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Mass. climate legislation in limbo as Baker files amendments – The Boston Globe

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Mass. climate legislation in limbo as Baker files amendments – The Boston Globe


The 19 pages of amendments deal with core parts of the invoice, together with efforts to streamline the offshore wind business’s bidding course of and permit 10 communities to ban using fossil fuels in new buildings and main renovations.

“We’re optimistic that we will get to a last piece of laws that the governor is completely happy to signal,” mentioned Power and Atmosphere Affairs Secretary Beth Card. The governor’s amendments retain the themes of the Legislature’s invoice, she mentioned, whereas making an attempt to “be certain that from an implementation perspective, it’s attainable to do what’s being steered right here.”

Consultant Jeff Roy, who negotiated the invoice within the Legislature together with Senator Michael Barrett, mentioned he stays “assured that we are going to have a local weather and power invoice accomplished on this session.”

However there’s little time left on the clock to go a invoice that advocates and legislators say is vital to the state’s local weather response. “There’s fairly a bit right here, none of which seems to be good seashore studying,” mentioned Barrett. “The sheer density of it is going to complicate prospects for the 2 branches coming collectively.”

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The sticking level on offshore wind is what’s generally known as the “value cap” — a mechanism that requires every new offshore venture to supply energy at a lower cost than the one introduced on-line earlier than it. Some fear that the cap has discouraged bids. The invoice from the Legislature wouldn’t have eradicated the worth cap, however it could solely apply it when there are two or fewer bidders.

The governor proposes taking that out, and eliminating the worth cap altogether. “We thought that was overly sophisticated, and that it could delay the implementation of our procurements,” mentioned Division of Power Assets Commissioner Patrick Woodcock.

The governor additionally desires to change the Legislature’s plan to permit 10 communities to ban fossil fuels in new buildings and main renovations. He’s proposing that the state Division of Power Assets set up laws “to place some boundaries round how these bylaws can be established, in order that we’ve got consistency from one group to the subsequent,” mentioned Card.

The governor additionally desires to exclude multifamily housing from the fossil gasoline ban, and proposed that the pilot venture not be allowed to go ahead till the state reaches a specific amount of unpolluted power capability.

Different amendments contact on how the state defines what an electrical car is, the proposed growth of the board for the Massachusetts Clear Power Middle, and adjustments to proposals concerning power effectivity, the era and use of renewable power and protections for ratepayers.

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As well as, the governor is proposing utilizing $750 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to put money into a clear power funding fund. In October of final 12 months, Baker had proposed making such an funding, nevertheless it didn’t go the Legislature.

Advocates and legislators, who have been nonetheless largely digging by means of the technicalities of the proposed amendments on Friday afternoon, supplied blended critiques.

Kyle Murray, senior coverage advocate for The Acadia Middle, a clear power advocacy group, mentioned that the group continues to be evaluating the amendments however is “happy to see that the Governor’s adjustments embody the spending of actual {dollars} at a big scale, together with $300 million for constructing decarbonization.”

State Senator Marc Pacheco of Taunton mentioned he was happy with the seriousness of the proposal. “The assets it contains appear extra per the invaluable alternative earlier than us to safe significant investments in our clear power financial system that may assist us create new jobs, enhance public well being, scale back prices for Massachusetts ratepayers, and obtain our newly up to date World Warming Options Act emission discount necessities,” he mentioned.

Steve Lengthy, director of coverage and partnerships on the Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, mentioned Baker had missed a chance to intervene on the way in which that photo voltaic power is sited, saying that the invoice encourages siting of photo voltaic panels on agricultural land with out providing a pathway for conservation teams to be a part of the decision-making course of.

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Ben Hellerstein, state director of Atmosphere Massachusetts, mentioned he thought a few of Baker’s proposed amendments would weaken the laws. For example, whereas the Legislature aimed to set a statutory requirement for Massachusetts to succeed in 100% electrical car gross sales by 2035, Baker mentioned it was not essential to place it into regulation and will battle with the “present authorities” beneath which the state is already planning to implement that coverage

Nonetheless, he mentioned, he was “inspired” to see Baker file amendments with two days left within the session.

“He definitely might have run out the clock and principally made it inconceivable for the Legislature to reply. He didn’t,” Hellerstein mentioned. “So I believe this can be a good signal.”

Now that the governor has weighed in, will probably be as much as the Home to first take into account the amendments earlier than sending what’s technically a brand new invoice to the Senate, which is able to then make its personal solutions. Then each branches must come to an settlement earlier than sending it again to the governor.

If the invoice just isn’t handed earlier than the tip of the day Sunday, it might get reintroduced within the subsequent legislative session in January, or the Legislature might come again for a particular session.

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Dharna Noor may be reached at dharna.noor@globe.com. Observe her on Twitter @dharnanoor.

Sabrina Shankman may be reached at sabrina.shankman@globe.com. Observe her on Twitter @shankman.





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Boston, MA

Greater Boston enjoys a light snow, travel not significantly impacted – The Boston Globe

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Greater Boston enjoys a light snow, travel not significantly impacted – The Boston Globe


The snow showers come from a weakening system approaching from the Great Lakes that tapped into some of the moisture from a strong storm passing south of New England.

The region was spared the worst precipitation of the storm thanks to persistent sub-freezing temperatures earlier this week, which pushed it south toward its current location off the coast of North Carolina, Nocera said. New England’s light snowfall is on the northern fringes of the storm.

Nocera added that this weekend’s “decorative snow” will not significantly impact ground travel.

The Massachusetts Port Authority issued a travel advisory for flight delays at Boston Logan International Airport. According to the flight tracking website Flight Aware, as of around 1:00 p.m. 212 flights were delayed at Boston Logan and another 15 were cancelled.

