Massachusetts

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts is home to almost half of New England’s residents presenting a unique challenge in the fight against the effects of climate change. With most of Massachusetts’s population focused on its east coast, the threat of rising sea levels puts coastal urban centers like Boston in immediate danger. As sea levels rise, Boston is losing a vital line of defense against coastal flooding as the cost of 21stcentury storm damages in Boston alone is projected to be between $5-100 billion. Further, important industries that Massachusetts relies on such as farming and fishing are at risk. Rising temperatures have been shown to interrupt animal migratory patterns, introduce invasive species to certain ecosystems, and have an overall harmful effect to agricultural production.

Fortunately, Massachusetts is among the leaders in environmental policy and energy efficiency. Starting in 2002, Massachusetts adopted a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS)which set a requirement for electricity retailers to acquire increasing amounts of renewable energy with a goal of 15% by 2020 with an additional 1% each subsequent year. By 2018, 33% of the state’s electricity generation has come from nuclear and renewables with 66%from natural gas. Massachusetts is actively working on many aspects to site and develop potential offshore wind projects responsibly, reduce their risks, and cultivate jobs in the sector. In 2016, the Massachusetts legislature set the ambitious goal of requiring state’s utilities to procure 1,600 MW of offshore wind capacity and in 2018, updated that standard to 3,200 MW of offshore wind capacity by 2035.

Utility-scale solar and wind resources did not come online until 2008, but, by 2018, more than one-tenth of the state’s net generation, including small-scale generation, was produced from those two renewable resources, primarily from solar photovoltaic (PV) power. Massachusetts ranked 7thin the nation in solar PV electricity generation.

In 2008, Massachusetts passed its seminal piece of climate legislation, the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), making it one of the first states to pass a comprehensive climate change regulatory program. The original goals set by the GWSA included a 10-25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 based on 1990 levels and an 80% reduction by 2050. As of 2018, in its 10-year progress report the 2017 greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 22.4% below 1990 levels, exceeding expectations.

To achieve the goals laid out in the GWSA, the state legislature passed the Green Communities Act (GCA)in 2008. The act provides a policy framework and investment into electricity production to create more affordable energy and expedite the transition to renewable energy. Under the GCA, all Massachusetts municipalities are eligible for up to $10 million/year in technical and financial supportfor the promotion of energy efficiency as long as the guidelines of the GCA are followed.

Just over a decade ago, the first mandatory carbon emissions abatement program in the US launched, with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This market based system currently spans nine northeastern states including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey (an initial member who left in 2012 with plans to return in 2020), New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. It’s an innovation and powerful cap-and-trade system, most recently reset to require a 30% reduction from 2020 levels by the year 2030.

Massachusetts is one of twenty five states committed to the U.S. Climate Alliance, which is working to implement policies that advance the goals of the Paris Agreement.

CURRENT NEWS

Massachusetts prepares to launch new electric vehicle rebates early this summer

By Sarah Shemkus 04/26/23
State officials have blamed funding and logistical obstacles for delaying the rollout of the new incentives that were created as part of a 2022 state climate law. Massachusetts prepares to launch new electric vehicle rebates…
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More bus garage delays and blown budgets put T fleet electrification goal in doubt

By Taylor Dolven 04/03/23
The MBTA is staring down two climate goals: electrify nearly 30 percent of its bus fleet by 2028 and 100 percent by 2040. The latter is a legal obligation, and the former is a self-imposed…
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‘Heat-pump coaches’ help neighbors ditch fossil heat in Massachusetts

By Alison F. Takemura 03/29/23
Since 2020, at least 14 heat-pump coaching programs have sprung up in the state, all with the aim of making it easier to adopt the increasingly popular appliance.
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Inside the crazy, mixed-up world of electric-vehicle charger pricing

By Aaron Pressman 03/26/23
Electric vehicle adoption is booming, even as the state is far behind in its plans to reduce carbon emissions from cars and trucks. But charging outside of the home is the Achilles heel of the…
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How Massachusetts’ new DEP commissioner will bring ‘transparency and equity’ to the agency

By Dharna Noor 03/26/23
Bonnie Heiple, the state’s new Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, has a formidable job: administering Massachusetts’ regulatory programs for air, water, and land use, all while prioritizing climate change and environmental justice.
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Following a dismal global climate report, could Massachusetts push up its net-zero goal?

