Massachusetts Inks Memorandum to Launch Transportation and Climate InitiativeBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires Staff
01:09AM / Tuesday, December 22, 2020 | |
 BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday hailed a step forward to combat climate change by reducing the No. 1 source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. The Transportation and Climate Initiative Program aims to reduce those emissions by 26 percent in its first decade and generate revenue that will fund climate resiliency efforts throughout the region. The right wing Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance immediately went on the offensive, releasing a statement that claimed the multistate initiative would result in "an increase in gas prices up to 38 cents per gallon with very small emissions cuts." TCI advocates have pegged the potential impact on 3 Comments
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Rest of the River Cleanup Expected to Take 15 Years| 12:03PM / Thursday, December 17, 2020 | |
 BOSTON — After years of studies and negotiations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is set to oversee a $576 million cleanup of the Housatonic River over the next 15 years. A "Revised Final Permit" for the Rest of River cleanup plan has been issued under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act spells out the required cleanup measures to be followed by General Electric Co. to remove contamination caused by polychlorinated biphenyls used in the manufacture of transformers at its former Pittsfield plant. The final permit updates EPA's 2016 cleanup plan for the river, its floodplains and other surrounding areas. The permit requires GE to 1 Comment
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State Declares 'Green Friday' in Support of Local Xmas Tree Farms| 03:29PM / Friday, November 27, 2020 | |
 UXBRIDGE, Mass. — The Baker-Polito administration has declared Friday, Nov. 27, as "Green Friday" to encourage people across the commonwealth to visit their local farms and nurseries for Christmas trees, holiday plants, and holiday decorating needs. To celebrate, state Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux participated in a Christmas tree-cutting ceremony at Arrowhead Acres in Uxbridge. In an effort to support the commonwealth's Christmas tree industry, the declaration of Green Friday encourages people throughout the state to visit their local Christmas tree farms to purchase their trees, holiday plants, ornamental swags, and wreaths to 0 Comments
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Greenagers Offers Youth Nature-Based Work Amidst PandemicBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
07:11AM / Thursday, November 26, 2020 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A local youth environment community group has not let COVID-19 halt its stride.
Greenagers has continued its commitment to outdoor programming amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic to offer teenagers and young adults nature-based work and socially distant connections.
Executive Director Will Conklin and Conservation Director Elia Del Molino felt it was appropriate to extend this programming into the fall and winter this year so that members will continue to have meaningful and safe work and connections. "We are so grateful for companies and organizations that utilize our services and give us work to teach and learn about the importance of our natural
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Transportation & Climate Initiative Touted for Benefits to Rural CommunitiesBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires Staff
06:04AM / Sunday, November 15, 2020 | |
State WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A multi-state plan to reduce carbon emissions and invest in more sustainable transportation could be in action as soon as 2022, advocates said last week. And local leaders are working to make sure that rural areas don't get left behind. The Transportation and Climate Initiative, which looks to replicate the model of the 2007's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, seeks to cap greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, create a market for distributors of fossil fuels to buy allowances and invest the proceeds of those sales into cleaner transportation. By the end of this year, the 12 states and District of 2 Comments
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Berkshire Conservation District Receives State Grant | 02:45PM / Thursday, November 05, 2020 | |
 BOSTON — The Berkshire Conservation District received $25,000 from the state for phase 2 of their Nutrient Management Initiative program. The Baker-Polito Administration announced more than $8.7 million in grant awards to municipalities and land trusts to support the acquisition and conservation of over 676 acres of land throughout the Commonwealth. "Massachusetts' open spaces are a significant asset to our state, providing recreational opportunities to residents across the Commonwealth while also helping to build resiliency to the impacts of climate change," Governor Charlie Baker said. "Our administration is proud to fund these 0 Comments
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State Announces Final Order on Eversource Gas Rates| 11:34AM / Monday, November 02, 2020 | |
 BOSTON — The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has issued a final Order in a rate case for NSTAR Gas Company, doing business as Eversource Energy, that will lead to investments in clean energy technologies, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and improvements in infrastructure safety and service reliability, while significantly reducing the total rate increase request of Eversource. The action by the DPU follows a year-long investigation that included four public hearings across Eversource Energy's service territory, 12 days of virtual evidentiary hearings, and a review of approximately 1,800 exhibits. The Order applies only to customers who are provided gas 0 Comments
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DPU Assessing Future of Natural Gas in Massachusetts| 08:14AM / Friday, October 30, 2020 | |
 BOSTON — The Department of Public Utilities issued an order opening an investigation into the role of local natural gas distribution companies in the future of the Commonwealth's energy portfolio following the Baker-Polito Administration's determination of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as Massachusetts' legal emissions limit for 2050. As part of the investigation, the DPU will assess the role of gas companies in ensuring a low-carbon future and explore strategies that enable the Commonwealth to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions while safeguarding ratepayer interests and securing safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas 0 Comments
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Butterflies Like it Hot at Mountain MeadowBy Tor Hansen, iBerkshires columnist
02:26PM / Sunday, October 25, 2020 | |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Adventuresome butterflies highlight the widespread nectar oases in a special habitat teaming with nectar to meet their spurious flight demands. Thanks to lucid awareness of the ecological value of so many concurrent species — upwards to 30 — the Trustees of Reservations has saved these 20 acres called Mountain Meadow Preserve. Although seldom seen altogether since they have different flight periods, and separate nectar preferences, a surprising assortment of butterflies can be seen imbibing at the same plant. What a potpourri! Hardly a dull moment in July. Milkweed reached peak bloom by July 1 with signs of 1 Comment
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MassDEP Issues Penalty to Cretecrew Concrete Services for Waste Site Cleanup Violations| 12:21PM / Monday, October 19, 2020 | |
 BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced it has assessed a $31,000 penalty to Cretecrew Concrete Services, Inc., a concrete foundation company based in Westfield, for failing to complete cleanup of a hydraulic oil spill that occurred at a construction site in Chicopee. On Sept. 20, 2019, the Chicopee Fire Department notified MassDEP regarding the spill of up to 15 gallons of hydraulic oil associated with the failure of a hydraulic hose on a concrete form truck owned and operated by Cretecrew. The spill occurred at a construction site at 114 McKinstry Avenue in Chicopee. MassDEP staff inspected the site that day and 0 Comments
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