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Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup - 10/30/09
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
Mass Audubon Founding Member of New Wind Collaborative
The new non-profit, named the US Offshore Wind Collaborative (USOWC), will work to ramp up the growth of a sustainable offshore wind industry nationwide. Recognizing the urgency of our energy and climate change challenges, the Collaborative will address technical, environmental, economic and regulatory issues that serve as obstacles to wind development. Specific goals include providing a forum for cross-sector communication, planning, and action, and distributing information that informs and advances the industry. The collaborative recently released a working paper titled U.S. Offshore Wind Energy: A Path Forward as a resource for stakeholders. This document provides an overview of current offshore wind regulation and government policies, technology development, and environmental/marine use, among other issues. For more information, visit http://www.usowc.org/.
Additional Ocean Protection Needed
Mass Audubon and the Conservation Law Foundation have voiced concerns over protection provisions of certain vulnerable resources within the draft Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan. As members of the Massachusetts Ocean Advisory Commission and co-chairs of the Massachusetts Ocean Coalition, we congratulate EEA on this initial plan for Bay State waters. However, it is our belief that although the Plan includes responsible management standards for the Commonwealth's natural resources, it does not go far enough to protect Special Sensitive and Unique (SSU) resources and resource areas. We have submitted a letter to EEA Secretary Ian Bowles congratulating him while expressing our conservation concerns. As supported by the Oceans Act of 2008, new economic development in Massachusetts waters must be balanced by appropriate protection for SSU resources for present and future generations. The current draft does not provide adequate assurance and must be strengthened.
Mass Audubon and Others Call for Cape Wind Decision
Twenty environmental, clean energy and labor stakeholders have called on the US Department of the Interior to make a timely decision on the Cape Wind energy project. After eight years of environmental and permitting review, the Cape Wind project has demonstrated that its environmental benefits are expected to significantly outweigh its impacts. While we applaud the Department's support for responsible renewable energy development, it is crucial the United States moves forward now to translate our clean energy goals into real action. As the nation and the world look to the Administration for leadership in addressing climate change, such action will help lay the strongest possible foundation for offshore wind energy development and a commitment to a clean energy future.
Around the State House
Senator Joyce Makes the Grade This year's Audubon ‘A' award was given to Senator Brian Joyce, who was honored at Mass Audubon's annual meeting. The award is given to an individual or organization that has furthered the cause of conservation and environmental protection or broadened public awareness of nature. Senator Joyce has worked to preserve and protect open space including Hellenic Hill at Jamaica Pond, areas along the Neponset River in Dorchester, Milton, and Mattapan, in the Hockomock Swamp region in Easton, Rattlesnake Hill in Sharon, and at Borderland State Park. He has long been an advocate for the 7,000 acre Blue Hills Reservation, and is one of the most enthusiastic supporters of Mass Audubon's Blue Hills Trailside Museum. Earlier this year, on the 50th Anniversary of the Trailside Museum, Senator Joyce passed legislation naming the Chickatawbut Hill Education Center after Trailside director Norman Smith. Congratulations Senator Joyce, and thank you for all you do to protect the nature of Massachusetts! More Budget Cuts This week Governor Patrick announced a plan to cut an additional $352 million in state spending due to revenue shortfalls, which will impact nearly every government sector, including environmental programming. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will lose $9.3 million in total, which includes $2.7 million from the Department of Environmental Protection, $360,000 from the Department of Fish and Game, and $4.3 from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, among others. Visit the Governor's budget website for a full breakdown of environmental cuts: http://www.mass.gov/bb/gaa/fy2010/app_10/sect_10/h200.htm.
Calendar
Upcoming Public Hearings (organized by the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change) Climate Change Adaptation, Part II: Key Infrastructure, Local Economy, and Local Government
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
10:30 a.m.
