- Legislation
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Upcoming Transportation Hearings.
February 25, 2009, Boston – Representative Joseph F. Wagner (D-Chicopee) and Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen), Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Transportation, today announced a series of hearings on transportation reform bills pending before the committee.
“We in the Legislature continue to believe that reform must come before revenues. We look forward to holding public hearings to give citizens across the Commonwealth the opportunity to express their views on the Governor’s proposals on transportation reform,” said Representative Joseph F. Wagner.
“It is critical that we hear from working men and women throughout the state and give them the opportunity to voice their opinion on all the revenue and reform initiatives before the Legislature. Too often these decisions are Beacon Hill-centric and we need to ensure that all citizens are heard during this debate,” said Senator Steven A. Baddour
WHERE: Springfield Technical Community College
WHEN: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Methuen City Hall Great Hall 41 Pleasant Street Methuen, MA 01844
WHEN: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 5:00 p.m
Two key global warming bills signed by the Governor
1. Global Warming Solutions Act
The bill empowers the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to regulate green house gasses from all sources across the commonwealth, mandates a reduction of 80% below 1990 levels by the year 2050 and instructs the administration to develop a shorter-term goal of between 10% and 25% below 1990 levels by they year 2020 as well as targets for 2030 and 2040. Legislation.
2. Energy/Green Communities Bill
Overall the bill is a positive step forward in helping Massachusetts capture energy efficiency savings and expands our renewable energy capacity. You can find the bill online.
The bill could have been better though; the bill allows for coal gasification projects to receive public subsidies through the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. Instead of requiring coal gasification projects to operate as cleanly as a new combined cycle natural gas power plant, they only have to operate as cleanly as an average natural gas plant. Some other states don't even allow baseload power plants to be built unless they meet a more stringent standard than this, so it is disappointing that Massachusetts would set a lower bar for such projects to qualify for incentives. However, the bill does include some important protections, including a requirement for carbon capture and sequestration.
See the links below for more details about global warming resources:
