THE TORTUOUS ROUTE in the state Legislature of the most recent incarnation of climate change legislation gives cause for concern on two counts. The first reflects a failure in governance and due dispatch. The second is in the matter of scope and imagination. The two are not unrelated. The passage of this climate legislation, focusing […]
Climate change
Posted inEnvironment
Baker signs climate change bill into law
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE IT TOOK BASICALLY all of the last legislative session and the first three months of the new one to get major climate policy signed into law, but the real work begins now that Gov. Charlie Baker has put his signature on the law. After it took a long, winding and sometimes […]
Posted inEnvironment
Baker administration ‘very pleased’ with climate change bill
WITH BOTH BRANCHES of the Legislature approving climate change legislation by veto-proof majorities, the Baker administration on Thursday declared victory and signaled that the governor will sign the bill into law. “The governor and I are very pleased the Legislature adopted the vast majority of our amendments,” said Katie Theoharides, the governor’s secretary of energy […]
Posted inEnvironment
Senate passes climate change bill 39-1
THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE passed climate change legislation on Monday by an overwhelming vote of 39-1, signaling the Legislature is unwilling to go along with several amendments sought by Gov. Charlie Baker. The bill approved by the Senate includes a number of tweaks sought by the governor, but on several key provisions – a 50 percent […]
Posted inEnvironment
Republican delays action on climate change bill
THE SENATE REPUBLICAN leader, raising concerns about an attempt by Democrats to push climate change legislation through the chamber quickly on Thursday, used a parliamentary maneuver to delay action until next week. The move triggered a strong reaction from Senate Democrats, who accused Sen. Bruce Tarr of Gloucester of unnecessarily delaying action on climate change […]
Posted inEnvironment
Senate stands pat on climate change legislation
THE SENATE is preparing to pass new climate change legislation that accepts some minor technical changes proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker but rejects compromise language the governor proposed on several contentious issues. The Senate bill stands firm in requiring a 50 percent reduction in emissions relative to 1990 levels by 2030, even though the governor […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker: We could do 2m doses a month but getting only half that
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said on Wednesday that the state has the capacity to administer 2 million inoculations a month, but the federal government and d vaccine manufacturers are providing only half that amount. At a press conference at a West Bridgewater manufacturer of hospital-grade masks, Baker said the state could easily administer 1 million doses […]
Posted inNews Analysis
Poll shows support for both EVs, public transit
THE FUTURE of transportation in Massachusetts is at a crossroads. As the debate between Gov. Charlie Baker and state lawmakers over the climate bill continues, one key issue is whether the best way to lower emissions is to invest in public transit or convert more cars on the road to electric vehicles, or EVs. The Baker […]
Posted inTransportation
State offers rebates on electric trucks
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION is expanding the eligibility for an electric vehicle rebate program to include medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, hoping to capture some immediate environmental benefits while taking a step towards a future in which all vehicles sold in Massachusetts are zero-emissions vehicles. Vehicles roughly weighing 8,500 pounds and up — […]
Posted inEnvironment
Baker moves on quickly from Ismay
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER quickly moved on Wednesday after the resignation of his top climate change advisor, declining to even thank him for his service. At a press conference at the East Boston Community Health Center, Baker said his secretary for energy and environmental affairs will need to find a replacement for David Ismay, the undersecretary […]