May 17, 2023 • SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER!
SHORT NOTICE
Energy Bill Hearings in MA Legislature
Friday, May 18th

Yes! Despite the kerfuffle in the news about a rift between the co-chairs of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee, there is a slate of hearings on energy policy moving ahead, on relatively short notice, on Friday, May 19th, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Anyone who wishes to speak at these hearings is limited to 3 minutes, and needs to register by 4:00 PM on Thursday, May 18th by filling out this form.

This hearing is covering 18 bills regarding Offshore Wind, Clean Energy, and Energy Storage Legislation. The agenda on this page lists the bill numbers and descriptive titles and contains links to each bill. 

With short notice, the team here at No Fracked Gas in Mass will not have time to look through them all, but we plant to post some information on some of them on our Comment Periods page over the next couple of days.

Written testimony can be also submitted via email to Abigail Kuhn at abigail.kuhn@masenate.gov.
The deadline to submit written testimony is Monday, May 22nd by 5:00 p.m.

When submitting written testimony, please use the following document title format:   
Bill# - Your Organization’s Name – Support/Oppose
THIS WEEKEND!
Rally to Stop the Eversource Pipeline and Put Gas in the Past!

BEAT, No Fracked Gas in Mass, Breathe Easy Berkshires and dozens more organizations from across Massachusetts will be joining Springfield Climate Justice Coalition in the Rally and March in Springfield this weekend.


WHERE:
Rally at Stearns Square in Springfield. March from Stearns Square to Bliss Street gas regulator station (near the Basketball Hall of Fame).


WHEN:
Saturday, May 20
Rain date: May 21
(We’ll send out a confirmation of which day by 10:30 PM on Friday, May 19)

TIMES:
12:00-1:00 PM
Activities for children!  Connect with folks around the state informally or visit tables to learn about climate,  environmental and justice organizations.  Pick up a takeout lunch at one of the restaurants around Stearns Square or bring your own.

Musical performance by Bomba de Aqui, a dance and music company that performs and teaches Afro-Puerto Rican traditions.

1:00 PM sharp
Rally and March!

Speakers, chants and music, followed by a half mile march past the Bliss St. gas regulator station. Bring used inhalers, if you have any, for an action along the route.  At the end of the march a group will send you off with appreciation and music.   

PARKING AND AMENITIES:
Rally and march route are wheelchair accessible
Spanish language interpretation

Parking:
Free parking at MGM Casino. The rally site is 6/10ths of a mile from MGM but very close to the end of the march route so this is a great choice if you want to be near your car at the end of the march.  
 
Parking close to the Stearns Square rally site: limited on-street parking (no meter fee on weekends) and a large parking lot (with a fee) at  the corner of Dwight and Harrison (enter on Harrison).

This is a large infrastructure fight that has heavy repercussions for Springfield, Longmeadow, and the energy future of the entire state.

PLEASE JOIN US!
»» RSVP here


Can’t make it? Sign the petition to Put Gas in the Past and share it widely with friends.

New England Restructuring Roundtable

This Roundtable will feature a keynote address from Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper on the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s energy and environmental priorities.

It will also include panels exploring the need, opportunities, and challenges for large-scale renewable energy projects (both onshore and offshore) to meet our decarbonization goals

Friday, June 9, 2023
9:00am – 12:30pm
Foley Hoag
155 Seaport Boulevard
Boston, MA

Registration opening soon.
Second FERC New England Winter Gas-Electric Forum

The purpose of this forum is to continue discussions from the September 8, 2022 forum regarding the electricity and natural gas challenges facing the New England Region. The objective of the forum is to shift from defining electric and natural gas system challenges in the New England Region to discussing potential solutions, including both infrastructure and market-based solutions.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023
8:00 am
Portland, ME

Information will be posted on the Calendar of Events on the Commission’s website, www.ferc.gov, prior to the event.

Please stop by often to check out our Events Page!
BEAT is Hiring!

Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) is seeking a collaborative, responsive, and effective strategic thinker for Deputy Director.

This is a leadership position with tremendous responsibility within our organization.
For even more environmental news, info, and events, check out the latest newsletters from our colleagues at Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT)!