Climate Change and Clean Energy

The Massachusetts legislative session ended on July 31st. Overall, it was a controversial session that has been characterized as much by what didn’t happen as by what did. The two environmental actions taken by the legislature this session were environmental justice funding in the state budget, and a compromise clean energy bill. They also passed an environmental bond bill, but it is not clear how much it will raise and what impacts it will have.

Battles over renewable energy policy in Massachusetts have occupied center stage for climate advocates in recent months, with joint letters, media op-eds, petitions, and rallies drawing large interest from those concerned about worsening climate impacts.

An online presentation is open for you to learn about Governor Hogan's proposed expansion of 270 and 495, two highways in the Washington Metropolitan area. The planned expansion is intended to reduce congestion by adding toll lanes, like what has been done on parts of 95 north of Baltimore and in Northern Virginia. The Maryland Department is hailing this as a "state-of-the-art" transportation solution that will return your quality life. It's not. Building more roads is not state-of-the-art and will not return quality of life.