State House Room 437
Boston, MA A briefing to legislators and the public on strategy recommendations from the Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee, with regards to adapting infrastructure, local economy, and local government to the impacts of climate Change. Presenters will include Sandy Taft of National Grid, Ray Jack of the Falmouth Department of Public Works, Karen O'Reilly of AIU Holdings and Missy Stult of ICLEI. The Advisory Committee was created under the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008 and is tasked with studying and making recommendations to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs on strategies for adapting to climate change. The Advisory Committee will submit a report to the Legislature on its findings by the end of this year. For more information contact Kayla Race, Research Analyst for the Committee, at Kayla.race@state.ma.us or 617-722-2676
Reducing Household Energy Use: What can be done at the household level to help the Commonwealth reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Hosted by Rep. Matthew Patrick
Friday, November 6, 2009
1:00 p.m.
The Falmouth Senior Center
300 Dillingham Ave
Falmouth, MA
This informational hearing will educate legislators, local government, and the public about what options are available to consumers to lower energy use at the household level. Presenters will discuss such topic as home energy audits available through private companies and utility companies, energy efficient appliances, and residential renewable energy options. Presenters include Megan Amsler and staff from Cape and Islands Self Reliance Corp, and Maggie Downey and Joe Soares from the Cape Light Compact. For more information contact Margaret (Peggy) Konner, Office of Representative Patrick at (617) 722-2090 (Boston) or (508) 540-6308 (Cape) or Margaret.Konner@state.ma.us
Climate Change and Security Hosted by Rep. Steven D'Amico
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
7:00 p.m.
Seekonk High School
261 Arcade Avenue
Seekonk, MA 02771
Presenters include David Janik, South Coastal Regional Coordinator, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, and Alex Cornell du Houx, Maine State Representative and Campaign Director of Operation Free. For more information contact Christie Bergeron, Office of Rep. Steven D'Amico, Christie.Bergeron@state.ma.us or (617) 722-2014 Climate Change Adaptation, Part III- Public Health and Natural Resources
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
10:30 a.m.
State House Hearing Room A-1
Boston, MA Provides a briefing to on strategy recommendations from the Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee, with regards to public health and natural resources.Presenters include Andy Finton of TNC and Paul Epstein of Harvard University. For more information contact Kayla Race, Research Analyst for the Committee, at Kayla.race@state.ma.us or 617-722-2676 Greening the City: Fostering Inspired and Innovative Leadership for Just and Sustainable Urban Communities A conference sponsored by Lesley University's graduate Division of Environmental Studies and Mass Audubon, November 6-8, 2009. Join more than 150 urban environmental leaders from throughout New England at the main campus of Lesley University in Cambridge, MA to explore key strategies for fostering inspired and innovative urban environmental leadership. "Greening the City" is geared toward environmental practitioners and thinkers from nonprofits, higher education institutions, local community groups, government agencies, and businesses. It will feature prominent environmental thinkers and practitioners from academia and government agencies, as well as from for profit and nonprofit organizations. There will be keynote talks, workshops, and an exhibit area, and other interactive ways to engage with the challenges and solutions arising from our increasingly urban world. Keynotes will include well known environmentalists like Julian Agyeman, environmental social scientist, activist and academic from Tufts University. Other keynotes will be announced shortly. The conference is meant to engage in-depth and meaningful dialogue among participants while addressing the difficulties and opportunities faced in cultivating just and sustainable urban communities. Registration required. A Water Resources Conference: Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust Hogan Conference Center
Holy Cross College
Worcester, MA
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Established as part of the Boston Harbor cleanup, the Trust has infused over $17 million into projects for water quality, aquatic species, environmental education and more. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the Trustees are hosting a one-day conference on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. The conference is intended to bring together practitioners engaged in the work of protecting and restoring water quality and the continuity of aquatic systems. For more information contact Susan Lanza at 617-626-1068 or email Susan.Lanza@state.ma.us MCAN Conference Join climate activists from across the state at the 8th Annual Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) conference. Speakers include Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Workshops will be held on issues ranging from energy savings in the home to building localized climate movements, as well as the upcoming Copenhagen talks. Sunday, November 15, 2009
9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m.
Stata Center, MIT
32 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA For more information, and to register, visit MCAN's conference page at: http://massclimateaction.net/conference/2009-conference.html
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.
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6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
Boston, MA 02108
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