November 24, 2023 • SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER!

Mass Power Forward Legislative Lobby Day

December 5th!

Join us and Mass Power Forward in calling on our legislators to wake up and do more for environmental and climate justice! This year, our legislature has been among the least productive in the country.

There are less than 3 months before bills in Massachusetts are either reported favorably out of committee or die.

Your legislators need to hear from YOU that climate justice and priorities like a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund, siting reform, putting gas in the past, and making polluters pay can't wait! We are holding meetings in districts (not the state house).

» See more info on the bills

» RSVP here to join - Statewide registration!

Once you RSVP, you’ll be connected to other people from your district who are participating - no matter which district you’re from anywhere in MA.

No Fracked Gas in Mass is organizing 3 meetings to be held by Zoom:

— Berkshire County Representatives, Dec. 5 @ 10:00 AM

— State Senator Paul Mark, Dec. 5 @ 11:00 AM

— State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Dec. 5 @ 2:00 PM

(Reps. Blais and Comerford also invited, have yet to confirm)

RSVP above to get registered to join.

Register for training below!

Climate Lobbying Training and MPF Lobby Day Prep

Wednesday, Nov 29: 6:00 pm - 7:45 pm

Learn how we'll pass meaningful climate legislation this session and how to use your power as a constituent effectively. We'll also be discussing MA Power Forward campaign priorities and preparing for the coalition Lobby Day on Dec. 5!

6:00-7:00: learn how to lobby and catch up on climate justice priorities for the coalition lobby day

7:00-7:45: Prep for your lobby meeting next week with district leads

» RSVP for this training

Environmental Justice Council (EJC) meeting

Dear Environmental Justice Stakeholder, 

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is convening the Environmental Justice Council (EJC) for its next meeting on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:00 pm. Council members will discuss EJ office priorities and strategies during this meeting. There is also time allotted for general comments from the public.  

More Information About the EJC: The EJC is appointed by the Governor to advise and provide recommendations to the Secretary of EEA on relevant policies and standards to achieve environmental justice principles. Such principles are defined by state law as “principles that support protection from environmental pollution and the ability to live in and enjoy a clean and healthy environment, regardless of race, color, income, class, handicap, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity or ancestry, religious belief or English language proficiency, which include: (i) the meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies, including climate change policies; and (ii) the equitable distribution of energy and environmental benefits and environmental burdens.”

» Please register for the meeting using this link 

Logistics:  This hybrid meeting will be hosted both virtually on Zoom and in person in Brockton, MA at the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton. The meeting is estimated to last 90 minutes. The address is 575 N Montello St, Brockton, MA 02301, and the building is accessible using the Brockton Area Transit Authority bus route 12 - Ashmont.

Additional information about the EJC, future meeting agendas, and past meeting recordings can be found here: www.mass.gov/orgs/environmental-justice-council. Please click “Select Language” on the top right of the webpage to translate the page. 

Thank you, 

María Belén Power

Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs 

As this Holiday Season starts, please take a moment between now and #GivingTuesday to make a donation to No Fracked Gas in Mass. Your support over the past nearly 10 years has made it possible for us to fight proposed new fossil fuel infrastructure, campaign to have existing outdated fossil fuel infrastructure like peaker power plants shut down and converted to modern energy storage and renewables, and work to hold our state’s regulatory agencies accountable to uphold the new climate legislation that activists like you across the state have advocated into existence! Let’s keep moving forward together!



» Donate to No Fracked Gas in Mass this #GivingTuesday

From Stop Private Jet Expansion (SPJE)

Webinar on Private Jet Service Expansion and Climate Effects

Don't miss this special webinar for Western MA climate activists about the proposed expansion of Hanscom private jet service and its disastrous climate effects in Massachusetts. 

Tuesday, November 28, 6:00 to 7:00 pm

» Link for webinar registration

This project will have statewide effects.

If the proposed expansion goes ahead, private jet emissions from Hanscom alone could cancel up to 70% of the climate benefits from all the solar PV ever installed in Massachusetts.

While our cities and towns are trying to drastically decrease our carbon footprint, Massport & Runway Realty are planning to expand theirs at Hanscom. This is chiefly for luxury trips to resort destinations for the privileged few, with enormous cumulative costs to the climate and the vulnerable many.

Please join the webinar to learn about the proposed project and what you can do to stop it.

» Link for webinar

Please also join the over 11,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Governor to stop this indefensible expansion plan.

See Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere website for information about regular standout protests in multiple towns, and more about the campaign.

Put Peakers in the Past

Sign the Petition

While Cogentrix, owners of the now shuttered Doreen, Woodland Road and West Springfield peaker plants, continue to move toward final approvals for transitioning the West Springfield plant to battery storage and renewables, Hull Street Energy - owners of Pittsfield Generating, have still made no commitment to transition.

We're moving forward with local pressure at the municipal level to make continuing business as usual harder for them, or to make fossil free operations more attractive.

The strength behind our arguments in these talks is YOU.

If you haven’t already:

— Sign on to our Berkshire County Put Peakers in the Past petition.

— If you’re an organization or business anywhere, join the coalition

— If you’re a health care professional in Berkshire County, sign our Health Professionals Statement.

» More info on No Fracked Gas in Mass

Work for Cleaner Air in Pittsfield!

Breathe Easy Berkshires Air Quality Monitoring project is hiring!.

5 hours a week for some extra cash, and help your community Breathe Easy!