House Takes Up Global Warming

Kudos to the Speaker's Office for pushing forward legislation on Global Warming. The Global Warming Solutions Act, which passed in the Senate, will be one of the final bills to be up for debate this session. There are some sublte differences between the House and Senate versions, and not a lot of time to sign a cohesive bill, but I hope that whatever the differences that exist, they can be worked out before the end of the session. The climate can't afford to wait for Massachusetts to boldly do its part in combatting Global Warming.

Other good news from the end of this session: 1913's all but dead and it looks like Massachusetts will soon have next day registration.

It's been a great year for Massachusetts, but

There's more work to be done. Of course, this is music to my ears.

The state House of Representatives is likely to debate the final vote on repealing the 1913 law Tuesday, PolitickerMA.com has learned.

According to a House leadership source with knowledge of the legislative schedule, debate over the law is expected to occur when the House returns to full session Tuesday.

Given the homophobia that's still alive in today's society, repealing 1913 will send a great message that Massachusetts won't stand for hatred and fear. One of the last vestiges of legally-mandated human rights abuse against glbt people will finally be gone, so we can focus on the far more difficult problems facing our commonwealth and country.

That said, while I'm very greatful for all the effort Speaker DiMasi and most of the House has displayed this year - one of the most successful and effective in memory - there's still more work to be done in just a few short days. Most important of all the bills that could be passed before it's too late is the Global Warming Solutions Act, capping emissions and setting policy that would make Massachusetts a true leader on Global Warming. We've passed a great Energy bill in this state this year, but unfortunately it didn't cap emissions. We can't afford to wait another year to make bold plans to cut emissions.

The Senate passed the Global Warming Solutions Act already, led by Senator Pacheco, so now it's the House's turn. It would be terrible to waste this golden opportunity. Unfortunately, because we're already at the Global Warming tipping point, the climate can't wait. If DiMasi and House Democrats can get this bill a vote during the last days of the session, a vote that will likely pass, this year will truly go down as one of the most effective legislative years in modern Massachusetts history. It will be a triumphant year for those who think Government can be a part of the solution.

Please, call your State Representative, and even ring DiMasi's office. Thank them for taking up 1913, imploring them to vote the right way. But don't forget to tell them that the climate matters and can't wait, either.
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Most of this blog is cross-posted at BlueMassGroup, with plenty of good comments on other important bills with just a few days to pass.

House Priorities?

MassPoliticker says the House just passed, by overwhelming numbers, a tax holiday in August. For the price of stimulating $3.2 million, it costs the state over $16 million. Now that's some great economic planning!

Meanwhile, there's talk that Representative Donato is stalling the repeal of 1913's laws that prevent out of state glbt couples from getting married here, something that's only awaiting the House's passage before Governor Patrick signs the bill and it becomes law. Not okay.

Other bills the House may skip? The Global Warming Solutions Act - a bill that has the numbers to pass, but just needs to get on the docket - is another bill the Senate passed and the House has yet to do so. It would reduce and cap emissions, making Massachusetts a leader in Global Warming.

If anyone has an objection to the House's priorities, find your legislators and make a phone call. Also, make sure to give the Speaker's office a ring. It's time these bills and measures have the priority in legislation they deserve. GLBT people have waited long enough on 1913, while the environment can't afford to wait anymore for Global Warming action.

Salem's Power Plant: Bye Bye?

There's a good story in today's Salem News about the movement to close down the Power Plant in Salem, which was originally meant to have an expiration date in the 1980s. It's lived well past its time, no longer producing nearly as much electricity as other plants in the state, all the while becoming the 2nd highest power plant polluter in Massachusetts (one of the "Filthy Five" that even Mitt Romney threatened to close!). Did I mention 3 of its workers recently died due to unsafe working environment, or that the coal-based pollution isn't exactly healthy for people in the area?

The plant pumps out 2 tons of Mercury and Lead annually. It also emits nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases that lead to global warming

A recent Harvard study concluded that those living within 30 miles of the plant are at greater risk of premature death, respiratory illnesses and cancer. There were 14,400 asthma attacks per year related to the plant's emissions.

