FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Contact
Jess Nahigian, Sierra Club Massachusetts, jess.nahigian@sierraclub.org
Claire Karl Miller, UUMass Action, claire@uumassaction.org; 781-775-1429
Daniel Zackin, 350 Mass and Better Future Project, dan@betterfutureproject.org, 203-802-7464
Climate Activists Furious over Absence of Gas Transition Language in Governor’s Budget
Governor Healey’s Siting and Permitting Plan Will Raise Costs for Ratepayers without Reducing Climate Pollution
BOSTON, MA. – Governor Healey released a supplemental budget Wednesday that fast tracked siting and permitting of renewable energy while failing to phase out methane gas. This move represents a major failure of climate policy, both for reducing climate pollution and for ratepayers. One of the few silver linings is the inclusion of a robust Cumulative Impact Analysis, a key provision long demanded by Environmental Justice Communities. Outside of that, the governor’s plan cut out the ongoing Conference Committee on Siting and Permitting to implement her vision and added to the opaque and backroom nature of Massachusetts politics. Her vision excluded any language referencing the transition away from for-profit gas utilities.
“This move is a slap in the face to the state-wide campaign to put gas in the past, and to the Springfield community, who have led this campaign while valiantly fighting Eversource's irresponsible $65M gas expansion pipeline proposal,” said Naia Tenerowicz of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition. “We have been fighting for our right to clean air, a healthy community, and a bright, livable climate future where our youth can thrive. Our legislators have championed this effort, and allies across the state have fought with us for over 2 years, only for Governor Healey to entirely reject the necessary task of transitioning away from gas.”
“The most powerful companies in our state have successfully lobbied for a massive handout. Massachusetts ratepayers will be paying for Eversource and National Grid to build an oversized electric grid, without protecting consumers from run-away gas company spending. Governor Healey’s plan will lead to massive costs in building out electric grid infrastructure without decreasing fossil fuel consumption,” said Lee Ketelson of Mothers Out Front. “This is a failure for ratepayers, our climate and our children.”
“Thousands of advocates have urged our legislators over the past two years to pass a robust bill that reduces climate pollution. We are extremely disappointed Governor Healey decided that we are not ready to move away from a dangerous, expensive, and explosive methane gas system. We are out of time for our leaders to keep delaying climate action,” said Dan Zackin of 350 Mass.
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