Do the election results have you troubled? I wanna hold your hand!

Come talk it over with ECA colleagues at a potluck lunch at Seth's house on December 9 at 12:30 PM. We'll have some fun and encourage each other to move into what's next.

Address: 393 Lee St., Brookline.

Contact info: setherkim@verizon.net, 617-605-6037.

Seth will prepare a main lunch item for us. You bring appetizers, salad, or dessert.

Your Leadership Team: Rick, Arnie, Launa, Maiyim, Roger, Seth, and Tina

Paul Reisberg

DEEP DIALOGUE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

(One week early because of the holidays)

4 - 5:30 PM On Zoom

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3XoMOc8

Driving an EV - the Delights and the Challenges 

Our member, Paul Reisberg, gives us his personal experience on the delights and challenges of driving an EV. Paul will report on his cross-country road trip and discuss the REAL EV charging solutions needed to make chargers:

• Reliable
• Easy to Find
• Accessible
• Licensed/inspected

We'd love to hear from other members about your EV joys and maybe some woes too - let's have a good dialogue about it ALL - based on real life experiences. Come listen to Paul's and others' tales and add your own. Bring your questions, too, for some real answers!

On November 20, Governor Healey signed into law a climate bill (S.2967: An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers) that owes its passage in large part to the relentless advocacy of ECA Mass members and all of our allies. Thanks to all who reached out to legislators, lobbied at the State House, and rallied to make it clear that we expect our legislators to respond to the climate emergency with bold action. 

The unified voice of our climate movement in support of every measure in the climate bill was heard by the conference committee debating the bill and then by Senate and House leadership and the Governor. Senator Barrett has thanked the activists in our movement who kept up the fight and acknowledged the key role they played in keeping this bill alive.

We knew that the Governor was willing to settle for a bill that included only energy facility siting and permitting reform and that Senator Barrett and ECA Mass and our allies were insisting that gas system reform be included. What was unexpected was the large number of other progressive measures that the conference committee wrapped up in the bill. 

The central measures in the bill...

Roger Luckmann

This year, the state’s Green Communities Division is rolling out a new community designation called Climate Leaders for communities. The Climate Leaders program changes the focus from energy reduction, under the existing Green Communities designation, to emissions reduction. Qualifying for the new program has additional requirements beyond those of the Green Communities designation. They include the adoption of the state’s new Specialized Energy Code, a community Climate Action Plan, and a “Decarbonization Roadmap” showing how municipal buildings and vehicles will no longer use fossil fuels by 2050. 

At the Green Communities Summit on November 22, it was announced that Climate Leaders communities can apply for grants of up to $1,000,000. 

Applications for the initial round of Climate Leaders designations are due by the end of the year. Find out if your town is applying to be a Climate Leader or how you can help your community meet the Climate Leader requirements. For more information visit the state’s Climate Leader webpage.

1]

Arnie Epstein

Rachelle Boucher, Senior Lead for Culinary Experiences and Events

for the Building Decarbonization Coalition

Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET



Get “inducted” into the Elders Climate Action Electrification Fan Club with real time lessons about the many benefits of induction cooking. Join renowned chef, Rachelle Boucher and our ECA team in the kitchen as they cook and demonstrate the wonders of today’s electric kitchens, while also sharing holiday prep and cooking tips!

• Reheat, Melt, Simmer, Boil, Sear: Making quick work of holiday entertaining and cooking many dishes on an induction stove at the same time.
• Prepare for fantastic everyday cooking, with more speed, control, and safety.
• See that this is not your grandparents’ electric stove with the glowing red coils! Induction cooking is easy, heats faster than gas, and makes for a very healthy home.
• Featuring: Green Beans with Thyme & Wild Mushrooms and more!

Tina Grosowsky 

What's Next for Legislation?

The Legislative Team has begun the process of identifying policy priorities for the next legislative session. Some options under consideration include: municipal reforestation and protection of state-owned forests; a bill to “make polluters pay” for climate impacts; allocating more funds to support decarbonization of buildings; legislation to make producers of plastic responsible for waste management; large building performance standards; allowing municipalities to require new construction to be all electric; and other options. A subgroup is working on recommendations for programs to be funded through the Environmental Bond Bill that is currently being drawn up by the administration to be filed in early 2025. We will be developing a list of initial priorities over the next month and welcome input from all ECA mass members.

Team members continue to...

Roger Luckmann

Join us on Thursday, December 12th at 5PM for a 45-minute tutorial with Third Act member, Fred Hewitt. Learn how to use this powerful and easy-to-use platform to assist you in writing compelling letters to the editor to media outlets throughout Massachusetts. Please REGISTER HERE.



Many of our members who regularly get Letters to the Editor published have learned from Fred. Here's your chance to get more savvy at getting them published.



If you have any questions, please email patriciaweinmann@gmail.com.

Maiyim Baron

Make Polluters Pay for Climate Damage in New York and Massachusetts

Background: ECA Mass is a strong supporter of the Make Polluters Pay bill in Massachusetts, an effort being led by 350 MA, that aims to make fossil fuel corporations help foot the bill for the escalating costs of climate change. Vermont has already enacted such a bill. New York is on the verge. And just last month, Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill recently introduced new legislation, the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act, based on the same principles as our state efforts.

Since success in neighboring states will undoubtedly boost Massachusetts' chances during the next legislative session, we ask ECA-MA members, especially those in Western Mass to...

Join our neighbors in New York to pass the Climate Change Superfund Act! Activists and community leaders from across New York have spent the last two years fighting for their Make Polluters Pay bill which would establish a climate superfund. The bill passed their House and Senate already, and now it is sitting on Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk! 

RSVP to Take Action!

Here’s the plan:

People from all over the region are going to Albany to push this thing through! From Tuesday, December 10 to Thursday, December 12, they’ll be rallying in the Capitol Building. Anyone in Massachusetts is welcome to go for as much of the action as they want, but we're going to focus our push on WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 11, and show up with a big crew! When we get there, there’ll be speeches, teach-ins, music, rabblerousing, and more.

Are you in?

ECA Mass is helping to coordinate carpools across the state. There is also a train that goes through MA and arrives in Albany, and we can coordinate pick-up and drop-offs! Please fill out this carpool coordination form. 

For more information about the event, check out our website.

See you in Albany!

Seth Evans 

We send announcements of our meetings and Action Alerts to eca-mass@googlegroups.com, which includes all those on our active list. 

Please contact Dawn Edell if you want to confirm you are on our active list.

Maiyim Baron