By Sabrina Shankman and Emma Platoff 03/21/23
An alarming new report on climate change, which prompted the UN secretary general to urge developed nations to move up the target for largely ending the use of fossil fuels by a full decade, raises…
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Boston’s Mayor Wants To Adopt Climate-Friendly Building Code

By Carolyn Fortuna 03/21/23
Boston’s pending green building code is an important element of many challenges that Wu will need to solve for Boston’s Green New Deal to become a truly just recovery.
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Climate activists in Boston call on big banks divest from fossil fuel companies

By Paula Moura 03/21/23
Climate activists took to the streets of Boston’s financial district to demand banks stop investing in fossil fuel companies. The protest was one of more than 100 around the country organized by Third Act, a…
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Education is missing from Massachusetts’ climate plans, advocates say

By Dharna Noor 03/17/23
Gabriella Coletta, Boston City councilor for District 1, has been passionate about fighting climate change since the sixth grade. Back then, her teacher organized a special unit at Mario Umana Academy in East Boston focused…
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With new commissioners, Healey aims to reshape an agency seen as critical to climate reforms

By Sabrina Shankman 03/17/23
They could seem the most bureaucratic of appointments, just a few of several that Governor Maura Healey has made since settling into office. But her administration is casting her two climate-friendly nominees to help lead…
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Education is missing from Massachusetts’ climate plans, advocates say

By Dharna Noor 03/17/23
Gabriella Coletta, Boston City councilor for District 1, has been passionate about fighting climate change since the sixth grade. Back then, her teacher organized a special unit at Mario Umana Academy in East Boston focused…
Read more

Massachusetts’ first climate chief, Northeastern graduate plans to make the state a model for reducing carbon emissions

By Cynthia McCormick Hibbert 03/15/23
Massachusetts’ first climate chief Melissa Hoffer is a 1998 graduate of Northeastern University School of Law. Hoffer, who was appointed by Gov. Maura Healey, talked with Northeastern Global News about her job, her experience at…
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PLANS TO ACCELERATE RENEWABLES

This is our decade to electrify everything

05/25/23
Electrification is inevitable. It’s cheaper, healthier, and better for our environment. And if we act now, we can save ourselves huge costs in the future. Take a step in your own life toward getting rid…

Offshore wind in New Bedford: A guide to what you need to know

03/23/23
An already busy port of New Bedford will be even busier when the full effect of the offshore wind industry hits. A direct impact on the New Bedford/Fairhaven Harbor is already being felt, and seen,…

Senator Markey Outlines Progressive Permitting And Development Priorities For Clean Energy And Engagement With Environmental Justice Communities

03/21/23
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senate sponsor of the Green New Deal and author of several climate and environmental justice provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, today unveiled his progressive clean energy deployment and permitting…

Ban hydrogen in homes? Mass. debate mirrors national quandary.

03/20/23
Plans by Massachusetts utilities to blend low-carbon hydrogen into natural gas distribution networks to feed homes and other buildings has sparked a national debate over “green” hydrogen’s reliance on renewables and what that might mean…

‘Green Hydrogen’ Would Squander Renewable Energy Resources in Massachusetts – Inside Climate News

03/06/23
Efforts by natural gas utilities in Massachusetts to replace 20 percent of their fossil gas supply with “green hydrogen” derived from renewable electricity would consume more clean energy than would be produced by the state’s…

Massachusetts heat pump installer network builds momentum

03/03/23
BUILDINGS: A Massachusetts program has exceeded its heat pump worker training projections in its first year, but will need to keep growing to help meet the state’s 2050 net-zero goal. (Energy News Network)

Massachusetts energy efficiency programs should shift focus to emissions, critics say

02/27/23
Massachusetts lawmakers and advocates are looking at ways to overhaul the state’s energy efficiency collaborative Mass Save, arguing that the longstanding, utility-run program isn’t up to tackling the present-day climate crisis.

