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The Climate Minute examines current news on global warming, climate change, renewable energy and the prospects for progress on international negotiations, carbon taxes and clean energy policy.
Episodes
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
MA Legislature misses its chance at greatness: The Climate Minute Podcast
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
So the MA Legislature took a swing and missed. No, they fumbled a great chance. No, they dropped the ball. No, they struck out. No, they choked. No, they “could’a been contenders.”
OK, sports metaphors don’t work for everyone.
The MA Legislature, like Frodo at the Crack of Doom, looked into the abyss of demands from the fossil industry and lost heart. Unfortunately, Gollum was not there to bite the ring off.
OK, LOTR references are too opaque.
The MA Legislature had the chance to make our state the nation’s leader in clean energy policy, and they failed. It is as simple as that. Constrained by a rigid hierarchy of power in the House and beholden to powerful corporate energy interests, our elected officials ignored visionary policies passed by the Senate and produced a milquetoast, uninspired energy bill that only a utility could love.
As climate hawks, we will take the 2% RPS in this bill but focus on electing true clean energy advocates. And, by the way, we will return to the next legislative session with renewed commitment.
As they used to say about the Red Sox, “Wait ‘til next year!”
Sunday Jun 24, 2018
Sunday Jun 24, 2018
The Massachusetts Senate recently passed "An Act to Promote a Clean Energy Future", otherwise known as the “Pacheco Bill” after Senator Mark Pacheco who introduced it. The bill has so many good aspects, it is hard to fit them all into a single podcast! Listen in as we discuss a lot of them. Now the bill awaits action in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It could face a much tougher time there, and need the support of all climate hawks! Join the MCAN Legislative Action Team to help out.
Thursday Mar 08, 2018
An Act to promote a clean energy future: The Climate Minute Podcast
Thursday Mar 08, 2018
Thursday Mar 08, 2018
This week’s storm, the second ‘once in a century’ kind of storm this year reveals that we need a coherent statewide policy to develop clean energy. Senate bill 2302 (An Act to promote a clean energy future) sponsored by Senator Pacheco gives us a blueprint to build that future. Listen in, then call your Senator.
Thursday Jan 25, 2018
Trump’s Terrible Tariff: The Climate Minute
Thursday Jan 25, 2018
Thursday Jan 25, 2018
The administration imposed 30% tariffs on imported solar panels. We discuss.
Thursday Sep 28, 2017
Environmental Injustice in Puerto Rico: The Climate Minute Podcast
Thursday Sep 28, 2017
Thursday Sep 28, 2017
Climate-assisted hurricanes Irma and Maria have devastated the lives of American citizens in Puerto Rico. Reports tell of an entire American island of three million people without either power or fresh water some six days after the storm. This circumstance has set up a test of our national character. Will we turn our backs on our own citizens, or will we meet the challenge of new climate driven weather patterns? Listen in as we discuss.
Tuesday Aug 29, 2017
100% Renewables Now! The Climate Minute Podcast
Tuesday Aug 29, 2017
Tuesday Aug 29, 2017
Bill McKibben makes a clear declaration in his new article on how we can get to a sustainable future:
It’s the call for the rapid conversion of energy systems around the country to 100 percent renewable power—a call for running the United States (and the world) on sun, wind and water. What Medicare for All is to the healthcare debate, or Fight for $15 is to the battle against inequality, 100% Renewable is to the struggle for the planet’s future. It’s how progressives will think about energy going forward—and though it started in northern Europe and Northern California, it’s a call that’s gaining traction outside the obvious green enclaves.
Listen in as we discuss!
Tuesday Aug 08, 2017
One thousand ninety five and three quarter days: The Climate Minute Podcast
Tuesday Aug 08, 2017
Tuesday Aug 08, 2017
Amidst the environmental turmoil of the current administration, the Washington Post tells us we have three years left to act on climate before it is too late; in the meantime, the Supreme Judicial Court prepares to hear Exxon/Mobil’s appeal against Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and Massachusetts utilities try to move us backward while Vermont moves forward on renewables. Tune in for more.
Tuesday Jul 18, 2017
Twenty five corporate scoundrels: The Climate Minute Podcast
Tuesday Jul 18, 2017
Tuesday Jul 18, 2017
This week we have three main topics: the CDP Worldwide (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) report that twenty-five fossil fuel companies are responsible for over half of the carbon pollution in the air since 1988; the actions that utilities are taking against renewable energy; and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Henry David Thoreau.
Monday Apr 24, 2017
Monday Apr 24, 2017
Recently, MCAN announced it’s legislative priorities for this session of the Massachusetts Legislature. We are pushing to increase our supply of renewable energy, provide access to solar for everyone and to make polluters pay with a price on carbon. You can join MCAN's Legislative Action Team and make a difference. Listen in as we discuss these topics, the Governor’s score card and the brewing fight between New York and FERC.
Increasing Our Renewable Energy:
We need more clean energy, and one great way to move the clean energy market forward is to have the utilities buy more of it. We support increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard by 3% each year, driving demand for renewable power and growing our local clean energy industry. We also support a statewide solar target of 25% solar by 2030 and eliminating the solar net metering caps. We believe that municipal light plants should be included in the state’s clean energy goals.
Providing Access to Solar for All:
Everyone should be able to get their power from the sun, no matter their community and no matter their income level. This legislation ensures fair compensation to low-income solar and to community-shared solar (net metering) for low-moderate income customers, encourages projects that expand access to communities facing barriers, and directs the Department of Energy Resources to address barriers like income, housing type and language in their program design.
Making Polluters pay through Carbon pricing:
One of the best ways to discourage behavior we don’t want is to put a price on it, and studies have shown that pricing carbon would cut our carbon pollution by up to 10%. This legislation would establish a common-sense fee-and-rebate system of carbon pollution fees charged to fossil fuel importers. The revenues from those fees would go into a dedicated fund, from which each state resident would receive an equal rebate, and employers would get rebates based on their number of employees.
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
Tuesday Sep 06, 2016
Progress in RGGI and Paris: The Climate Minute Podcast
Tuesday Sep 06, 2016
Tuesday Sep 06, 2016
Massachusetts’ Governor Baker proposed a 5% per year decrease in the carbon emissions allowed under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the President goes to China to jointly sign the Paris Agreement. We discuss.
Check out live links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.org/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