With numerous ongoing environmental fights in the state our next governor will have significant power to protect residents’ health and prosperi.Ty
Despite ongoing disputes over the East Boston proposal Substation, a proposed Peabody Gas power plant, and the Weymouth Compressor stationThe race to succeed Charlie Baker in the governorship has significant implications for environmental issues throughout the state.
The global fight against climate change is failing. With carbon emissions at an all-time high, RisingRecent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC), are available. outlineHuman systems tested to their limits call forImmediate reductions in fossil fuel consumption The Biden administration is working to cut gas prices, but they are not yet effective. Push forIncreased oil drilling. The administration’s climate goals remain unfulfilled. Coal baronSenator Joe Manchin, United States, continues to block any climate legislation that targets the fossil fuel industry.
Governor Baker is the state’s governor, but he doesn’t actually do much. While Baker may be a proponent of climate action, his record shows that he is not. Baker’s administration continues to allow environmental justice groups to continue in Peabody & East Boston. The Republican leader also pushed for weaker emission reduction targets in the state’s climate roadmap last Year.
In December, Baker declared that he would not seek a third term after he was defeated in a primary by a Trump-endorsed opponent. Bakers Department of Energy Resources RejectedTo allow towns to ban fossil fuels from new buildings under the new energy code created by the law, while Department of Public Utilities is Letting the gas industry operateThey can also create their own decarbonization regulations. The state is also We are far behindIts goals for electric heating and continues to subsidizeOil and gas heating systems
Sonia Chang-Diaz (Democratic state senator for 2nd Suffolk District) has the most ambitious climate policy plan in the governors race. She has provided a detailed description of a Massachusetts Gets a Green New DealThis plan calls for carbon-free electricity in 2030. There will be an expansion of public transit that is fare-free and no new fossil fuel infrastructure. Standard for emission reductionLarge buildings and a reform to the DPU to concentrate on the transition to clean energy economies.
Chang-Diaz said that passing a Green New Deal in Massachusetts is not about avoiding extreme weather events and climate change. However, those are important enough to motivate us to take action. Massachusetts also has enormous economic potential. We have the potential for literally tens to thousands of family-sustaining, high-paying jobs.
The senator also emphasized the importance of the United States There is huge potentialOffshore wind is a key asset to achieving carbon-free electricity in 2030.
Chang-Diaz stated in an interview that technology and public opinion are not what limit us. Our greatest obstacle is a lack in urgency and the political will to do things that can be uncomfortable. To forge a new state’s future, we must resist the fossil fuel industry’s interests.
Since the Majority of fundingThe MBTA is funded by the state. A governor who is a political ally would help the Boston Mayor Michelle Wu achieve her goal of fare-free public transport.
Chang-Diaz stated, “I pledge that my very first budget proposal in my capacity as governor will include funding for fare-free travel on all MBTA buses or Regional Transit Authority buses.” Then I will identify the revenue streams necessary to allow us to continue fare-free access to the mass-transit system throughout my governorship.
The Chang-Diaz campaign is trying to harness the same political energy which helped Ed Markey SurviveDue to a double-digit polling deficit in 2020 against Kennedy’s political juggernaut, many of the major climate organizations that supported Markey, Sunrise Movement and 350 Mass Action, have not yet endorsed a candidate for the race. However, Chang-Diaz was supported by several left-leaning organizations such as Progressive Massachusetts and Our Revolution that supported Markey.
Attorney General Maura Shealey is the Democratic favorite. She has It is easy to outraisedAll other candidates with $4.7 million cash on hand. Chang-Diaz has less than $400,000 and only a fraction this war chest.
Healey has not yet released any climate policy plans and declined to answer any questions for this article. It is unclear where she stands on many key environmental issues. Her team sent a statement stressing the importance of climate action: As Governor, I’ll be committed to making Massachusetts a national leader in the transition to a clean energy economy. We’ll do so in a way that creates good paying jobs, and we’ll make sure that labor has a seat at the table. We must direct large investments in climate resilience projects, electrify and extend transportation, and convert millions to clean electricity.
In a StatementStreetsblogMASS reported that Healey was not open to the idea of fare-free transit. She said that we would be looking at all of the options, including fare-free transit.
Healey, as Attorney General, has been an Continual suitExxon Mobil is accused of misleading customers about climate risks from fossil fuels. She has, however, Side with developers and utilitiesBrooklines twice denied Brooklines’ attempts to ban fossil fuels from new buildings. This was in direct opposition to climate advocates.
Healey and Chang-Diaz will meet in a ForumWBUR hosted an April 27th event on energy and the environment, hosted by the Environmental League of Massachusetts.
Geoff Diehl, a former state lawmaker, seems well-positioned to win the nomination for Republican. EndorsedDonald Trump, an environmental boogieman himself, named Diehl as his favorite. Honorary cochairTrump’s 2016 Massachusetts campaign, and Corey Lewandowski, a disgraced Trump advisor was hiredHis campaign. He will be facing Chris Daughty, a Wrentham businessman who has almost completely self-financedHis campaign was funded by $500,000 of his personal cash.
I spoke to Diehl about his views on energy and environmental issues. He assured me that he believed in climate change. However, he strongly opposes the rapid shift away from fossil fuels. IPCC scientists.
Diehl stated that humans are a factor in the climate. It would be great to reduce our carbon footprint, but you cannot flip the switch to make renewable energy fully available if renewables are not able to fill the gap.
Trump’s ally, Diehl describes himself as a proponent for an all-of the-above energy policy.
I think it’d be great to find that happy medium of all energy sources and make sure that we have the healthiest environment around, Diehl said. It’s not realistic to make promises and expect it to happen in a certain timeframe.
On whether the state should eventually abandon fossil fuels, Diehl added, I’m not necessarily sure that the technology is gonna allow us to get to that point. I don’t necessarily know if it’s even feasible to completely take fossil fuels out of the mix.
Diehl called for a temporary suspension in the motor vehicle excise tax and gas taxes. Similar proposals were made. Recently, killedIn the House. He opposes fares being waived on public transportation. Diehl stated, “I believe in public transport, but I also believe in users having skins in the game.”
He also repeatedly criticized Chang Diazs platform for allegedly calling to eliminate fossil fuels by 2030. Her platform proposes 100% renewable electricity for 2030. It does not include emissions sectors such transportation, heating, or industry.
The Democratic and Republican state Conventions are scheduled for early June or late May, with Sept. 6 primaries, and a Nov.8 general election. It is unclear if climate change and the environment will be wedge issues in Democratic primaries. However, major environmental groups are poised to play an important role in general election.
The state continues to fight environmental issues. biomass subsidiesThe future of gas, heat pumps, heat pumps, Weymouth compressor station and the Peabody gas plants, the Bay States’ next Governor will have significant power to protect residents from climate change and pollution. The State House will be governed by the citizens who send them and the social movements they represent.
Jons New England Climate Dispatch is a newsletter about climate justice and policy.newenglandclimate.substack.com.
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