It’s Getting Hot In Here

This just in from Dominique Hazzard, freshman activist extraordinaire.

The Massachusetts General Court passed a resolution today urging federal action to radically transform the nation’s energy infrastructure, repowering America with 100% clean electricity and ending carbon dioxide emissions from electric generation within 10 years!

Here in Massachusetts, members of Massachusetts Power Shift, a state network formed after Power Shift 2007, worked with state Senator Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton) and Representative Frank Smizik (D-Brookline) to craft the resolution, which is believed to be the first of its kind. Rep. Smizik and Sen. Pacheco chair the House and Senate Committees on Global Warming and Climate Change, respectively.

“Last year Massachusetts made history by passing into law the Global Warming Solutions Act, which set economy-wide targets to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050 and up to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020,” said Sen. Pacheco.  “However, there is still so much that must be done at the federal level. I strongly urge Congress to adopt Massachusetts Power Shift’s goal of meeting the nation’s energy needs with 100 percent clean electricity within the next ten years.”

“This resolution is an extraordinary statement,” said Craig Altemose, co-coordinator of Massachusetts Power Shift.  “The Massachusetts General Court is calling for very ambitious federal solutions to global warming.”  Citing the many threats to human life, health, and national security posed by continued global warming, the resolution urges the federal government to end carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity industry by adopting a plan similar to that proposed last year by former Vice President and Nobel laureate Al Gore.  Although the Massachusetts legislature’s resolution is less specific than the proposal outlined by Gore, it cites the United States’ abundant potential for the use of solar, wind, and other alternative energy sources.

Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to President Barack Obama, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and the Massachusetts congressional delegation.

Nearly 200 people showed their support for the resolution and its goal of 100% clean electricity by attending a March 14 rally at the Massachusetts State House that featured speeches from Rep. Smizik and Sen. Pacheco as well as live music played over a bicycle-powered sound system.  The event was cosponsored by Clean Water Action, Massachusetts Climate Action Network, the Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities, the Massachusetts Green Jobs Coalition, and the Massachusetts chapter of the Sierra Club.

Young people in Massachusetts know that a resolution by itself is not enough, however.  “We need real policies that dramatically slash greenhouse gas emissions, and we needed them 20 years ago,” said Massachusetts Power Shift co-coordinator Katie MacDonald.  “Massachusetts Power Shift looks forward to working with state legislators and Massachusetts’ congressional delegation to make these policies happen.”

The resolution marks the public launch of a campaign to persuade the Massachusetts congressional delegation to support a transition to 100% clean electricity in 10 years.  The next step is a series of town-hall style events on climate and energy issues to be held April 18 across Massachusetts.  Working in conjunction with the national climate group Focus the Nation, Massachusetts Power Shift is seeking to hold an event in each of Massachusetts’ 10 congressional districts, at which the district’s U.S. House member will be invited to speak.