ON THURSDAY, Gov. Charlie Baker announced he would veto the Next Generation Road Map climate bill, a bill that would take a big step forward in advancing Massachusetts’ response to a public health emergency. Since his first failed run for governor as a climate denier, Baker has generally positioned himself as someone who is pro-climate […]
Climate change
Posted inEnvironment
In veto letter, Baker objects to a lot in climate change bill
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Thursday “reluctantly” vetoed a sweeping climate change bill sent to him by the Legislature, saying there were a number of provisions in the legislation “to which I cannot agree.” The governor didn’t go into great detail about his objections, but in a letter to the Legislature he said the bill as […]
Posted inOpinion
For Baker, crunch time on climate change
LAST WEEK, a bipartisan climate bill passed with overwhelming majorities in the Massachusetts House and Senate. Gov. Charlie Baker now has to choose – by Thursday at midnight – between cementing his and the Commonwealth’s position as climate leaders, or withholding the tools needed for Massachusetts to comply with its own climate law. A broad coalition of business, health, environmental, and environmental justice groups supports the bill. It includes key efforts that […]
Posted inPolitics
On climate change bill, it might be ‘groundhog day’
THE LEADERS of the House and Senate on Wednesday put pressure on Gov. Charlie Baker to sign a climate change bill into law by warning him that the two branches will pass the same bill again in the coming days of the new legislative session if he vetoes the measure. The climate change bill was […]
Posted inThe Download
Worries mount over climate change bill
Could Gov. Charlie Baker veto the climate change bill? It seems hard to believe, but several supporters of the sweeping legislation say they are hearing troubling reports coming out of the Baker administration as the clock winds down to the Thursday night deadline. Some advocates and lawmakers, who asked not to be identified, said they […]
Posted inPolitics
Worries mount over climate change bill
COULD GOV. CHARLIE Baker veto the climate change bill? It seems hard to believe, but several supporters of the sweeping legislation say they are hearing troubling reports coming out of the Baker administration as the clock winds down to the Thursday night deadline. Some advocates and lawmakers, who asked not to be identified, said they […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics
Lawmakers release compromise climate change bill
HOUSE AND SENATE negotiators released a compromise climate change bill on Sunday afternoon that lays out a fairly detailed roadmap for reaching the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and sets an interim target for 2030 that is more aggressive than what the Baker administration called for last week. The Baker administration last Wednesday called […]
Posted inEnvironment
Baker emissions roadmap sets ambitious targets
This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION on Wednesday rolled out a draft plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade that calls for energy retrofits of 1 million existing homes, higher efficiency standards for all new construction, the deployment of 750,000 electric vehicles, preservation of the region’s nuclear power […]
Posted inOpinion
Solar revolution is stalled, needs to shift into gear
AFTER FOUR YEARS of denying climate science and downplaying its consequences, the federal government is on the cusp of a new era. Although deep political divides persist on many issues, there is one thing that Americans are united on – and that’s a desire for a national transition to clean, renewable energy. A resounding 82 percent of voters say […]
Posted inEnvironment
Top Baker aide says full steam ahead with TCI
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S top environmental official indicated on Monday that the administration is moving full steam ahead with a regional effort to put a price on the carbon contained in motor vehicle fuels. The governor himself has sent signals in recent weeks that his administration was re-evaluating its support for the so-called transportation climate initiative, […]