From Rabbi Judy Weiss in Brookline, a well-known LTE writer and champion of climate causes: From: Judy Weiss Subject: Letter to editor To: northshore@wickedlocal.com Dear Editor, Charlotte Kahn’s climate change column is excellent, as always. But she made one questionable comment: regarding public protests against proposals for new Kinder Morgan pipelines to carry gas for … Continue reading Letter to the editor (not published yet) re: Kinder-Morgan pipeline
legislation
Time running short on solar
Supporters of solar power in Massachusetts are trying to convince a six-member, Massachusetts legislative conference committee to pave the way for Massachusetts to continue to be a leader in solar power generation. Something has to happen soon, though, for by the end of this month it will be difficult, if not impossible, to alter the … Continue reading Time running short on solar
New guide aims to help steer solar energy into low-income communities
[note: please don't forget to sign Salem SAFE's petition to stop gas leaks in Massachusetts! We only need 16 more signatures!] Conference committee members are "trading proposals back and forth." New standards now being promoted would make Massachusetts lead the country in affordable solar energy, particularly for low-income cities and towns. However, the new standards … Continue reading New guide aims to help steer solar energy into low-income communities
NYT Opinion: Planet on the Ballot
Comment from SAFE Co-Chair, Jeffrey Barz-Snell: "It appears that the goal of drastically reducing emissions is within reach, but the wrong leader could still get in the way of saving the planet." From NYT Op-Ed Columnist, Paul Krugman on Feb. 29, 2016: We now have a pretty good idea who will be on the ballot … Continue reading NYT Opinion: Planet on the Ballot
Call for action from Jeffrey Barz-Snell, Co-Chair of SAFE
The following email was sent our Co-Chair, Jeffrey Barz-Snell, out to the SAFE listserve regarding a bill in the House that could bring solar power business in our state to a grinding halt. We are posting Jeffrey's letter here as well and hope that you will write your State Representatives and State Senators as a result. … Continue reading Call for action from Jeffrey Barz-Snell, Co-Chair of SAFE
OPINION: DeLeo is the reason solar on hold
Massachusetts House Representative Marjorie Decker recently held a press conference underlining the need to immediately lift the cap on net metering. Massachusetts is in danger of not only losing 15,000 solar jobs, but also of losing its solar installation companies to other states with solar legislation that is more favorable. From CommonWealth Magazine, by Kate … Continue reading OPINION: DeLeo is the reason solar on hold
Carbon Fee and Dividend In-Depth
From the Citizens Climate Lobby website: The Basics of Carbon Fee and Dividend: 1. Place a steadily rising fee on fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). 2. Give all of the revenue from the carbon fee back to households. 3. Use a border adjustment to discourage business relocation. 4. It's good for the economy AND … Continue reading Carbon Fee and Dividend In-Depth
As solar becomes more cost-competitive, utilities look at how new technology affects their business models
This is occurring all over the country with respect to large utilities pushing back against the different forms of renewable energy, especially solar. It's from the Al Jazeera America news site. This explains the issues quite well. From Al Jazeera America contributor, Renee Lewis: States weigh rate changes for rooftop solar: “Utilities don’t want to … Continue reading As solar becomes more cost-competitive, utilities look at how new technology affects their business models
Everybody aboard the energy omnibus: House preparing comprehensive electricity bill
House officials are creating an “omnibus” energy bill, which may lead to one of the more interesting debates on Beacon Hill in years. House Speaker Robert DeLeo (pictured below) has been discussing this for some time, his approach being that when there are many debated yet related issues, the best thing is consolidate them into … Continue reading Everybody aboard the energy omnibus: House preparing comprehensive electricity bill
Salem Alliance for the Environment 