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Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup - 6/26/09
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
What’s New with Wind
Public Engagement Debates over wind energy siting continue to gain momentum throughout the state, and this week Mass Audubon testified in Pittsfield at the second public listening session regarding wind on state lands. We were pleased to see that over 100 people attended, with more than 40 testifying. This marked a significant improvement over the first meeting in Bourne, during which only 12 people testified. Discussion focused on recent energy legislation and the state's wind potential analysis. Public comments included concerns over loss of local control, potential for economic gain from wind energy on both public and private lands, and unease about siting on conservation lands. You can view Mass Audubon's testimony here. For more details and a description of the first public listening session, please see last week's Roundup. Harvard Releases Wind Report In other wind energy news, a recent Harvard University study has emerged that includes impressive statistics on international and domestic wind potential. The study reports that a globally distributed network of 2.5 megawatt (MW) wind turbines operating at as little as 20% capacity could supply more than five times our global energy demands. Titled "Global Potential for Wind-generated Electricity," the report goes on to say that the US currently has enough land-based wind resources to provide 16 times our current electricity demands. The report was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and can be viewed at http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/06/19/0904101106.full.pdf. The world is expected to see a 17-fold increase in wind-powered generation of electricity by 2030.
State Budget Update
The budget deliberation has overcome what is always one of its biggest obstacles -- agreement between the House and Senate. The conference committee has decided on a $27.4 billion FY2010 budget, which has now been "laid before the Governor" for his signature. This budget marks an $800 million drop in spending compared to the original $28.2 billion FY2009 budget. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has been allotted a total of $211.8 million, down about $29.6 million from last year at this time. We were disappointed to learn that no funding has been granted to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Fortunately, $125,000 has been carved out for the Blue Hills Trailside Museum after being omitted from previous versions. DCR parks line items continue to be consolidated at reduced levels, with funding totaling $46,683,361. Next up: Governor's Patrick's vetoes, which the legislature can choose to override.
Mass Audubon Applauds Environmental Action by State Agencies
EEA/DOER Biomass Initiative The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has been directed by Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Ian Bowles to create a sustainability requirement for biomass-generated electricity as part of the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Biomass includes woody crops and forest products, and is in theory a "renewable" source of energy. However, these wood products must be harvested sustainably. DOER has posted a Request for Information asking for public comment on a proposed study of issues associated with biomass, including Sustainable Forest Management, Carbon Sequestration, and Carbon Neutrality. The study will be part of DOER's decision process for developing biomass sustainability criteria. Responses to the Request for Information are due on July 3, 2009. The document, which includes submission instructions, can be accessed here. Mass Audubon is concerned that sustainable harvest of wood for biomass energy is not currently defined, and appreciate the administration's taking this necessary step. For more information on Mass Audubon's position on biomass, please see our comments on the Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Level Baseline Report. Protection of Taunton River 230 acres of land along the Taunton River are now protected following a purchase by The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game and a conservation restriction partnership with the Wildlands Trust. The $1.5 million investment more than doubles the Taunton River Wildlife Management Area. Congratulations to everyone who made this landmark conservation achievement possible! To learn more, please view the press release.
Mass Green Alliance Announces Enviromental Agenda
Mass Audubon is among a new collaboration of nine leading conservation, environmental, and faith-based organizations in Massachusetts called The Mass Green Alliance. The Alliance are advocates working for legislative and administration action on critical environmental issues. Immediate priority issues selected for this legislative session include: - The Sustainable Water Resources Act (HB 834), which includes development of streamflow standards and options for mitigating the ecological impacts of water withdrawals;
- An Amended Community Preservation Act (SB90) that calls for improvements to legislation that preserves and protects open space, as well as incentives for new communities to adopt the Act;
- Off-Highway Vehicle Oversight (HB 3330), which aims to reduce illegal off-road and all terrain vehicle riding on municipal and state conservation lands through education programs and increased penalties;
- And working to limit budget cuts for environmental programs and agencies.
For more information, please visit http://www.massgreenagenda.org/. Many of these issues correspond to Mass Audubon's own legislative priorities, which can be viewed on our website at http://www.massaudubon.org/advocacy/priorities.php.