Scientists Are Trying to Pull Carbon Out of the Ocean to Combat Climate Change

02/27/23
There's a growing consensus among climate scientists that in order to avoid the worst effects of global warming, humanity has to find a way to sequester carbon dioxide — and most efforts to date have…

Commonwealth Fusion Systems Opens Fusion Energy Campus on The Fastest Path to Bring Clean Fusion Energy to the World

02/10/23
U.S. Energy Secretary Granholm, Massachusetts Senators Markey and Warren, Massachusetts Lt. Governor Driscoll, and other federal and state officials join Commonwealth Fusion Systems' CEO Bob Mumgaard for a tour of the future home of commercial…

Vermont Joins Multi-State Effort to Create Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub in Northeast

02/09/23
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced Vermont has signed on to a multi-state agreement, joining with New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, to develop a proposal to become one of up to…

Heat pumps had their first major local test last weekend. Here’s how it went

02/08/23
Jamie Foundas decided last month to finally get rid of oil heat in his 1960s-era Natick home and put in electric heat pumps. It’s the kind of heating system favored by Massachusetts as it pushes…

Onshore, Offshore Wind Energy Projects Get Big Boost in Maine

02/08/23
Maine is set to double its current onshore wind capacity with state regulators' approval of the 1-GW King Pine project in its northern region along with a 345-kV transmission line to deliver the electricity to…

In first State of the City address, Michelle Wu pledges to overhaul Boston’s planning process

01/25/23
In her first State of the City address, Mayor Michelle Wu pledged to overhaul the city’s urban planning process, challenging business and elected leaders to support her vision as she works to sustainably grow Boston…

One company could sink Massachusetts’ climate goals

01/25/23
As Massachusetts races to slash its carbon emissions, the state has repeatedly turned to one company for clean energy. Now that approach might jeopardize its climate targets.
WUN

Solar program aims to cut energy costs for lower-income Rhode Island residents

01/10/23
The New England state recently issued a request for proposals from solar companies to partner on a program that will lease and install solar equipment on homes owned by low- to moderate-income residents. Solar program…

New England states poised to capitalize on new federal climate law incentives

10/24/22
Years of work crafting climate and clean energy plans have left New England states in a prime position to take advantage of renewable energy incentives in the historic climate bill enacted by Congress over the…

Baker signs major Massachusetts climate bill despite concerns over fossil fuel limits, other provisions

08/12/22
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, R, signed a major climate and clean energy bill on Thursday, despite previously expressing concerns over certain limits on fossil fuels, a lack of funding, and other issues.

Electric Car Shopping Tool

06/09/22
Explore car models and select the ones you're interested in. See local dealers offering the selected cars.

Actions for Energize Boxborough

06/09/22
Select one or more dropdowns to filter the list of Actions or just click on an Action button to learn more.

Building with Clean Energy

01/24/22
At the June 21 Acton, MA Town Meeting, the Building with Clean Energy warrant articles were approved by voters, representing a first step toward requiring that new construction and major (“gut”) renovation projects use clean…

A new bill could bulk up wind energy production in Massachusetts

01/19/22
Speaker of the House Ron Mariano said his top priority for the Legislature this year is wind energy. It's been a long time coming and it's shaping up to be a major piece of legislation,…

Markley Group Signs Power Purchase Agreement with Borrego for Electricity from Community Solar Projects in Massachusetts

01/19/22
Markley Group, a premier provider of mission-critical data center facilities, cloud computing, and network services, today announced it has entered a community solar power purchase agreement (PPA) advised by Atlas Retail Energy, with Borrego, a…

MA Groups: Time is Now to End Biomass Subsidies

01/18/22
Proposed legislation would end subsidies for wood-burning power plants in Massachusetts by removing biomass as an eligible fuel source for the Commonwealth's two primary clean-energy programs.

