Summary: Pipeline protests gain strength even as the State Legislature considers a new Omnibus Energy bill. A key provision denies the utilities a ‘pipeline tax’ to fund the construction. A match to the Statehouse this weekend will send a clear message- see below for the route and timing. Here is some background and advice on what to do, even if you can’t get to the statehouse this weekend. Both the House and Senate have heard that you want a bolder clean energy vision, please thank your senator for their leadership and ask them to support a few key amendments. The current bill includes these clean energy pieces: - A commitment to offshore wind of 2000 megawatts - An annual increase from one to two percent in the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - A mandate for a home energy audit to be made available when homes are listed for sale. - Incentives for energy storage BUT, the Senate bill could include key provisions: - Ban the pipeline tax - Protect low-income solar - Accelerate gas leak repairs. Without an outright ban on the pipeline tax, the Baker administration and the utility companies could still find for ratepayers to bear the cost of building massive fracked gas pipelines. Check out live links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog. Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon. Thanks for listening. …Ted McIntyre Download Enhanced Podcast
