The Climate Minute

Most homes use natural gas in some fashion- usually for cooking food, heating water or keeping the house warm. Addressing climate change means we need to convert to (clean) electricity for these everyday activities. We discuss a new report from Environment America. It makes the case that there are good electrical options.  Can you say ‘Heat pump' or 'Induction cooktop?' They work well.

The legal process for a proposed gas fired peaker plant in Peabody has been paused for 30 days. This is a surprising- and good-development.  MCAN and its allies have been instrumental in this success. Listen in to hear MCAN’s Executive Director lay out the state of play and tell us what comes next. Spoiler alert: we must keep pushing! 

MA has the opportunity to construct buildings that meet the climate challenge. Hear the Executive Director of MCAN explain why a Net Zero Building Code is critical.

The Biden Administration’s climate efforts include improved regulation of financial markets. We talks to an expert from Ceres to understand how global warming represents a risk both to corporations and the entire system of finance. 

The Next Generation Roadmap for has been signed by the Governor and is truly a law of MA. We speak with Rep. Jeff Roy  on the content and implications of the this new future.

The Peabody Peaker Plant came before the MA Department of  Public Utilities, in a bid to get a financing go-ahead. We get an update on the state of play from MCAN’s Executive Director.

How would you spend money to improve public transit? Listen in to a transit expert’s great vision of how build a transit infrastructure that makes people, towns and climate a priority.

A peaker power plant makes electricity only when demand is high. Listen in for a simple discussion of how utilities balance supply and demand, and why climate hawks should care.

Some banks want to make 30 year investments without considering climate change. We talk with an expert about the risks that banks and investors take if they do not have full disclosure of the implication of climate change on an investment. Those risks are so large, they threaten the entire financial system.

Public transportation in MA is at a watershed moment, both reeling from pandemic ridership drops and facing a carbon constrained future. We talk with an expert about the present and future of the MBTA and transit in the whole region.