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Clean Water MA and Green Justice Coalition Push Energy Efficiency Bill Forward!
Taxpayers in Massachusetts currently fund statewide energy efficiency programs, but policymakers lack the tools to track who is being served by the programs and how they have impacted local communities. A new piece of Green Justice legislation, approved by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (TUE) on January 24, would change that.
“We applaud the Committee for its role in advancing transparency and increasing access for previously underserved communities,” said Staci Rubin of Alternatives for Community & Environment, a member of the Green Justice Coalition (GJC). The GJC has, since 2008, worked with utility companies and state agencies to address inequities in state efficiency programs and address job quality standards. “We are encouraged that the bill aims to provide equitable access to efficiency programs for hard to reach communities, including low-to-moderate- income homeowners and renters, residents whose primary language is not English, and small businesses.”
The bill, “An Act Further Promoting Energy Efficiency and Green Jobs,” mandates public accountability in Massachusetts’ energy efficiency programs and would establish a new Oil Heat Energy Efficiency Fund.
New England Currents | Winter 2011
making manufacturers take out the trash!
Americans generate a lot of trash — some would say, much more than their “fair share.” Many people feel that each individual should be responsible for reducing their own waste, perhaps along with the local community recycling program. The reality is that cities and towns have ended up bearing most of the responsibility — and the costs — for figuring out ways to reduce waste and make recycling programs work. Over the past ten years, however, new policies challenging this conventional approach have started gaining traction.
Write to your state senator: urge a New Year's resolution for safe chemicals
From all of us at Clean Water Action, Happy New Year!
The Massachusetts legislative session resumed this week, and protection from toxic chemicals should be a top priority for senators in 2012.
Senators will have thousands of bills to choose from this year. Let's make the Safer Alternatives Bill one of the first to grab their attention as they return to the State House.
Take Action: National Call-in Day for Safe Chemicals
Today parents, nurses, doctors, college students, and people like you are calling their Senators to ask for common sense limits on toxic chemicals. Join the fun, it only takes two minutes!
What You Can Do:
Massachusetts residents, call Senator Scott Brown and Senator John Kerry's Washington DC Offices (if you're from another state, call your own Senator!). A friendly staff member will answer the phone, or you’ll be asked to leave a message. Please ask our Massachusetts Senators to co-sponsor the Safe Chemicals Act and let them know what city or town you live in. Then report your call to us so that we can keep track.
Senator Brown: (202) 224-4543
Senator Kerry: (202) 224-2742
Protecting Our Health from Toxic Chemicals
In Massachusetts, Clean Water Action is a founding member of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT), a coalition of citizens, scientists, health professionals, workers, and educators seeking preventive action on toxic hazards. Our goal is to correct fundamental flaws in government policies that allow harm to our health and environment.
The Massachusetts Campaign to Protect Drinking Water
A starting definition of sustainable infrastructure includes systems that use, treat, store, and reuse water efficiently at a small scale andthat blend designs into restorative water hydrologies. These would include rain gardens and green roofs, water-efficient appliances and landscaping, decentralized wastewater systems, digestors to recover energy and nutrients from wastewater, and others that conserve resourcesand restore ecosystems and healthy communities. This work is funded in part by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust.
Electronics Take Back Campaign
Discarded computers, laptops, and TVs are a growing problem all across the country. This Ewaste is toxic and contains hazardous substances like lead, mercury, and selenium. It costs local governments millions of dollars a year to collect and recycle. In Europe, manufacturers of electric and electronics products are required to pay for the collection and recycling their discarded products.
Clean Water Action was one of the founding members of the national Electronics Take Back Campaign. We have successfully presuaded the major computer manufacturers – Dell, HP, and Apple – to support mandatory EPR and to pay for their discarded products. Electronics EPR legislation has been adopted in 10 states and New York City, but still needs to be adopted in Massachusetts.
Electing pro-environment candidates
Clean Water Action endorses candidates for office who we believe will be
champions for the environment based on candidate's record and endorsement questionnaires.
Massachusetts Diesel Campaign
The fine particle pollution from diesel emissions shortens the lives of an estimated 21,000 people nationwide and 2 million worldwide every year. The Massachusetts Diesel Coalition is committed to reducing the health risks and global warming impacts from diesel pollution, calling on government and private institutions like hospitals and universities to create plans for reducing emissions from owned and contracted diesel vehicles. This goal would extend and save thousands of lives, improve the health and well being of Massachusetts residents, help mitigate global warming, and yield large economic benefits.