August 7, 2023 • SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER!
A couple of August 8 deadlines for comments and sign up. Also great organizing to get folks to the UN Climate Protests on September 17th!
AUGUST 8 DEADLINE
Last chance to comment
on the EPA Power Plant Plan
From 198 Methods:

​Aug 7 update – President Biden’s EPA has proposed new rules to limit global warming pollution from power plants, and if done right, they could eliminate up to 90% of global warming pollution from the electric sector!

President Biden promised to cut global warming pollution 50% by 2030, and to eliminate all global warming pollution from the electricity sector by 2035. But because of a prior Supreme Court ruling, the EPA can't tell utilities what fuel to use (like solar instead of fossil fuels) in order to provide that electricity. So, instead, the draft rules from the EPA focus on how much air pollution, including global warming pollution, that power plants can emit.
 
The draft rules are a big step in the right direction, requiring 90-100% reductions in emissions. But there are three big loopholes that the EPA needs to fix:

1. The new rules need to start immediately and require full compliance with the rule by 2030, not 2035.

2. The EPA must make sure the rule applies to plants that produce 85-100MW, down from 300MW, so that smaller gas plants are covered.

 
3. Biden needs to stop supporting false solutions like hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. 
 
We'll create a sample comment for you to edit. Make sure to add your own thoughts but make sure you submit your comment before the deadline on August 8!


AUGUST 8 SIGN UP DEADLINE
for AUGUST 9 SESSIONS
Two Energy Efficiency Three Year Plan Listening Sessions scheduled for August 9th

The Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC) will be holding two Public Comment Sessions, as it develops its priorities for the next Three-Year Plan. The purpose of these sessions is for the EEAC to hear from members of the public on issues related to the Massachusetts energy efficiency programs, branded as Mass Save®.

Public comment on any topic related to the energy efficiency programs and 2025-2027 Three-Year Plan are welcome at each session.

» Session #1: August 9, 2023, 10:00 am - 11:30 am Meeting Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u2ibqT48Q069IZ3fLEVmtA

» Session #2: August 9, 2023, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Meeting Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_V-xTgxEzQ7moZdCQBZX_5A

Public Comment Session Format:
All listening sessions will be held virtually via Zoom.
Stakeholders who would like to provide public comment are asked to register for only one session, by emailing ma-eeac@mass.gov by 5 pm on August 8, 2023.

Submittal of written public comment via email is also encouraged and will be posted on the EEAC website.

Each person providing public comment will be given 3 minutes to speak, in order to allow time for more to participate. Once everyone who has pre-registered has provided comment, others may have a chance to speak, as time allows.

» For more information, see the notice (will download).

Mass Save Restructuring Bills
It’s also worth noting that the last hearing for the proposed Mass Save restructuring bill was postponed until October. We will keep you updated and sent out notice on this important, game-changing legislation in future newsletters.


PETITION
Don’t allow our federal Forests to be used for industrial carbon waste dumping!
 
The US Forest Service announced that as early as August it will propose changing its regulations to allow permanent waste dumping of carbon from CCS operations in National Forests.
 
Carbon waste dumping (with the carbon coming from industrial polluters, like fossil fuel refineries and powerplants) would involve pipeline construction and injection wells — activities that would harm forest ecosystems. In addition, compressed CO2 is a dangerous asphyxiant, meaning any people or wildlife in the vicinity of a leak could suffocate and possibly die.  
 
We want to send a clear message to the USFS to never even let this proposal see the light of day. Below is a petition and a toolkit to help show that we oppose carbon waste dumping in our forests. 
 
Please share far and wide. We need to submit the petition soon so don't delay with signing and sharing. 
 
in NYC

September 17th at the United Nations

From 350MA

In New York this September, the United Nations will gather world leaders for a first-of-its-kind Climate Ambition Summit to demand that nations stop developing new oil, gas and coal projects and begin phasing out fossil fuels once and for all. We want the US to be there!

But with his recent approvals for mega-polluting projects like the Willow Oil Drilling Project and the Mountain Valley Pipeline, President Biden must immediately shape up to earn his seat at the table.  And given the opposition we know he faces, it will take all of us acting together to make sure he does. 

350 Mass is organizing buses that will board at strategic locations  at 7AM (arrive at departure point at 6:30 AM, please) on Sunday Sept. 17.
Buses will arrive in NYC by noon.  The march (start and end locations yet to be revealed) will start at 1 pm, and finish between 4-5 PM. 
Buses will reload at 6 PM and return to their start point, arriving home around 11 PM. 

Round-trip tickets will cost $70; for those for whom that price is difficult, discounted tickets will be available. 

We will try to have buses from various locations where there is sufficient demand. At the moment, Park St and Alewife are definite, but hopefully we can get more buses from more locations (Pioneer Valley, Berkshires?) if there is sufficient interest.

Please spread the word and get as many folks in your organization or community as possible to sign up to go. Reach out to any environmental organizations, school groups, faith groups and others you can think of and help pool as many requests in your area as possible to get enough folks together for a bus.

Bus Sign Up:
» Here is the link where individuals can sign up for a bus seat.

March Organization Sign Up:
» People may also wish to sign up with the march organizers in NYC, as they will get updates from them as well. 

Donate to Help Others Participate:
» If people want to support others to go via our discounted tickets, they can donate here.

For questions and organizational interest, please contact Sue Donaldson of 350 MA. 
Please stop by often to check out our Events Page!
For even more environmental news, info, and events, check out the latest newsletters from our colleagues at Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT)!