A Preview: Town of Medfield Climate Action Plan (TOMCAP)

01/18/22
Medfielders are invited to a virtual community forum on the Town of Medfield Climate Action Plan (TOMCAP) on Monday, January 31st at 7:30 p.m.

State grant will help Grafton replace vehicle, reduce diesel emissions

01/17/22
The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced grant awards for projects that will reduce the release of harmful diesel emissions into the atmosphere from vehicles across the commonwealth and help to accelerate the retirement of older, less…

Beacon Hill eyes utility charge to fuel offshore wind

01/13/22
House leaders are hoping to bring their offshore wind policy legislation to the floor for a vote “sooner rather than later,” Rep. Jeff Roy said Wednesday as he detailed the ways in which the bill…

Massachusetts to Support Offshore Wind Industry Development, Additional Offshore Wind Projects, Transmission, and Energy Storage

01/13/22
On January 12, 2022, The Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, & Energy reported H. 3310, An Act advancing offshore wind and clean energy. Although the bill focuses on development of the offshore wind…

Massachusetts awards $420K for water infrastructure

01/13/22
On Monday, Massachusetts announced it awarded more than $420,000 in grants to help 13 communities with water system interconnection and water mitigation projects.

Baker administration changes the rules on offshore wind and clean energy

01/12/22
Testifying before the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy on behalf of his legislation that commits $750 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to invest in the clean energy industry, Gov. Charlie Baker…

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $2.655 Billion FY22 Capital Plan

06/14/21
The Baker-Polito Administration today announced its Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Capital Plan, a $2.655 billion plan that makes substantial investments in critical priorities including housing, transportation, climate resiliency, health and human services, and education to…

Governor Baker Signs Climate Legislation to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Protect Environmental Justice Communities

03/26/21
Governor Charlie Baker today signed comprehensive climate change legislation that codifies into law the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions in 2050 and furthers the Commonwealth’s nation leading efforts to combat climate change…

New Bedford’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan

01/11/21
The City of New Bedford has launched NB Resilient - our plan to strengthen our community by preparing for the impacts of climate change. We will do this by building the knowledge and capacity of our entire…

Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap

12/30/20
A report commissioned by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to identify cost-effective and equitable strategies to ensure Massachusetts achieves net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Preparing for Climate Change in Massachusetts

08/30/20
This page provides an overview of the steps Massachusetts is taking to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

UMass Climate Action Plan

03/20/19
In 2007, former UMass President Jack M. Wilson signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which committed the five UMass campuses to developing a plan for reaching carbon neutrality.

Boston’s 2019 Climate Action Plan

03/20/19
The 2019 Climate Action Plan update will be our most action-oriented update yet. The actions listed in our 2014 Climate Action Plan are still informing our team's work each day. But, this year’s update will emphasize a small…

Massachusetts Climate Action

03/20/19
Find detailed information on mitigation and adaptation plans as well as municipal programs. 

KEY RESOURCES

Massachusetts Solar Panels: Pricing and Incentives

02/11/22
Massachusetts was an early adopter of solar energy, a face which is evident when it comes to how much solar power the state is able to generate. Massachusetts is a national leader in solar power,…

MassDEP Commercial Organics Waste Disposal Ban

11/01/21
Effective November 1, 2022 Massachusetts businesses & institutions generating one-half ton of food material per week will be subject to this ban

Massachusetts State Profile and Energy Estimates

10/05/21
Massachusetts, home to almost half of New England's residents, is one of the most densely populated states in the nation. Most of the state's population resides in the eastern half of the state, particularly around…

Energy State Bill Tracking Database

09/10/21
The searchable Energy Storage Legislation Database displays information in interactive maps and charts, tracking state activity from 2017 to the present.

The First National Flood Risk Assessment

10/06/20
The First Street Foundation Flood Model represents the culmination of decades of research and development made possible by building upon existing knowledge and frameworks regularly referenced in the identification of flood risk.

