennsylvania fracked gas to Dracut, connecting there to a
Canadian-bound
pipeline through Maine. The proposed line (see map) enters Massachusetts in
Hancock, proceeds west across the Connecticut River near Greenfield and
Deerfield, heads
north into New Hampshire and returns to Massachusetts between Lowell and
Lawrence. For more information, contact Cathy Buckley.
 Environmental Voter Project: Finding the Invisible Environmentalists
When voters are asked which issues are most
important to them, climate change and the environment rank low. One
surprising explanation for this: many
environmentalists do not vote - as many as 15 million of us. While the
reasons may vary, the consequences are clear - politicians listen to
voters
because voters decide who wins elections.
A new non-profit, the Environmental Voter Project (EVP), is determined
to turn this around by getting inactive environmentalists to the polls.
EVP
doesn't endorse candidates or policies. Its mission is simply to "get
out the vote" of those in this target group so that they will become
part of the
polled population whose concerns register with politicians.
EVP is based in - and starting its work in - Massachusetts, canvassing
and calling these non-voters. EVP volunteers will follow up after the
election
to see if eligible voters they've contacted did follow through on their
pledge to vote. To find out more about EVP, visit http://www.environmentalvoter.org. And don't forget to vote!
 Farewell and Thanks to Cape Cod Leaders
Rev. Bob Murphy + David Dow
The Cape Cod and Islands (CCI) Group said farewell to two visionary leaders in the past year. Bob Murphy is now working on climate justice issues in
Florida and David Dow has stepped back from his prodigious efforts, albeit not entirely.
For Massachusetts, the wilderness starts with the ocean. David Dow is one of the navigators who has guided the Sierra Club in its ocean-related work for
decades, at the national and state levels, and as an officer in the Cape Cod and Islands Group. David worked tirelessly to protect endangered species and
coastal areas, promote the use of safer chemicals, and control pesticides and contaminated areas. He has received many honors, including the 2009 Special
Service Award from the National Sierra Club.
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David Dow
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Robert Murphy
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David also shared with Reverend Bob Murphy a passion for environmental justice. Bob has taken that passion to Florida, where he notes that while some areas
may have 30-50 years to prepare for climate change, many communities there have run out of time. Many low-income individuals live in trailers located in
flood plains, vulnerable to storm surges and floods. But given that 40 percent of Florida is in the flood plain, Bob notes that moving to higher ground
will be a tall order.
In Bob's own words "I spent 15 years on Cape Cod trying to address the climate change problem. What did I learn? Simply stated, If you want environmental
peace, work for environmental justice."
Bob's and David's shoes will be hard to fill, but please consider helping to do just that. To join the dedicated folks in the CCI group working on
climate and other environmental issues, contact CCI Chair Billie Bates.
 Not Yet a Member?
For just $15 you can become a Sierra Club member and support the work of the Massachusetts chapter, and we need you! There is strength in numbers. Please join us!
 Plastics Summit on February 20
Massachusetts Sierra Club is co-sponsoring a plastics pollution summit on February 20 at the Wellesley Free Library. Learn how you can take action to reduce
plastic pollution in your community. Register here for this free event.
 Local Environmental Action Conference, March 13
Sierra
Club is proud to again sponsor the Local Environmental Action
Conference organized by Toxics Action Center and Massachusetts
Climate Action Network. Visit http://www.localenvironmentalaction.org for a list of workshops and to register. Hope to see you there!
Meetings + Events
Chapter Executive Committee Meeting
Saturday, February 20, 2016, 10:00-12:30 PM
Chapter Office, 294 Washington Street entrance, Suite 417, Boston (ring bell in upper right corner of entrance.) Contact Cathy Buckley chapte...@sierraclubmass.org.
 Do Good and Go Solar with Sungevity
Solar
costs have come down and government incentives have made the
installation of solar panels an even smarter financial decision. You
can now install a solar system on your rooftop for a
fraction of what it used to cost. Within minutes after
installation, you'll become a clean-energy producer, even
selling power back to your electric company.
Learn more. Special
Offer - Sign up and you'll receive
a $750 cash gift card. And
Sierra Club receives $750, too!) Request your quote now and find out how solar is more affordable than ever!
 What Will Be Your Legacy?
Ensure
your legacy by making a gift to the Massachusetts Sierra Club in your
will or trust by beneficiary designation. Planned gifts are particularly
important to the Chapter as they provide significant resources to
continue conservation activities over an extended period of time. For
more information on naming the Massachusetts Chapter as a beneficiary of
a bequest or on creating life-income gifts, call (800) 932-4270 or email giftpl...@sierraclub.org. |
