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Summer is full of warm gatherings and evenings that happily outlast our plans. It is also peak season for disposable plates, cups, and utensils, so why not celebrate with dishes that will also last?
Each year, Americans throw away an estimated 2.4 million tons of paper and plastic plates and cups. BEAT's Lending Library offers another option.
Our library includes cloth napkins, plates, bowls, mugs, utensils, serving dishes, beverage dispensers, and other supplies for events large and small. In just the past few months, our collection has found its way to community meetings, birthday celebrations, local events, and even a wedding.
BEAT's Lending Library is one small part of our broader work in community outreach and stewardship. Borrowing a box of dishes may seem simple, but it reflects one of the principles behind much of BEAT's work: finding practical ways to reduce our impact on the places we care about.
Below, you'll find program updates, upcoming events, environmental news, and ways to get involved.
Brittany, Chelsey, Jay, Melanie, and Rose
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STEWARDSHIP
What would residents like to see at Housatonic's Old Maid’s Park in the years ahead? Read our final report to learn about the outreach process, BEAT’s efforts and recommendations, and the community priorities that emerged through surveys, public events, and conversations. The report reflect community priorities related to ecological restoration, accessibility, and long-term stewardship, as well as how residents remember and hope to shape Old Maid’s Park in the years ahead.
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PIPELINE PROPOSALS
A new wave of pipeline projects is emerging as utilities and regulators respond to growing electricity demand from large industrial users, including data centers. In June, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directed the nation’s six regional grid operators, including ISO New England, to justify or revise the rules governing how data centers and other large energy users connect to the electric grid while maintaining reliability.
Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS), which transports natural gas from Canada through Maine and New Hampshire to the pipeline hub in Dracut, Massachusetts, has filed an application to expand its system (FERC Docket No. CP26-553). The proposal has attracted attention because one of PNGTS's laterals serves the former paper mill site in Jay, Maine, where developers had proposed a large data center project.
Learn more about current pipeline proposals and BEAT's work on our pipeline campaign page.
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EDUCATION & OUTREACH
As we plan the next series of Green Drinks, share your input on topics, speakers, and formats you'd like to see with our short survey.
Thank you for helping to shape future Green Drinks events and build a series that reflects the interests of our community!
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Sign On: Support Clean, Affordable Energy for All
Massachusetts lawmakers are assembling a conference committee to negotiate the final version of the state’s energy affordability bill. Advocates across the Commonwealth are urging legislators to ensure that the bill delivers clean, affordable energy for all residents.
Organizations are invited to sign onto a coalition letter ahead of the committee’s work. The letter is final and substantive edits are not being accepted.
Sign by Thursday, July 23, at noon.
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Moth Night at Chesterwood
Friday July 24, 8:30pm-11:30pm
Chesterwood, 4 Williamsville Road, Stockbridge, MA.
Join us for a nighttime light-sheeting demonstration in celebration of National Moth Week! Using illuminated sheets to attract moths and other nocturnal insects, we'll watch as these fascinating creatures begin to appear after dark. Participants are welcome to drop in any time during the program—no experience is necessary, just curiosity.
Registration is Required (Registration is full, but you may sign up for the waitlist)
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River Cleanup
Saturday, July 25th (Rain Date: Saturday, August 22nd), 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Riverway Park, 181 Dewey Ave, Pittsfield, MA
Cleanups make a considerable difference in the health of the Housatonic River. Each summer, Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) work together to remove trash from the west branch of the Housatonic River. Since beginning annual cleanups, our efforts have made a noticeable difference, with the piles of trash getting smaller — and that wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteers. Join us to help support the health of our Housatonic River!
More Info & Sign Up!
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Westside Neighborhood Summit
Friday, August 8, 1–3:00 PM
Durant Park, 30 John St, Pittsfield, MA
Come visit BEAT at the Westside Neighborhood Summit to hear about BEAT’s programs and ongoing work in Pittsfield, connect with neighbors and local organizations, and celebrate the people and partnerships that make the Westside a place where neighbors show up for one another.
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Points East: Possible Impacts of Constitution Pipeline for New England
Saturday, August 15, 2-5 PM
BEAT's Center, 20 Chapel St., Pittsfield, MA 01201
(Hybrid in-person/Zoom)
Join Cathy Kristofferson of Pipe Line Awareness Network for the North East (PLAN-NE) and Rosemary Wessel of Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) for a presentation and discussion of the Constitution Pipeline’s potential impacts on the Northeast region. Learn about the market and political factors driving current gas transmission expansion, how pipeline expansion will affect our communities, and what you can do.
Registration is required to attend in-person or via Zoom.
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Why the Hottest Summer Days Also Have Dirtier Air
Jeva Lange, HEATMAP
Peaker power plants operate on the hottest summer days, releasing high levels of air pollution into communities. These plants are frequently located in low-income and environmental justice neighborhoods, where their emissions compound other sources of pollution, and cleaner alternatives such as battery storage, renewable energy, and demand-reduction programs could reduce reliance on peakers over time.
READ MORE
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How one Williamstown front yard became a community garden with a mission
Izzy Bryars, The Berkshire Eagle
A new community garden in Williamstown transforms a former vacant lot into a shared space where residents can grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers while strengthening neighborhood connections. The project was developed through a partnership among local volunteers, town officials, and community organizations, with organizers hoping the garden will become both a source of fresh food and a gathering place for the community.
READ MORE
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AG Campbell Issues Notices Of Intent To Sue Trump Administration For Cancelling Offshore Wind Leases
Mass.gov
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and a coalition of seven other states have issued notices of intent to sue the Trump administration over the cancellation of two major offshore wind leases; these projects were expected to generate enough electricity to power roughly 3 million homes across New York, New Jersey, and New England.
READ MORE
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Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $1 Million to Help Communities Restore Rivers, Wetlands, and Reduce Flooding
Mass.gov
The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded more than $1 million to six regional partnerships working to restore rivers and wetlands, reduce flooding, and strengthen climate resilience across Massachusetts. In the Berkshires, the Housatonic Valley Association received $225,784 to lead the Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership—a coalition that includes BEAT and other organizations working to improve aquatic health, reconnect wildlife habitat, and advance nature-based restoration projects across western Massachusetts.
READ MORE
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DPU Launches New Grant Program to Help Communities Participate in Energy Infrastructure Decisions
Mass.gov
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities has launched a new Intervenor Support Grant Program for community groups, municipalities, and other eligible organizations participating in energy infrastructure proceedings before the DPU and the Energy Facilities Siting Board. The program will provide funding for attorneys, experts, and other technical support to ensure that more communities can help shape decisions about energy projects in Massachusetts.
READ MORE
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Trump’s EPA Offers Tips, Not Protections, on PFAS-contaminated Sludge
Conservation Law Foundation
The Conservation Law Foundation criticized the Trump EPA’s new draft guidance on PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge, arguing that the agency abandoned stronger regulations in favor of voluntary recommendations that leave farmers and communities vulnerable to contamination. The organization warned that the guidance places too much responsibility on individuals to avoid exposure to PFAS in biosolids, despite growing evidence linking sewage sludge to polluted farmland, drinking water, and food supplies.
READ MORE
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