The Impacts of Climate Change and the Trump Administration’s Anti-Environmental Agenda in Massachusetts

09/19/20
Between 2017 and 2019, Massachusetts experienced two severe storms and two winter storms. The damages of each event led to losses of at least $1 billion.

State-by-State: Climate Change in Massachusetts

07/31/20
Massachusetts is vulnerable to increasing temperatures, floods and droughts, and coastal flooding. Massachusetts’s climate has already warmed by more than two degrees Fahrenheit in the last century. Increasing temperatures are causing spring to arrive earlier,…

Our Focus: Climate Change

03/05/20
We’re working towards a New England powered by affordable, homemade energy, with a thriving economy built on innovation and invention… a New England where our communities are healthy and safe and our environment fortified against…

Find the right solar system for you

02/27/20
mySolarCost is a free service that allows you to quickly and easily compare prices, features, and products from top solar providers and brands.

Renewable Energy Massachusetts LLC

02/27/20
Partnerships for solar energy development

Mass Renewables Clean Solar Energy

02/27/20
Our goal is to provide our community and beyond with a sustainable source of residential and commercial energy. We believe in thinking globally, acting locally, and making our world a better place to live. Mass Renewables Inc.…

Renewable Energy Snapshot

02/27/20
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources' Renewable Energy Division provides information regarding the different kinds of renewable energy, funding programs and incentives, installation assistance, and more available in Massachusetts. Types of renewable energy available in…

Mass Energize

01/31/22
MassEnergize works with community organizers and local leaders to scale household and community-level climate actions. Our work is based on the belief that household-level climate action, propelled at scale, is critical for reaching our climate…

MORE NEWS

Yes, this winter has been warmer than usual — and we may have to get used to that

By Simón Rios   03/09/23  
At the Blue Hill Weather Observatory and Science Center, the highest point in Greater Boston, Don McCasland pointed to a long white board on the ground used to measure snow accumulation throughout the season. McCasland…
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‘A defining issue of our time’: Massachusetts’ first-ever climate chief is bringing an all-of-government approach to climate change

By Sabrina Shankman   03/09/23  
Melissa Hoffer’s job is unprecedented. As Governor Maura Healey’s new climate chief, she is taking on a role that is not only a first in Massachusetts but in the country as well: a Cabinet-level post…
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Top Healey aide chastises Avangrid for falling short of offshore wind promise

By Jon Chesto   03/05/23  
So much for any honeymoon period between the Healey administration and energy company Avangrid.Rebecca Tepper, the state’s new energy and environmental affairs secretary, chastised Avangrid’s chief executive with a harsh letter that essentially accuses the…
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Youth demonstrators in Boston take part in global protest

By Paula Moura   03/03/23  
Dozens of protesters rallied outside of the State House Friday, demanding elected officials act now to avoid the worse effects of climate change.
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Mass. is taking the lead on New England’s climate change-related emergency management

By Christopher Gavin   03/03/23  
As New England battles coastal flooding, severe storms, intense temperatures, and other climate change impacts, Massachusetts is now at the helm of a regional effort to better prepare for and respond to climate-related emergencies.
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Should a new government agency protect the Massachusetts coastline from climate change?

By Adam Reilly   03/03/23  
In Massachusetts, there’s widespread agreement among politicians and the public that climate change is real and poses a significant threat to the state’s future. Case in point: Gov. Maura Healey’s decision to create a cabinet-level…
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Gulf of Maine sees second-hottest year on record, report shows, ‘getting to the edge of habitability’

By Sonel Cutler   02/24/23  
Already one of the fastest-warming bodies of water in the world, the Gulf of Maine recorded its second-hottest year ever in 2022, another ominous indicator of how global warming threatens the rich marine world off…
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14 climate change protesters arrested for occupying Gov. Healey’s office lobby after hours

By Susannah Sudborough   02/09/23  
Fourteen climate change protesters who occupied Gov. Maura Healey’s Office lobby after the State House closed at 5 p.m. were arrested Thursday.
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High School students rally at State House, demand climate change action