Well, of course it isn't. It's an ancient, coal-based power plant that can't even manage to cover the mounds of coal sitting out in the open by the windy Salem Harbor, ready to be sprayed all across Salem, Beverly and Marblehead. The Power Plant's been forced to clean their soot and coal remnants beyond the historic 'header Old Town.

Yet, if people were to read some of the comments in the Salem News article, you'd think it was a Moonbat rebellion or something. Apparently, people like me won't be satisfied until every last American is eating nuts, fruits and berries, living in caves. Not.

So, let's clear up some popular misconceptions.

But, Ryan, I've lived here all my life - and I'm not sick!

Just because you have no known diseases caused by the pollution coming out of the Salem Power Plant doesn't mean everyone's fine - and it doesn't mean you won't get sick in years to come. People are effected by things differently. Some people, after living near the plant for years, may develop cancer - while others could have lived there their entire lifetimes and been fine. Just like smokers - some people get cancer and die in their 30s, then there's people like my Grandmother who have been smoking two backs a day for most of their 80 years in existance and still manage to (somehow) breathe. Just because you're not sick, doesn't mean others aren't. Try to use your brains!

But, Ryan, if you close down the plant, where will all the electricity come from?

What, you think Salem is the only source of power in this area? We've managed to survive six months without Salem's power quite well, with no forced outages because of the plant's closure (and let's not forget that it was closed because it killed people). Surely, the North Shore won't suddenly be reduced to the Stone Age because an ancient power plant that should have been closed decades ago finally rests in peace. Meanwhile, a bigger, better, more efficient facility will take its place somewhere nearby, because that's how the economy works.

But, Ryan, there's 147 jobs at stake! We can't lose them!

We need not shed tears - we're not going to lose any jobs here, even if some people will be inconvenienced. These are highly skilled workers that will be sought after from companies all across Massachusetts, New England and the country. Now, no one wants to lose a job - and I'm never thrilled with the prospect that people occasionally become unemployed, but 147 is a number we can eat, with a lot of other power plants out there. Rest assured, we're not condemning 147 people to a life of misery and poverty. The community can work with Dominion, the owner of the plant, to relocate these jobs among the many other plants across the state, as well as several new ones in the planning stages as we speak, with more to come. We can't hold a community hostage over 147 jobs, especially jobs that won't really be lost, when a dangerous facility needs to be closed.

Furthermore, let's gain some perspective here. The Power Plant isn't Salem's largest employer, or anywhere close to it. Salem employs over 23,000 people in the city, with the power plant representing less than 1% of that. Salem will do just fine in the jobs market. In fact, things could grow. Whatever comes after the Salem Power Plant will assuredly create hundreds of new jobs - both permanent and in construction. So, in effect, by closing this plant, it may soon end up being a net-plus for jobs in Salem and across Massachusetts.

But, Ryan, the Power Plant pays Salem more than $4 million in property taxes! Whatever will it do without those taxes?

Well, the power plant used to pay $8 million+ in property taxes. Salem's still here, $4 million shy of old numbers. Here's the good news: the Salem Power Plant is on acres and acres of water-front property.

Let's take a nice, aerial view.


View Larger Map

One word comes to mind: Jesus! The site's roughly as large as 1/3rd of Marblehead Neck (just scroll southward), with absolutely killer views and potential for harbor space. Who in their right mind doesn't think such a large slot of coastal land, in Historic Downtown Salem and on the Harbor, with millions of tourists a year and inside the nation's 7th largest metropolitan area, wouldn't attract hundreds of millions in investments? Or millions of tourists and costumers a year?

Seriously, it's the real estate development chance of a lifetime. Properties like this aren't even supposed to exist. Whatever comes after the plant will be paying millions in property taxes, quite likely even exceeding the $4 million figure if its ever divvied up into many commercial properties that all have to pay taxes. In fact, Salem Power Plant is quite possibly not only costing Salem and the area in terms of health and the environment, but even in jobs and tax revenue. We're a bright species - we should be making better use of our space.

But, Ryan, you must be a moonbat or something!

Thanks, Howie Carr, for completely poisoning our state. Who needs a bright, hopeful society looking to the future - when we can breed a large base or residents to tear down any new and good idea, no matter how necessary it is or how much it makes sense. But, thanks, really, for protecting us from all those Moonbats!

