Marblehead —

Coal Free Massachusetts, a coalition of more than 60 environmental, public health, faith and labor organizations working to make Massachusetts coal-free by 2020, expressed its love for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and thanked the Patrick Administration for being a national leader on energy issues by delivering more than 1,000 valentines to the governor’s offices in Boston and Springfield.

“Massachusetts is leading by example with top-ranking efficiency programs, a massive scale-up of solar and the first glimpses of off-shore wind,” said Cindy Luppi of Clean Water Action. “We applaud Governor Patrick for recognizing clean energy as the lifeblood of our future.”

FITCHBURG -- Last week's explosion at a Fitchburg auto-parts store proves there are problems with the state's gas-line infrastructure, according to supporters of a natural-gas safety regulation bill making its way through the Legislature.

The legislation, filed by state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, a Marblehead Democrat, would force utility companies to create a "winter patrol" to search for gas leaks in cold weather. Such a move could have prevented the natural-gas leak that caused last Tuesday's explosion at Victory Auto on Lunenburg Street, according to the bill's supporters.

"We have a very old and brittle infrastructure under our feet," Ehrlich said.

BOSTON — Opposition from environmental groups is holding up a bill that would ban the sale of older mercury-filled thermostats and put restrictions on their disposal with just days remaining before a new Legislature get sworn in and the process to move a bill starts again.

Environmental groups think the bill is not strong enough, and fails give the state Department of Environmental Protection the authority advocates are seeking to force improvement in how mercury thermostats are collected.

The bill would prohibit the sale and installation of mercury thermostats and create restrictions for their disposal. Mercury thermostats would only be recycled or disposed of as hazardous waste.