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Spring 2015 Advocate Newsletter

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Spring 2015 Advocate Newsletter SPRING 2015 NEWSLETTER ADVOCATE ENVIRONMENTAL LEAGUE OF MASSACHUSETTS The Future of Offshore Wind in Massachusetts (Hint: there is a future!) by Josh Craft, ELM Program Director 2015 did not begin promisingly for the future estimates that there could be up to 43,000 of offshore wind in Massachusetts, as the jobs in the U.S. from offshore wind-related state’s two largest electric utilities, NSTAR industries by 2030. (now Eversource) and National Grid, both terminated their purchase agreements Despite the Cape Wind setback, members with Cape Wind. The termination of these of the legislature are leading the charge to contracts leaves Cape Wind without a buyer make sure that Massachusetts taps into In This Issue: for its power, putting the development of the our offshore wind resources. Representative 480-megawatt wind farm on hold. Patricia Haddad of Somerset has offered The Future of Offshore Wind an ambitious proposal, H. 2881, a bill in MA page 1 But while the future of Cape Wind remains that would require our electric utilities to ELM Sets Priorities for the 2015– uncertain, ELM remains optimistic about the enter into contracts to purchase up to 2016 Legislative Session page 2 future of offshore wind in the Commonwealth. 2,000 megawatts of offshore power by Why? First, the size of our offshore wind 2030. Representative Antonio Cabral of How do your state legislators rate resources are enormous. As ELM Corporate New Bedford has also re-filed his offshore on the environment? page 3 and Labor Council members Roger wind bill, H. 2851, that would provide for a Berkowitz of Legal Seafoods and Gerard smaller but still significant procurement of An Olympic Challenge for Dhooge of the New offshore wind. While we don’t agree with all the MBTA page 4 England Maritime Trades the provisions of H. MGH Joins ELM Corporate Council wrote recently in an 2881 (especially the Council page 5 op-ed in the Boston Globe provisions on gas (“Charlie Baker should pipelines), it offers Voicing Our Opinion in the focus on wind,” Jan. 22, a promising start to Globe page 5 2015), new federal offshore promote offshore ELM Thanks John Cronin wind areas off the coast wind. Combined for Service page 6 of Massachusetts have with important up to 5,000 megawatts measures to expand Welcome Veronica Eady page 6 of offshore wind potential, in-region renewable 10 times the size of energy, these bills ELM receives major grants Cape Wind. In total, new could provide a path page 6 offshore wind areas that forward to investing Fostering Environmental are far offshore and out in our offshore Activism page 7 of sight could provide wind resources and pollution-free power to 2.4 achieving our climate About ELM page 8 million homes. Second, change and energy it remains an important goals in a cost- economic development effective manner. opportunity for our state. The New Bedford Marine Governor Baker Commerce Terminal, in and our legislative development, has the leadership are right potential to support the now debating which assembly and construction energy resources offer of offshore wind the most value to 14 Beacon Street, Suite 714 projects. If we develop the Commonwealth. Boston, MA 02108 offshore wind projects, Offshore wind must be among them. Smart 617-742-2553 employment opportunities are significant. The U.S. investments now will www.environmentalleague.org Department of Energy pay off. ELM Sets Priorities for the 2015–2016 Legislative Session by Nancy Goodman, Vice President for Policy Each two-year legislative session presents a fresh An Act to Protect the Natural Resources of the opportunity to advance environmental policy goals like Commonwealth/Public Lands Preservation Act (SD889/ ensuring Massachusetts meets its greenhouse gas reduction HD1080) targets, maximizing energy efficiency and expanding local Lead Sponsors: Sen. James Eldridge; Rep. Ruth Balser renewable energy development, preventing sprawl and Did you know that natural resource lands and open space protecting land, reducing waste and pollution, and funding a owned by the state or municipalities are constitutionally transportation system that offers residents viable choices for protected (Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution)? public transit, walking and biking. Use of this land for any other purpose requires a 2/3 vote of each branch of the legislature. Unfortunately, despite this For the 2015-2016 session, in addition to leading budget apparent high barrier, disposition of these “Article 97” lands advocacy for state environmental programs, ELM will happens all too routinely. In aggregate, these dispositions focus on advocating for the following innovative pieces of are resulting in significant loss of open space and natural legislation. (For a complete list of bills we are supporting, resource lands in Massachusetts. Once the land is gone, it visit the “Our Work” section of the ELM website at www. is gone forever. This legislation would require that owners environmentalleague.org) proposing changes in the use of any “Article 97” land provide information to