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Margo Griffin, a teaching associate at the University of Cambridge in England, was initially worried about driving through the snow on her way to get coffee in Cambridge, but said the view from the Charles River was worth the trek.

“I thought it might be a problem, but I just decided to go ahead with the plan, and I’m enjoying walking through the snow,” Griffin said.

People walked along a snow-covered path at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston Saturday, as a winter storm brought light accumulation to New England.

Erin Clark / Globe Staff

Other Boston-area residents who spoke to the Globe Saturday morning were happy to wake up to the winter scene on Saturday.

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“I am feeling wonderful about the snow. I haven’t seen it in a long time,” said Barbara Delollis, a communications lead at Harvard Business School.

Delollis already made snow day plans.

“We want to go out and have some fun in the snow, and take a lot of pictures and just remember this moment, because we don’t know how much more snowfall we’re going to see in the Boston area anymore with climate change,” Delollis said.

Talia, a Cambridge resident, said that the snow had no effect on her plans to attend synagogue with her two-year-old son Saturday morning.

“It feels nice and seasonal, which is cool because climate change is terrifying,” she said.

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Snowstorms can still occur, despite warming temperatures from climate change, Nocera said. Although Saturday’s snowfall cannot guarantee heavy snow this winter, there is a slightly higher chance of snow towards the end of the month as cold temperatures ease.

A frostbite sailor passed snow covered houseboats while headed out to race on the Annisquam River in Gloucester, Mass. Jan. 11, 2025. John Blanding/Globe Staff/The Boston Globe

Materials from previous Globe stories were used in this report.





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Boston, MA

Boston College drops Hockey East contest to Merrimack

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Boston College drops Hockey East contest to Merrimack


The second-ranked Boston College men’s hockey team suffered its first home loss of the season, falling to Merrimack by a score of 5-2 in Hockey East action on Friday night at Kelley Rink. The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second, but the Warriors scored the next five. BC falls to 12-4-1 overall and 6-3-1 in Hockey East, while Merrimack improves to 8-10-1 overall and 4-5-1 in league play. The Eagles opened the scoring midway through the first period when Oskar Jellvik one-timed the rebound off an Aram Minnetian shot that was saved by the Merrimack goaltender. Minnetian’s shot fell right into the path of Jellvik for the quick shot into the open net to put the Eagles in front. BC added to its lead shortly into the second period when Brady Berard scored a short-handed goal. Merrimack responded 32 seconds later with a power-play goal to get on the board, before scoring the game-tying goal less than one minute after that. The Warriors took the lead nearly three minutes later when Merrimack scored its third goal of the period. The Warriors scored twice in the third period to push their lead to three. Jacob Fowler made 23 saves while Nils Wallstrom had 27 stops for Merrimack.



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Syracuse men’s basketball: predictions and poll vs Boston College

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Syracuse men’s basketball: predictions and poll vs Boston College


The Syracuse Orange (7-8, 1-3) are back on the road tomorrow to face the Boston College Eagles (9-6, 1-3). The game tips off at 3:00 ET on The CW and here’s what we’re predicting in this #OrangeEagle battle:

Kevin: Syracuse 82, Boston College 80

I’m thinking this is higher scoring than the metrics suggest because neither team defends well. I also have a feeling that Elijah Moore hits double-figures in this one. Moore didn’t make a shot against Georgia Tech, but he didn’t commit a turnover and I’m looking for him to get an early 3 to drop and for him to find space as the Eagles try and contain JJ Starling and Eddie Lampkin. It’s not going to be pretty, but I’m taking Syracuse to get their 1st road win of the year.

Max: Syracuse 72, Boston College 65

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The Orange finally have some momentum going into this one and a lowly Eagles team is just what the doctor ordered for another win. Believe it or not, Syracuse’s offense shoots better from the field and commits fewer turnovers than BC (and most of those numbers are without Starling). We’ll see if Donnie Freeman suits up, but hopefully, it doesn’t matter against a Boston College defense that allows its opponents to shoot over 57% in conference play (worst rate in ACC).

Dom: Syracuse 79, Boston College 73

BC’s offense over the course of the year is very much hot or cold, but I don’t expect a repeat performance of the Orange’s defense compared to how things turned out against Georgia Tech. That being said, if both defenses are going to be suspect, Syracuse will have the best scorer on the floor and I think this is the game we see J.J. Starling have a pre-injury-like performance that propels Syracuse to the win column once again.

Szuba: Syracuse 78, Boston College 71

Syracuse has certainly struggled and has been shorthanded this year, but it still hasn’t fallen to the Boston College threshold. BC doesn’t do much of anything well — it rebounds decently, it shoots from three at a fair clip but overall the offense is poor and its defense is worse. I would think Syracuse should be able to score the ball more effectively in this game as opposed to last. Starling leads the way once more with solid contributions from Lampkin and the supporting cast as the Orange win its second straight conference game.

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Sam: Boston College 72, Syracuse 70

This prediction hinges on Donnie Freeman not playing, if he does, I’d probably lean towards Syracuse by a point or two. Without him, I’m just not confident enough to pick the Orange on the road – a building they lost in last year – even against a bad Boston College team. There’s undoubtedly a path to a win, specifically, if the Orange can force about 15 or more turnovers, and convert off of them. A true toss-up game for me.

Mike: Syracuse 78, Boston College 70

Two really bad defenses should make these not-so-great offenses look better for one afternoon. Like Sam said this is the definition of a toss-up and I really think it’ll be close all the way through. This should be a time where Lampkin can use his size in the paint and be the one to break the stalemate.

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Poll

Who wins the game between Syracuse and Boston College?

  • 50%
    Syracuse wins and maybe?

    (3 votes)

  • 50%
    Boston College wins and nope!

    (3 votes)



6 votes total

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