Strong support for climate legislation bodes well for 2019-2020 session

Media Contacts
Ben Hellerstein

Former State Director, Environment Massachusetts

Environment Massachusetts

Yesterday, Senator Marc Pacheco (Taunton) and Representative Ruth Balser (Newton) released a letter signed by more than 80 legislators supporting strong climate legislation in 2019.

Ben Hellerstein, State Director for Environment Massachusetts, issued the following statement:

“I applaud Senator Pacheco and Representative Balser for their leadership in organizing this letter.

“In the past year, we’ve learned first-hand about the threats posed by climate change and the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels. Last winter, our coastal communities experienced record high tides and extreme flooding, exacerbated by global warming. According to the latest version of the National Climate Assessment, the Northeast could experience 11 feet of sea level rise or more by 2100 unless we move quickly to reduce global warming pollution.

“The policies outlined in Senator Pacheco and Representative Balser’s letter, such as eliminating the solar net metering caps, increasing the renewable portfolio standard, and procuring more offshore wind, would represent significant progress in reducing Massachusetts’ contribution to global warming. We can and should go even further, by putting Massachusetts on track to achieve 100 percent renewable energy across all sectors as soon as possible.

“We look forward to working with the 81 legislators who signed this letter, alongside other representatives and senators, to pass legislation this session that will ensure a clean, healthy, safe future for Massachusetts.”