Tag: extinction rebellion

BOSTON — Soon after the opening chants died down, Claire Karl Miller sought out to answer a simple question for the climate activists gathered outside the Statehouse: what would satisfy their call for a “comprehensive” bill?

One man, wearing a sparkly top hat with a piece of paper that read “Massachusetts Legislator” taped to his blazer, chimed in from the top step. “More fossil fuels!” he said.

The crowd booed before another man pointed at the faux-lawmaker, similarly dressed but with “Speaker Mariano” emblazoned across his chest. “You get a chairmanship!” he shouted.

Activists for months have been pressing lawmakers and Gov. Maura Healey to take sweeping action to combat the threat of climate change, and with Beacon Hill eyeing a more pared-down approach than once thought, ralliers turned to caricature to make their latest case.

Elevated over the crowd were about 10 attendees portraying Healey and lawmakers, including House Speaker Ron Mariano and climate legislation point person Rep. Jeff Roy. After some introductory remarks, the imitation elected officials kicked beverage cans painted seafoam green into the crowd.

“I am now going to kick the climate can down the road so we keep in with the gas industry,” said Jennifer Wexler of Canton, who was dressed up as Roy.

The House and Senate each approved bills this session that combined clean energy siting and permitting reforms with a series of other climate- and clean energy-related reforms.

However, top Democrats have been unable to agree on a final package for months, and Healey is now pushing lawmakers to narrow their focus only to siting and permitting to get those changes over the finish line.

Attendees, who came from groups including the Sierra Club, UU Mass Action and Mothers Out Front Mass, said they instead want the Legislature to take a “comprehensive” approach.

Any final bill, they said, should include language that would transition Massachusetts away from natural gas infrastructure and embrace cumulative impact analyses, which examine how emissions, noise and other effects of a new project would add to the existing factors in a community.

“Everyone deserves clean air, everyone deserves clean water, clean land. And in Massachusetts, we have a history of targeting low-income communities of color for pollution. That’s not OK,” said Claire Karl Miller, movement building director for UU Mass Action.

“This cumulative impact analysis would require looking at: what does this community already have? Do they have asthma? Do they have polluted water? Do they have diabetes, hypertension, other types of impacts, before we add more pollution?”

Miller said the Senate’s version of the legislation “had a lot of provisions in it that were really important” but that are now imperiled as lawmakers consider narrowing their focus.

Open to limited proposal

House Democrats including Roy have signaled they are open to Healey’s proposal to advance only siting and permitting reform, while top Senate negotiator Michael Barrett slammed it as a misstep that, without complementary action to move away from natural gas, will lead to higher ratepayer bills.

Some Republicans opposed the original bills in each chamber, so legislative leaders could face a more complicated route to approving a final accord during the informal sessions on tap for the remainder of the term, when a single objection can stall a bill’s movement.

Top Democrats have signaled they are open to returning to formal sessions if and when they reach agreement on an economic development bond bill, and Miller urged them to do the same to muscle through a broader clean energy bill.

“We know as soon as they announce the day that they’re doing that session, that means the negotiations are already over,” Miller said. “Right now is the critical moment when negotiations are happening for them to hear us loud and clear: do not kick the climate can down the road.”

Better Future Project Executive Director Alan Palm, who pretended to be Mariano at the event, urged activists to “escalate” their pressure on lawmakers.

“Massachusetts has a role to play, and we’re playing one right now through this inaction. We know it’s unacceptable. Our allies know it’s unacceptable. The legislators know it’s unacceptable, and we need to call bullshit when we see bullshit,” Palm said.

“We need to stop being afraid and censoring ourselves from saying what is true. The Democratic Party has no excuses to not even meet their own standards and their platform.”

Still discussing options

In a brief interview with the News Service, Roy said negotiators are still discussing options for the legislation.

“I continue to work with my Senate colleague to see if we can come up with an agreement, and if not, look forward to working with the supplemental closeout to get something done, all of which include things above and beyond siting and permitting,” he said.

A Healey spokesperson pointed to other climate-focused steps the governor has taken.

“Governor Healey is proud to have appointed the nation’s first cabinet-level Climate Chief, launched the nation’s first green bank dedicated to affordable housing, supported a first-of-its-kind social impact fund to train the climate workforce, and just recently announced the largest offshore wind procurement in New England history,” the spokesperson said.

“We look forward to making continued progress to tackle climate change and lead the clean energy economy, including by moving forward on our recent permitting, siting and procurement proposals.”

Organizers originally planned to hold their can-kicking event outside Healey’s office about 45 minutes before she hosted a signing ceremony for an unrelated bill. Late Tuesday morning, however, they shifted the location to outside.

Change of venue

Miller said the group was unable to bring the empty beverage cans through Statehouse security, so attendees opted to change venue.

Another group of climate activists affiliated with Extinction Rebellion also chose this week to mount their latest action. Protesters chained themselves to the gate leading to the General Hooker entrance on Monday, then again on Tuesday, blocking one of the two public entrances to the State House.

They said they would not move until removed by the police or until the state banned new fossil fuel infrastructure.

The legislation in play does not go as far as banning all new fossil fuel infrastructure, and the state appears on a long road toward a transition away from fossil fuels toward a more distant, decarbonized future marked by a heavier reliance on electricity.

Miller said the Extinction Rebellion and can-kicking events were organized separately, but voiced support for the “big action to say no new fossil fuels.”

“Shoutout to our siblings over at Extinction Rebellion for locking themselves down,” Palm said during the rally. “That’s what they make us do when the democratic systems don’t function.”