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Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup - 6/19/09
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
Public Input Opportunity: Wind on State Lands
On Wednesday at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne, Mass Audubon testified at the first of two "public listening sessions" on the possibility of siting wind power projects on state lands. Over 100 people attended the hearing. Presentations were made by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs on recent energy legislation and an analysis of renewable power potential on state lands, and there were opportunities for members of the public to speak. The analysis identifies sites on state conservation lands that could potentially host up to 947 megawatts of wind turbines. The majority of these sites are mountain ridgetops owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation as well as some coastal sites. Only 12 people spoke at the meeting. The majority of the comments centered on making it easier for cities and towns to site their own turbines, with calls to open municipal conservation land. Mass Audubon urges you to come to the public meeting in Pittsfield on June 24th and weigh in. As a conservation organization, Mass Audubon recognizes the need for and supports the development of clean energy. We view renewable energy policies, projects, and legislation within the context of the threat of rapid climate change, oil spills, strip mining, acid rain, and air pollution. Some sites may be appropriate for wind energy projects, but the majority of state owned Article 97 lands were acquired for a specific public purpose and have important wildlife and ecological values that would be compromised by the siting of power generation. Other state lands, such as highway properties and former state hospitals, were not included in the report. All state lands should be included in analysis of wind potential on public lands. Currently only Article 97 lands are well mapped, leading analysis to these sites, but the state could develop an equivalent mapping analysis for other state lands. Cape Cod Times State Planners Get Feedback on Wind Power The state has updated their website for wind energy potential on state lands, including a map and index of sites. For a more detailed view, take a look at the maps in the analysis of renewable power. Also visit our newly updated website for more information, including a number of recent administration reports including the Barriers to Siting Wind in Massachusetts. Of note, the Barriers to Siting report identifies a lack of large, single-owner parcels as an impediment. NOTE: The state has also released a very useful wind analysis tool. Zoom in and you can see wind maps, rare species habitat, important bird areas, and other data layers. Wind on State Lands Public Meeting Wednesday, June 24, 2009
6:00 p.m.
Berkshire Community College
Main Campus, K111 Theater
1350 West Street
Pittsfield, MA If you can't make the meeting, written comments are being accepted. Comments should be directed to: Commissioner Philip Giudice
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
100 Cambridge St., Suite 1020
Boston, MA 02114 Commissioner Rick Sullivan
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
251 Causeway Street, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02114-2104
New Fuel for the Global Warming Debate
The White House recently released a scientific report discussing effects of global warming in the United States, and the predicted environmental losses are great. The report, Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, identifies climate impacts by region. Here are a few examples of what we could be experiencing in the Northeast within the next 90 years: - Native maple, beech, birch, spruce, and fir forests could be nearly wiped out;
- Boston could see more than 20 100-degree days per summer;
- Summers in New Hampshire will feel like summers in North Carolina
To learn more about impacts in the Northeast and other regions of the country, you can view the report online at http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts/download-the-report Unless we start significantly reducing our emissions, these scenarios will become realities. To start taking action, email your congressional delegate via the Environmental Defense Fund website and urge them to support important climate change legislation.
Working to Protect our Oceans
As a member of the Massachusetts Ocean Advisory Commission and Massachusetts Ocean Partnership, Mass Audubon was excited to learn that an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force has been established by President Obama to more effectively manage our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes. The Task Force will develop frameworks for enhanced protection and restoration policies and for coastal and marine spatial planning, among other responsibilities. President Obama has also proclaimed June "National Oceans Month." Let's keep that in mind as we celebrate the official start of summer and look forward to warm days by the sea! Related News Articles: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE55B6CJ20090612 http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/obama-oceans-47061501 http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/news-president-obama-launches-plan-to-protect-our-oceans-r-1245087246
Calendar
Public Meetings Climate Change
Mass Audubon president Laura Johnson has been appointed by Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) secretary Ian Bowles to serve on the state's new Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee. The committee will draft a recommendation for the legislature over the coming months, and EEA will hold public information and input sessions to receive comments and suggestions. Public information sessions will be held on: Wednesday, June 24, 2009
4:00 pm 6:00 pm
Hyannis Town Council Office
367 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601 Tuesday, June 30, 2009
4:00 pm 6:00 pm
MA Department of Environmental Protection Northeast Region
205B Lowell Street
Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887 Wednesday, July 1, 2009
4:00 pm 6:00 pm
Springfield City Library
220 State Street
Springfield MA 01103 Thursday, July 2, 2009
4:00 pm 6:00 pm
MA Department of Environmental Protection Southeast Region
20 Riverside Drive
Lakeville, MA 02347 Wednesday, July 15, 2009
3:00 pm 5:00 pm
Minehan Auditorium
Hurley Building
19 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114 Please view our previous Roundup for more information on the Advisory Committee. Economic Decisions
Governor Patrick will hold a second round of community meetings focused on difficult choices facing the state in these challenging economic times. These meetings will take place in communities throughout the state, and will allow the public to provide input and ask questions. See the schedule to find an upcoming meeting near you. The Patrick administration has also recently launched an online forum where members of the public can participate in similar discussions: http://forum.state.ma.us/ Wind Power
The Department of Conservation and Recreation and Department of Energy Resources will host a public listening session focused on the development of wind power on state-owned lands. Members of the public will have the opportunity to speak and submit testimony. Wednesday, June 24, 2009
6:00 p.m
Berkshire Community College
Main campus
K111 Theater
1350 West Street
Pittsfield, MA Please view the press release for more information. You can also reference our previous Action Alert regarding wind siting. Ocean Management for the Bay State Last year, the Massachusetts Ocean Management Act was signed into law by Governor Patrick as a first-in-the-nation effort to manage state ocean waters. Mass Audubon was appointed by the Governor to the 17-member Ocean Advisory Commission to represent the Commonwealth's environmental interests and work with the administration to write the ocean plan. To receive periodic ocean plan updates, send an email to join-env-oceanplan@listserv.state.ma.us
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
If you are not already a member of Mass Audubon's Action Network, we encourage you to join by filling out our online form or by e-mailing us. Membership dues provide vital support for Mass Audubon's advocacy work on Beacon Hill and across the state. If you are not already a Mass Audubon member please join today.
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6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
Boston, MA 02108
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