Calendar
Public Meetings Climate Change
Mass Audubon president Laura Johnson has been appointed by Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) secretary Ian Bowles to serve on the state's new Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee. The committee will draft a recommendation for the legislature over the coming months, and EEA will hold public information and input sessions to receive comments and suggestions. Public information sessions will be held on: Tuesday, June 30, 2009
4:00 pm 6:00 pm
MA Department of Environmental Protection Northeast Region
205B Lowell Street
Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887 Wednesday, July 1, 2009
4:00 pm 6:00 pm
Springfield City Library
220 State Street
Springfield MA 01103 Thursday, July 2, 2009
4:00 pm 6:00 pm
MA Department of Environmental Protection Southeast Region
20 Riverside Drive
Lakeville, MA 02347 Wednesday, July 15, 2009
3:00 pm 5:00 pm
Minehan Auditorium
Hurley Building
19 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114 Please view our previous Roundup for more information on the Advisory Committee. As part of The Global Warming Solutions Act, the State's Interagency Implementation Committee has established working groups focused on specific sectors including transportation, buildings, electricity generation, waste management, and forests. Many of these groups will hold public sessions this July in an effort to get input from experts and the general public. The intended format will include brief presentations from experts followed by open discussion. Sustainable Transport and Development (Christine Kirby DEP, Amy Branger EOT)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009,
3:00 p.m.-- 5:00 p.m.
Executive Office of Transportation
2nd Floor, Conference Room 1
Boston, MA Materials and Waste Management (John Fischer DEP)
Thursday, July 9, 2009,
2:00 -- 4:00 p.m.
Department of Environmental Protection
1 Winter Street, 2nd Floor, Conference Room C
Boston, MA Low Carbon Fuel Supply (Dwayne Breger DOER, Nathan Phelps DPU)
Wednesday, July 9, 2009 (tentative),
3:00 -- 5:00 p.m.
(TBA)
Boston, MA Transportation End Use Efficiency (Marc Breslow EEA, Amy Branger EOT)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
9:00 -- 11:00 a.m.
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge St., 2nd Floor, Conference Room A,
Boston, MA Agriculture (Lee Adams DEP, Gerry Palano, DAR)
Friday, July 17, 2009
1:00 -- 5:00 p.m.
Department of Environmental Protection
Worcester, MA Economic Decisions
Governor Patrick will hold a second round of community meetings focused on difficult choices facing the state in these challenging economic times. These meetings will take place in communities throughout the state, and will allow the public to provide input and ask questions. See the schedule to find an upcoming meeting near you. The Patrick administration has also recently launched an online forum where members of the public can participate in similar discussions: http://forum.state.ma.us/. Ocean Management for the Bay State Last year, the Massachusetts Ocean Management Act was signed into law by Governor Patrick as a first-in-the-nation effort to manage state ocean waters. Mass Audubon was appointed by the Governor to the 17-member Ocean Advisory Commission to represent the Commonwealth's environmental interests and work with the administration to write the ocean plan.
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
If you are not already a member of Mass Audubon's Action Network, we encourage you to join by filling out our online form or by e-mailing us. Membership dues provide vital support for Mass Audubon's advocacy work on Beacon Hill and across the state. If you are not already a Mass Audubon member please join today.
Legislative Tool Kit
Stay In Touch
Senators and Representatives need to hear from their constituents! Contact your legislators and share with them the environmental issues that are important to you.
Find out who represents you in the Senate and House.
Senate and House Sessions Go Live
Consistent with the theme that decision-makers act differently when they know they are being watched, House and Senate sessions are now available on live webcast. Tune in to view live web stream broadcastings of the Senate and House and watch as the Massachusetts legislative process unfolds!
Current Legislation
Access the text of current legislation, bill histories and Massachusetts General Law by visiting one site. We encourage you to visit The General Court's website frequently as it is an important tool for conservation advocates like you!
How to Lobby
Discover effective ways to convey your environmental interests to your Senator or Representative.
View Mass Audubon’s How to Lobby document, and get started now!
How the Law is Made
Learn about the steps a bill takes before becoming law. You can also use our graphic charts to guide you through the life of a bill, from when it is first filed, to when it is signed into law.
 Mass Audubon Advocacy
6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
Boston, MA 02108
617-523-8448 (phone)
617-523-4183 (fax)
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