The simple fact is Power Plants aren't built to last forever. This plant is particularly old, one of the most nefarious in terms of pollution, and doesn't bring much in return for the costs we put up with - its paltry sum of electricity could easily be replaced by a Wind Farm, or we could create more electricity, cleaner and efficient, through Natural Gas or even a newer coal plant (though, please, anything but coal!). However, none of those things can happen if we cling to our old ways, reject any new ideas and plan for the future. If we want a better society, we have to build it, which sometimes means tearing down our old, outmoded and inefficient ways that aren't contributing to society today.

Yo, Globe: Wind's Popular on the Cape

Two new wind turbines will be built on Deer Island in Boston - a nice, local project that city residents should be proud of. Of course, the Globe had to tie in the not-even-related-or-even-comparable Cape Wind project. It's disappointing to see the Globe repeat the long-ago debunked claim that...

Cape Wind... [is] heatedly opposed by many people

Um.. really? What does "many" mean? A large majority of people on Cape Cod support the project, over 3/4s of the Commonwealth is for it. If the Globe feels the need to make comparisons to Cape Wind, which is such a massive and important project that it really isn't similar at all to the Deer Island project, it ought to at least give a more accurate picture of the real level of support. After all, "many" people still believe the world is flat. Cape Wind, by the numbers, is one of the least divisive and most popular issues out there. I'm almost convinced that the only person who doesn't support Cape Wind at this point is Senator Kennedy, and the only people who think the project is "controversial" are journalists in the mainstream media.

So Much for States' Rights

Wow. Score one for the Republicans people who want the Earth to burn in flames.

For the first time ever, the EPA has turned down a request for a waiver so that California can set its own regulations on auto emissions, as it's authorized to do under the Clean Air Act.

Even more appalling is the reasoning.

In a hastily assembled after hours press conference, the EPA declared that the energy bill signed by Bush yesterday was much better than a "patchwork of state laws," even though the energy bill was much weaker than the California proposals and does not directly address greenhouse gases. Once again the Republicans demonstrate their absolute disdain for any authority being given to the states, and their love of centralizing all power under one man. State's rights? You have the right to go shove a tailpipe where the sun don't shine.

In turning down California's request, EPA administrator Stephen Johnson rolled out the next phase of the Republican Zeno's Paradox Plan for ignoring global warming. California, said Johnson, wasn't the right place to deal with this because it's really a national issue. Of course, the nation can't deal with this issue because it's really an international issue. And of course the other nations of the world aren't ready to do this exactly as we'd like so... California can't deal with this. No one can move until everyone does.

Sounds about right.

Love This: Pats Use Renewable Energy

The Patriots signed a 4 year deal to buy renewable energy credits from wind farms in the Midwest to use during game days. Each home game, the Pats were using enough energy to power 2,269 homes for an entire game. That's no slim pickings. Hopefully, other teams - like the Sox and Celtics - will follow suit, making a huge environmental impact, as well as boosting the teams' reputation. It's sort of hard for the "bad guys" rep to stick when they're probably one of the few - if only - teams in the NFL making sure that they're not contributing to the destruction of the planet.

Somehow, I doubt the so-called force for good in the world, the Indianapolis Colts, would ever follow suit. But, then again, they just lost their second game in a row (with a missed 29 yard Adam Vinatieri Field Goal) so maybe no one cares. In any event, kudos to Robert Kraft for again showing why he's the NFL's best owner and a very decent man. We need more business owners willing to show the way toward environmental friendliness before we'll ever be able to combat Global Warming.

Solar-Powered Homes You Want to Live In

Last night, News Hour had an excellent report on the Solar Decathlon, a yearly competition by colleges from around the Globe to build completely solar-powered homes on the National Mall in D.C. Suffice it to say, the homes were spectacular, innovative - and many can even be built at the same cost of a regular, highly-polluting house. Take, for example, the winner of the prize in Market Viability: the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's home. The construction costs are similar to the market rate, but they're also modular homes that can be built quickly and shipped around the country.

