Response to Governor Baker’s FY20 State Budget
Governor Baker released his FY20 budget and we thank him for the increases he included to support our environmental agencies. Building on increases adopted by the legislature last year, the Governor’s budget continues the restoration of funding for environmental protection, reversing the trend of significant cuts, and loss of staff in previous years.
Read MoreVineyard Wind Agrees to Protect Right Whales
As Vineyard Wind continues working to build the first utility scale offshore wind farm, the company has announced that it will take a strong set of measures to ensure the construction and operation of the farm will be carried out in a way consistent with protection of the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Read MoreEight New Members Join ELM Corporate Council
The Environmental League of Massachusetts is pleased to announce eight new businesses have joined its growing Corporate Council. The ELM Corporate Council is a working alliance of business and environmental leaders to improve policy and corporate practice in the Commonwealth. In 2018 the council grew its membership and its influence.
Read MoreInvestors and companies laud state leaders for moving forward on new approach to tackle transportation emissions
Investors and companies are praising the announcement from Northeast and MidAtlantic governors and the District of Columbia on their intent to move forward in establishing a regional program to reduce emissions from the transportation sector and bring about a clean transportation future.
Read MoreClean Energy Bill Clears the Way for More Offshore Wind Power
After passing historic legislation in 2016 that had the Commonwealth leading the nation with a 1,600 megawatt (MW) commitment, states along the coast have followed suit, setting higher goals and plotting out procurement plans. Massachusetts continues to blaze the trail, with an 800 MW project now in the queue (twice the size of the next largest project contract in any other state), and the bill Governor Baker signed yesterday indicates that the Commonwealth has no intention of slowing down.
Read MoreHow Did We Do?: ELM Legislative Wrap Up
The Environmental League of Massachusetts started the two-year legislative cycle on January 1, 2017 with an ambitious policy agenda that would promote clean energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect natural resources throughout the Commonwealth. We ended the session with some notable successes and much work still to do. Here’s a summary of how our top legislative priorities fared this session.
Read MoreOffshore Wind Solidifies Its Role as a Major Player in the Clean Energy Future
Since the passing of legislation back in 2016 that authorized the state’s utilities to procure up to 1,600 MW of offshore wind power, the big question has been what will this do to our electric rates? We recently learned the answer: electric rates will go down. According to a filing made by the Department of Energy Resources, the first 800 MW offshore wind project will result in a 0.1% to 1.5% reduction in our monthly electric bills.
Read MoreLegislature Misses Opportunity to Take Bold Action on Climate Change
Yesterday, leaders from the House and Senate released a bill that will modestly move the Commonwealth along a path to achieve our greenhouse gas reduction requirements. This bill (H4857) contained some laudable elements, but provides little in the way of bold policy innovation and leadership expected from the Bay State.
Read More
