News Clips
State Senate Approves Climate Policy
The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle
The Massachusetts State Senate recently advanced three bills that boldly tackle the contributing factors of climate change, chart one of the most aggressive courses of action against global warming in the country, and pave the way for a clean energy future for all of its residents.
Poll Surveyed Public Opinion on Climate Change
Wicked Local
The MassInc Polling Group’s survey of 2,318 Massachusetts residents was conducted between Oct. 10 and Nov. 8, 2019 and released Monday, four days after the state Senate passed climate legislation that included deadlines for the state to impose carbon-pricing mechanisms in the transportation sector, homes and commercial buildings.
After Months of Urging Senate to Take Action, Taunton Senator Lauds Passage of Climate Change Bills
Taunton Daily Gazette
All of the bills passed by a majority vote.
“Together the three really do constitute an historic new moment in the fight against climate change,” Sen. Michael Barrett (D- Lexington), who chairs the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee, said on the Senate floor Tuesday.
In Senate Climate Bills, Lawmakers SeeNew Jobs, Economic Opportunity for Western Massachusetts
MSN
Western Massachusetts lawmakers are hopeful that a set of climate change bills that passed the Senate Thursday night could bring new, innovative jobs in the energy sector to the region, if the legislation become law.
The cornerstone of Barrett’s package was the carbon pricing bill that would update the state’s 2050 target from reducing emissions by 80% of the 1990s levels to reducing emissions by 100%.
Senate Agrees to Sharp Shift in State Climate Policy
South Coast Today
Massachusetts Senate Approves ‘Net-Zero’ Environmental Bills
Boston.com
The package of the bill envisions transition cars, trucks, and busses to carbon-free electric power, jump-starting efforts to supply low-cost solar electricity to low-income communities, and requiring appliances meet energy efficiency standards.
Massachsetts Senate to Consider Climate Change Amendments on Electric Car Rebates, Solar Projects
MassLive
Lawmakers plan to debate three bills that were introduced Jan. 23 by Senate President Karen Spilka and Senator Michael Barrett.
Hallmark of the proposals is a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 100% below 1990 by 2050, with five-year sub-limits along the wat, rather than the state’s current target of cutting emissions of 80% by then.
“I really commend Senator Barrett” – Senator Eldridge
The Mass. Senate is Slated to Vote on the State’s “Next Generation Climate Policy”: Here’s What to Know
Boston.com
“Getting to net zero is absolutely necessary, but it’s also a big lift,” state Sen. Mike Barrett, lead author and the chair of the Senate Utilities & Energy Committee, said in a statement. “This bill is all about the how of it, as in ‘Here’s how we are going to get there.’”
“We want this commission to be an independent guardian of the future, notably the future of younger generations, insulated from political pressure and consisting of the most authoritative and credible Massachusetts voices we can find,” Barrett said. “Job one for the commission is to tell us if we’re on track in bringing down emissions. Job two is to advise us on what to do next.
“The commission will give us objective information about the performance of both government and the private sector and will pay special attention to the impact on low-income and other disadvantaged communities,” he added. “If the commission works as intended, it will be a new voice, standing apart from politics as usual and committed to shedding light on a very hard problem.”
“We want this commission to be an independent guardian of the future, notably the future of younger generations, insulated from political pressure and consisting of the most authoritative and credible Massachusetts voices we can find,” Barrett said. “Job one for the commission is to tell us if we’re on track in bringing down emissions. Job two is to advise us on what to do next.”
Waltham’s Senator Barrett Helps Lead Charge Against Climate Change
Wicked Local Waltham
Sen. Michael Barrett, who represents Waltham, told reporters Thursday that he “wanted to put a price on carbon by any path we could lay our hands on.” Barrett joined Sen. Michael Rodrigues and President Karen Spilka to detail the Senate’s climate bill which has been teed up for debate next week.