All that said, it was innovation that makes the Solar Decathlon worthwhile. The University of Illinois, for example, developed a brilliant way to heat and cool the house - ceiling panels that sort of work like a refrigerator. Ever notice how the back of a refrigerator is hot, while the front (inside) is cool? That's a principal they ran with.

All that said, my favorite design element came from the University of Maryland's "LeafHouse." Here's just some of the cool things UM did with their home:

Team members are particularly proud of their smart—house system called SHAC (for Smart House Adaptive Control). Two undergraduate computer engineering majors built a sensor network to bring the comfort level of the home to the ideal. The network monitors humidity, temperature, light, and whether the doors are open or closed-it's a Web-enabled system that can even factor in weather forecasts.

The most innovative feature of the Maryland house may be the indoor waterfall—a liquid desiccant wall system that's used to control humidity. As far as the team knows, such a system has never been used for a home.

My favorite, though, was their garden wall. Outside of the house, there's plenty of room for a handy garden - not only on the ground, but on the walls of the outside. The water comes from the rain; all the water that hits the roof is caught and directed to an irrigation system for the garden. How's that for simple, but brilliant, innovation?

Global Warming in the Boston Globe

There were two interesting articles in the Globe recently that discussed issues surrounding Global Warming. First, there was an interesting Op Ed, from Brian Thurber and Berl Hartman, on the need for leadership on Global Warming in New England by one of the Governors.

With momentum building for meaningful climate protection across New England, there is an opportunity for our governors to reclaim leadership on this most critical issue. Starting tomorrow, we will see who steps up.

In the second article, a Peter Howe piece on Governor Patrick's efforts on conservation, I think we've found ourselves an answer.

But Patrick contends that the state can conserve at least that much more electricity every year and keep overall demand frozen indefinitely, for much less than the cost of building new power plants.

I don't know what the Governors of Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine are doing to combat Global Warming, but certainly some interesting ideas are being cooked up in Massachusetts. Freezing the growth of this state's energy use won't stop Global Warming, but doing so could create the sorts of ideas that will. Furthermore, having a Governor who is strongly pushing leadership on this issue can go a long way to bringing other states into the fold.

The best part of Governor Patrick's plan is that the timetable he sets to accomplish his goal, 2010, isn't some far-off date, one where he won't be around to be held accountable. If anyone is sick of politicians making goals for 2050, let's get together and start a chorus. What we need is to start with reasonable goals - one's we can accomplish in one or two terms. On an issue as important as the prevention of Global Warming, it's good to see the Governor of Massachusetts actually leading.

Ditto on Cambridge's Energy Efforts

Cambridge has launched an ambitious effort to create energy savings, one that rivals anything else in Massachusetts (except, perhaps, Hull's soon-to-be gazillion wind turbines).

Seeking to become the greenest city in the country, Cambridge today will launch a sweeping $70 million energy efficiency program to conserve energy in virtually every building within city boundaries, reducing emissions that contribute to global warming.

Sounds good, right? Deval Patrick says ditto in an email I just received from him.

Governor Deval Patrick today announced a $2 million state revolving loan fund to cover the start-up costs of large-scale energy efficiency programs modeled on the Cambridge Energy Alliance, an innovative public-private partnership also unveiled today. The state fund, called MassEfficiency, will allow the City of Boston and four other Massachusetts cities to replicate the Cambridge effort, which promises $100 million in efficiency measures to be paid for largely out of the savings they generate.

At first, I was like "2 million dollar?" What the heck good would that do? However, the reason why Cambridge was able to do what they did was because they funded their efforts mainly through private funds. Deval's going to try to mimic the very same. Here's a little more about how the process works.

Approximately 80% of the financing will come from private sources. The remaining 20% will come from a number of electrical utility incentive programs that were established in part to promote energy efficiency. As a result, energy savings and clean energy installations will, in most cases, be paid for by the project financing and repaid from future energy savings of companies, municipal facilities, universities, hospitals, small businesses, and residents.

Replicating Cambridge's efforts in a cities like Boston, according to the Patrick Administration, would save $100 million dollars over five years, not to mention help stop Global Warming. It's important that Deval Patrick stay committed to his promise to help make Massachusetts a leader in renewable energy and conservation - it's good to see that, with Cambridge's help, he's making good on that pledge.