By Sam Doran   02/07/23  
Around 50 schoolkids descended on the State House Tuesday to lobby for their climate agenda, but before they started knocking on lawmakers’ doors, one 16-year-old student told the crowd that their activism was hampered by…
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Boston’s public housing is getting a green makeover

By Dharna Noor   01/26/23  
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu accelerated her push to wean the city off oil and gas this week when she announced plans to require all new construction and major renovations of public buildings to be free…
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New “MA Climate Change Assessment” Reveals Need for Action and Adaptation

By Bolin Shen   01/21/23  
Amidst rising concerns for unprecedented heat waves and extreme cold alike throughout the last year, the Massachusetts Baker-Polito Administration released at the end of 2022 the “MA Climate Change Assessment.” It is the first data-driven…
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Vineyard Wind construction gains speed as industry struggles

By Benjamin Storrow   01/19/23  
Offshore wind has struggled to take hold in the United States, even as it has expanded in Europe and Asia. But signs of a coming wind boom are mounting here on Cape Cod, where the…
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Region’s aging nuclear power plants drawing interest

By Commonwealth Staff   01/19/23  
For decades, the trendlines have not been good, as aging reactors have found it difficult to compete against power generated by natural gas and overcome resistance from environmental advocates. Vermont Yankee in Vernon, Vermont, shut…
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New England clean energy goals slam into oil reality

By Miranda Willson   01/18/23  
New England power plants burned more oil for electricity on a single day during last month’s deep freeze than they have in four years, underscoring the gap between Northeastern states’ clean energy targets and the…
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Massachusetts climate advocates say the fight over renewable gas isn’t over yet

By Sarah Shemkus   01/12/23  
A decision by state regulators last month was a setback for renewable natural gas, but environmental advocates say it left the door open for future attempts to promote captured methane as a climate solution, despite…
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Gas stoves are contributing to childhood asthma in Massachusetts, study finds

By Dharna Noor   01/05/23  
Gas stoves are responsible for 15.4 percent of childhood asthma cases in Massachusetts, suggesting the Commonwealth could avoid more than one in seven childhood asthma cases by getting rid of the appliances, a new peer-reviewed…
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A Toxic Stew on Cape Cod: Human Waste and Warming Water

By Christopher Flavelle   01/01/23  
Climate change is contributing to electric-green algae blooms. Massachusetts wants a cleanup of the antiquated septic systems feeding the mess, but it could cost billions....
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Boston Is Losing Its Snow Wicked Fast

By Katherine J. Wu   12/19/22  
My first winter in Boston, the last patches of snow on my street didn’t melt until late June. It was 2015, the year the city broke its all-time record for annual snowfall: 110.3 inches, more…
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Community and Climate Risk in a New England Village

By Hannah Loss   10/14/22  
When a Nor’Easter threatens this storied Cape Cod community, intrepid villagers lean into the wind. Kids hop in their dinghy boats for a quick sail before the hurricane arrives—worth it to earn bragging rights with…
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Mayflower Wind, labor unions sign pact for offshore wind jobs

By Heather McCarron   10/06/22  
Following the lead of Vineyard Wind, which is building a wind farm just west of the Nantucket Shoals, Mayflower Wind — a second company looking to harness the winds in the same area — has…
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A Fight Over Nantucket’s Bluff Pits Neighbor Against Neighbor

By Penelope Green   09/19/22  
Houses along Baxter Road on the island of Nantucket have always been precarious real estate: property at the edge of the world with a built-in expiration date. Baxter runs parallel to Sconset Bluff, a stunning…
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‘We need rain’: Drought threatens the very foundation of some Boston buildings

By Sabrina Shankman and Daniel Koo   09/03/22  
In the mid-19th century, as architects and builders erected many of the neighborhoods and landmarks that now define Boston, they leaned on a European practice of driving wood pilings deep into the ground and building…
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Chinatown sees flood of new business after rough sailing during Covid

