MEMBER SIGN IN
Not a member? Become one today!
         iBerkshires     Berkshire Chamber     Berkshire Community College     City of Pittsfield    
Search
New Statewide Coalition Pushes For Environmentally Friendly Energy Policies
By Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
03:18AM / Friday, September 11, 2015
Print | Email  

Representatives from various groups in the coalition announced the new efforts in Pittsfield on Wednesday.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new statewide coalition of community groups was launched on Wednesday to advocate for environmental friendly energy policies.
 
On Wednesday afternoon a half-dozen representatives from groups involved announced the coalition, Mass Power Forward, in Pittsfield and similar events were held across the state.
 
"We're a diverse group of faith, environmental, business groups, community groups, that are fighting for climate justice, fighting to make a better future for our families," Marlon Washington, of 350 Mass Better Future Project, said.
 
"We believe there is a moral responsibility to make this happen. We really want to see a bill that involves solar and off shore wind to make Massachusetts the leader its always been in making sure there is clean energy that is sustainable."
 
The group numbers 90 strong across the state and will fight against fossil fuel projects such as Kinder Morgan's proposed Tennessee Gas Pipeline and instead advocate for investment in renewable energy projects. Washington said hope is for a state bill expanding the renewable industries and limiting fossil fuels.
 
"It is truly statewide and a very diverse coalition," Washington said. 
 
Jane Winn of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team said by investing in clean energy, pollution can be reduced by 80 percent by 2050. She is calling on Gov. Charlie Baker and state lawmakers for policies to do so.
 
"The choices we make this year are ones we will have to live with for decades to come. We can chain ourselves to fracked gas and have our heating and electricity costs go up and down with the price of this fuel — and sending those dollars our of the state and continue to spew carbon into the air. Or we can invest in clean energy that has no fuel cost, keeps us on track to reduce our climate change pollution by no less than 80 percent by 2050 as required by state law, keeping our energy dollars local, and create local, full-time permanent jobs," she said.
 
Winn said the state is overreliant on natural gas and it pollutes the air while sending money out of the state. Christopher Kilfoyle of Berkshire Photovoltaic Services is calling for more incentives in the solar industry.
 
"Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources show that solar installations actually benefit customers by saving them tax and health care costs as well as reducing utility transmission distribution and energy purchasing costs," Kilfoyle said. "The recent study by the Acadia Center shows that under the present net metering and incentive structure solar production is undervalued by a third."
 
He said the Baker administration is trying to reduce solar incentives.
Comments
More Featured Stories
Pittsfield.com is owned and operated by: Boxcar Media 106 Main Sreet, P.O. Box 1787 North Adams, MA 01247 -- T. 413-663-3384
© 2008 Boxcar Media LLC - All rights reserved