Posted on behalf of Dan Abrams, Massachusetts Power Shift Boston Media Coordinator and student at Northeastern University.
On Thursday, Massachusetts Power Shift (MAPS) officially kicked off our intense fall campaign – to re-power Massachusetts with 100% clean electricity within the next ten years. We’ve named it the “Leadership Campaign,” to demonstrate that now is the time that we step up and answer the call to leadership which our politicians and those who represent us have failed to answer. The goal of the campaign is to make Massachusetts a leader in renewable energy and climate solutions by passing a bill to re-power the Commonwealth with 100 percent clean electricity in 10 years by Dec 7th 2009. By being leaders at home, the people of Massachusetts ensure the leadership of our state, of our Senator, John Kerry, and of our country in Copenhagen as it leads the world towards a future that preserves human life, heals our planet, and takes bold steps towards sustainability at home.
We kicked off our campaign with a line up of impressive speakers supporting our actions. State Senator Marc Pacheco, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, Dr. Kerry Emanuel, Atmospheric Science Professor at MIT, Craig Altemose, Mass Power Shift Coordinator, and Reverend Jack Johnson, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches all spoke on behalf of the need for strong climate leadership.
Sen. Pacheco reaffirmed the importance of every day citizens holding their elected officials – at every level – accountable. We must ensure that our leaders act on our behalf. Dr. Emanuel gave us the rundown on the most up-to-date climate science and what it means for the state of Massachusetts. Rev. Johnson followed up with a moral perspective. Climate change is more than just too much carbon in the atmosphere. It is a political issue, economic issue, moral and religious issue and most importantly a human issue. We must work to protect not just ourselves, but our fellow man and fellow creatures that inhabit this earth now and in the future.
As we all are aware, the current federal bill (ACES) is basically a joke. Under a best case scenario, the bill will reduce our emissions to around 1% below 1990 levels by 2020. It is imperative we do more than this inadequate piece of legislation. We at MAPS see Massachusetts having a great opportunity for bold climate leadership right within our state. Massachusetts has a strong history been a crucial national leader. The Commonwealth was a battleground for the American Revolution and we championed progressive politics by legalizing gay marriage. It is not unreasonable then to expect nothing less than this unshrinking leadership for our current crisis: global climate disruption.
Besides our progressive history, Massachusetts is also in another unique position: our US Senator, John Kerry, will be the US chief negotiator at Copenhagen. We must send Kerry off to this summit knowing his state is committing itself to fighting global climate disruption with full force. That is why our goal has an end date – December 7th, the first day of the climate summit.
MAPS is calling on Governor Patrick to introduce a bill to the state legislature that will re-power the Commonwealth with 100% clean electricity in 10 years. We – the state, the nation – need this. It is about time that the US accepts responsibility for our actions and shows the world that we are ready for change.
The bill is still being drafted but will include the following policy platforms:
1. Green Checks- Rebates will be given to citizens and businesses drawn from fees placed on Massachusetts’ dirty electricity.
2. Green Jobs Bonds- The state will leverage its bonding authority to provide citizens and businesses the necessary up-front capital to make energy efficiency upgrades and investments in renewable electricity generation
3. 21st century electric grid technology- The state will use fees placed on the purchase of non-electric cars to fund the deployment of a Smart Grid that will permit market signals to shift supply of energy to times when there is the most demand, while promoting electric cars that can serve as back-ups for intermittent period of clean sources.
So MAPS has dilegently been working hard and strong for the last six months to develop how we are going to pressure our state government to pass this bold legislation. BUT WE CANNOT REVEAL OUR TACTIC JUST YET!! SO STAY TUNED.
If you are interested in getting involved with Massachuestts Power Shift in any way shape or form, please visit our webiste: www.masspowershift.org.
If you have any further questions regarding our campaign, please email Dan Abrams at dabrams@masspowershift.org