By Jeff Jeffrey   08/19/22  
The area of southwest Houston that is home to the second-largest Indochinese population in the United States was devastated by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic hardships left in its wake. But things…
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National Grid RFI finds ample renewable gas, green hydrogen available in New York, Massachusetts

By Robert Walton   08/16/22  
National Grid on Tuesday announced it had located “robust stocks” of renewable natural gas and green hydrogen via a recent request for information, enough to meet its needs in New York and Massachusetts through 2025.…
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Massachusetts just passed a massive climate and clean energy bill

By Allyson Chiu   08/11/22  
Some cities and towns will be allowed to ban fossil fuel infrastructure in new and major construction projects....
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Massachusetts climate bill heads to Gov. Baker’s desk after last-minute Senate, House approval

By Robert Walton   08/01/22  
The Massachusetts Legislature on Sunday approved climate legislation that requires all new vehicle sales in the state be zero emission beginning in 2035, reduces the state’s dependence on natural gas and calls for a study…
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In Boston’s hottest neighborhood, heat waves exact a cost, in the wallet and on the nerves

By Kate Selig   07/23/22  
On her way home through the swelter of Chinatown this past week, Laiying Yan carried her only defense against the heat, a bucket of ice. She is over 70 now and keeps a catalog of…
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Massachusetts passes ‘landmark’ climate bill to decarbonize multiple sectors, add 5.6 GW offshore wind

By Lulia Gheorghiu   07/22/22  
The Massachusetts legislature on Thursday passed a climate bill widely supported by environmental and clean energy advocates, with measures for expanding offshore wind energy and energy efficiency as well as curbing transportation emissions.
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Study finds 2,800 Massachusetts deaths in 2019 connected to air pollution

By Kate Selig   07/18/22  
In Massachusetts, no community — from the Berkshires to Boston — is spared the lethal consequences of air pollution, according to a new study from researchers at Boston College. The researchers estimated that about 2,800…
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What to know about Mass.’ new 2025, 2030 ‘Clean Energy and Climate Plan’

By Miriam Wasser   07/05/22  
Decarbonizing the Massachusetts economy is no easy task. It involves dozens of programs, policies and other moving parts that must be deployed simultaneously. As mandated in the state's 2021 climate law, the Massachusetts Executive Office…
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How a little-known center in Woods Hole became a hub for climate research and policy.

By Sam Moore   06/07/22  
That man is George Woodwell, and since 1985, the center he founded has been deeply involved in climate research and policy at home and abroad. Today, it employs nearly 100 scientists and staff, whose work…
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More heat waves, rising seas, and intensifying storms will pummel the Boston area, new report finds

By David Abel   06/01/22  
By the end of the century, average temperatures in the Boston area could increase as much as 10 degrees above 2000 levels, while seas could rise more than 15 feet, under the worst circumstances. Over…
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Mass. advances two major offshore wind projects

By Miranda Wilson   05/26/22  
Electric utilities filed long-term plans with the state Department of Public Utilities to procure power from the two projects, which collectively represent the state’s largest offshore wind venture, officials said yesterday. The facilities — Commonwealth…
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Exxon Will Have to Face Climate Lawsuits After ‘Free Speech’ Defense Fails

By Lauren Leffer   05/25/22  
In a last-ditch effort to avoid a Massachusetts lawsuit, Exxon claimed being sued violated its First Amendment right to free speech. On Tuesday, that motion to dismiss the suit was thrown out in the state’s…
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As pollution worsens on Cape Cod, some are investing hopes in a new type of septic system

By David Abel   05/17/22  
For years, pollution from septic systems has spawned algae blooms, toxic bacteria, and a putrid scum coating the waters of Cape Cod, destroying vital ecosystems, contributing to coastal erosion, and harming tourism.
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Weather Report: Why Do the Seas Rise?