the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Energy and Climate Change Affairs for review early in the process. In most circumstances, land owners must also provide replacement land so that An Act relative to Home Energy Efficiency (SD633) Lead Sponsors: Sen. Ben Downing; Rep. Kevin Honan there is no net loss. A home is the largest purchase many of us will ever make, An Act to Sustain Community Preservation Revenue and its energy efficiency has long-term consequences for our (SD670/HD2943) pocketbooks and the climate. This bill would require a free Lead Sponsors: Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem; Rep. Stephen Kulik energy audit prior to home sales that lets potential buyers know how energy efficient a home is and assign it a score— The Community Preservation Act (CPA) passed in similar to the MPG rating on cars or the energy guide label for 2001 provides funds, including a state match, to assist appliances. Over time, it is our hope that this will empower communities to protect open space, develop affordable buyers to choose more energy efficient homes and will move housing, and undertake historic preservation. This remarkably sellers to take steps in advance to get a good rating. popular and successful policy has now been adopted by 158 municipalities, with matching fund revenues generated by fees collected at the Registries of Deeds. Yet between An Act Combating Climate Change (SD285) Lead Sponsor: Sen. Michael Barrett the increased number of participating communities and the decline in real estate transactions over the past few years, When something costs more, we are motivated to use less communities are currently getting less than a 20% match, of it. By putting a price on carbon content, this innovative a record low. This bill would adjust fees at the Registries of bill would make it more expensive to use fossil fuels and Deeds by which the state generates matching fund revenues, encourage the transition to cleaner energy sources. To so that all municipalities will receive at least a 50% match. protect the state’s competitiveness and prevent hardship for families, the revenues generated from the fees would be rebated to residents and companies. Transportation An Act to Explore Alternative Funding Sources to Land Use Ensure Safe and Reliable Transportation (SD691/ HD1566) An Act Promoting the Planning and Development of Lead Sponsor: Sen. Jason Lewis; Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier Sustainable Communities (SD317) Much of the revenue we raise to fund our transportation Lead Sponsors: Sen. Dan Wolf; Rep. Stephen Kulik system comes from the gas tax. With cars becoming more Sprawling land development has resulted in the loss of fuel efficient and younger adults driving less, this revenue natural areas, long commutes and less vibrant city and town source will diminish in the future, even as we need to raise centers. This bill would update our state’s outdated zoning more money. We need to identify new sources of revenue to laws to encourage balanced development that preserves maintain our roads and bridges and expand transportation as much land as possible. These changes will lead to better options. This bill would test a new approach to raising land-use outcomes – jobs and homes in the right places, revenue by assessing car owners a fee based on the number less spending on excess infrastructure, and the protection of of miles they drive. The pilot would include at least 1,000 important natural resources. individuals and the program would test the reliability, ease of use, cost, and public acceptance of a user fee program. 2 Environmental League of Massachusetts // Spring Newsletter 2015 Recycling and Waste Management You Can Help An Act relative to Recycling (SD229) Help us build momentum towards these bills’ passage. Lead Sponsor: Sen. Marc Pacheco Reach out to your representatives to make them aware of the bills, and ask them where they stand. Look for ELM action Every year, Massachusetts throws away enough material alerts and take action – if you’re signed up to receive our to fill 74 Fenway Parks. This legislation would help email notices, we’ll send you alerts at critical points in the Massachusetts reduce waste by setting a per person cap legislative session when your voice will have the most impact. on trash generation. The cap would be set at 600 lbs. of For more information, answers to specific questions, or trash per person by July 1, 2016 and 450 lbs. per person talking points, contact ELM Vice President for Policy Nancy by July 1, 2021. This bill will reduce trash by hundreds of Goodman or Legislative Director Erica Mattison. thousands of tons per year, saving cities and towns millions of dollars while increasing recycling, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating green jobs in Massachusetts. How do your state legislators rate on the environment? Do your state representative and senator share your concern for the environment? Do their actions in office represent you? To help inform concerned voters about how their legislators are voting on the environment, this spring ELM produced a legislative scorecard for the first time, focused on the 2013–2014 legislative session.
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