By Dr. Peter P. Neilley   05/16/22  
The phrases “climate change” and “sea level rise” nearly go hand in hand, particularly when discussed in coastal communities like Martha’s Vineyard. Many of the cliché images of global warming often involve the seas, whether…
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A solar battle in sleepy Wareham is pitting environmentalists against each other

By Emma Foehringer Merchant   05/05/22  
On a March afternoon last year, Meg Sheehan, a 65-year-old environmental lawyer, left her parents’ house in Duxbury, pointed their black Chevy Tahoe south, and navigated to a country road running through Wareham and Carver,…
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As Earth’s temperature rises, Massachusetts residents’ sense of urgency on climate change declines

By Sabrina Shankman and Dharna Noor   04/19/22  
Despite increasingly urgent international warnings and an onslaught of catastrophic wildfires and weather linked to global warming, fewer Massachusetts residents see the climate crisis as a very serious concern than they did three years ago,…
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How Massachusetts feels about climate change in 12 graphics

By John Hancock and Dharna Noor   04/19/22  
The percentage of Massachusetts residents who believe climate change is a very serious concern has decreased since 2019. That’s just one finding from a new poll, a collaboration of The Boston Globe and the MassINC…
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Pepperell converts streetlights to LEDs with smart tech

By Meredith Gabrilska   04/12/22  
This past winter, Pepperell completed a two-year project to convert 409 streetlights from standard high pressure sodium lights to LEDs and deploy smart technology that allows the town to manage and troubleshoot each individual light…
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Massachusetts needs at least 750,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030. We are nowhere close.

By Sabrina Shankman and Taylor Dolven   04/09/22  
Back in 2014, state officials calculated the number of gas-burning cars they would need to get off the roads and replace with cleaner, greener options to meet climate goals.
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AP

Boston to replace school buses with electric ones by 2030

By Mark Pratt   04/06/22  
Boston plans to replace its entire fleet of more than 700 school buses with electric vehicles by 2030, starting with 20 buses that will be taking kids to school some time during the next school…
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Exxon cannot argue political motives as defense in climate suit – Mass. judge

By Nate Raymond   03/23/22  
A Massachusetts judge on Tuesday barred Exxon Mobil Corp from arguing improper, political motives were behind the state's attorney general suing the oil company for allegedly misleading consumers and investors about its role in climate…
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New noaa climate projections forecast increase in southern new england flooding

By Frank Carini   03/23/22  
The climate crisis has taken root. The United Nations’ latest climate report explains how deep this worldwide problem is embedded. Closer to home, another report published last month is equally alarming, for the present and…
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Republicans threaten EPA authority via SCOTUS while UN warns against inaction

By Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.)   02/28/22  
U.N. report finds nations not acting fast enough to protect populations from current and future climate threats, as the Supreme Court takes up case that threatens the EPA’s authority to regulate pollution
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Northeast to experience a century’s worth of sea level rise from 2000 to 2050

By David Abel   02/15/22  
“This new data on sea rise is the latest reconfirmation that our climate crisis — as the president has said — is blinking ‘code red,’ ” Gina McCarthy, national climate adviser to President Biden, said…
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The Old Man and the Tree

By Jonny Diamond   01/25/22  
I meet Bob Leverett in a small gravel parking lot at the end of a quiet residential road in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. We are at the Ice Glen trailhead, half a mile from a Mobil station,…
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Mass Audubon gets $200,000 in ARPA money to help repair damage to Pleasant Valley after microburst windstorm

By Clarence Fanto   01/19/22  
After a devastating microburst windstorm in July, ongoing restoration at Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary has received a $200,000 boost from ARPA, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act approved by Congress and signed…
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Great white sharks have been a major focus along Cape Cod. More tiger sharks could be coming soon because of climate change

By Rick Sobey   01/17/22  
Move over, great white sharks. A new apex predator could be patrolling the Cape soon, as tiger sharks migrate farther north each year because of climate change and warmer oceans.
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Mass., New England seen as a kind of ground zero in climate fight

01/17/22  
Re “A changing New England warming faster” (Page A1, Dec. 31): Northeasterners know the frigid chill they feel in the morning air in January. Although we complain about the cold, the changing seasons are a…
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