California is literally burning up – is this the new normal? We hope not. The good news is that the mainstream media seems, finally, to give credit to climate change as a force to be reckoned with. The Trump Administration’s collusion, delusion, and confusion may interfere with California’s auto standards, but if states can stand strong, there is still hope for our competitiveness in the global landscape. Looking for a simple everyday action that you can do? Connect with Shave The Peak campaign to learn when your actions will keep the state of MA from using dirty fossil fuel energy. Tune in for details.

https://soundcloud.com/massclimateaction/trump-fiddles-while-california-burns-the-climate-minute-podcast

Further reading:

• Shave the Peak Campaign https://www.massenergy.org/shavethepeak
• EPA cannot deny CA http://policyintegrity.org/files/publications/No_Turning_Back.pdf
• Net Zero Webinar: https://www.massclimateaction.org/8_15_net_zero_roundtable_webinar
• org WeRise event on September 8^th: https://peoplesclimate.org/

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

MSNBC’s Chris Hayes was at the center of a twitter debate over media coverage of climate change. Listen in as we discuss.

The reading list:

• Washington Free Beacon on the controversy
• Grist wonders about profit motivated media
• The New Republic on connecting the dots
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

So the MA Legislature took a swing and missed. No, they fumbled a great chance. No, they dropped the ball. No, they struck out. No, they choked. No, they “could’a been contenders.”

OK, sports metaphors don’t work for everyone.

The MA Legislature, like Frodo at the Crack of Doom, looked into the abyss of demands from the fossil industry and lost heart. Unfortunately, Gollum was not there to bite the ring off.

OK, LOTR references are too opaque.

The MA Legislature had the chance to make our state the nation’s leader in clean energy policy, and they failed. It is as simple as that. Constrained by a rigid hierarchy of power in the House and beholden to powerful corporate energy interests, our elected officials ignored visionary policies passed by the Senate and produced a milquetoast, uninspired energy bill that only a utility could love.  

As climate hawks, we will take the 2% RPS in this bill but focus on electing true clean energy advocates. And, by the way, we will return to the next legislative session with renewed commitment.

As they used to say about the Red Sox, “Wait ‘til next year!”

The reading list:

• Sierra Club statement
• MassLive reports on the bill
• Commonwealth Mag's coverage
• PV Mag's coverage
• CleanTechnica's coverage
• UCS blog
• Pacheco gets ready for next time!
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

From the Arctic heat wave to political hypocrisy, we discuss the climate news of the week.

The reading list:

• Arctic heat wave
• Airline temperature limits changed?
• State's rights Hypocrisy
• GOP carbon tax?
• electric buses
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

What is the RPS? Why should you care? Listen in as we talk with Eugenia Gibbons (of the Mass Energy Consumers Alliance) about changes to the renewable portfolio standards being considered by the Massachusetts Legislature.

The reading list:

• Eugenia Gibbons on the RPS
• Jeff Sanchez on the House version
• UCS USA blog on what MA needs
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Russia is known for its chess grandmasters, but in Helsinki on July 16^th, Trump and Putin, possibly motivated by oil interests, may have handed a checkmate to the rest of the world. This week, follow us through a chain of news analysis that illustrates America’s obsession with fossil fuels and why it promises to lead only to stranded and ---literally---sunken assets.

Further reading:

• Globe deceptively headlines “Massachusetts residents pay the highest average retail price for power in the continental US”
• https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2018/07/14/massachusetts-residents-pay-highest-average-retail-price-for-power-continental/wz7NoIcHyjRWAgFpvrvq4M/story.html
• Trump and Putin are clearly in cahoots---over propping up fossil fuels
• https://grist.org/article/trump-and-putin-are-clearly-in-cahoots-over-propping-up-fossil-fuels/
• Turning Trump’s trade war into a tool to fight climate change https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16072018/trade-war-trump-tariffs-border-tax-carbon-footprint-fossil-fuels-climate-change-analysis
• We need to accept that oil is a dying industry https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/z438j8/we-need-to-accept-that-oil-is-a-dying-industry
• Clean energy is catching up to natural gas https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/7/13/17551878/natural-gas-markets-renewable-energy
• Rising sea levels will soon destroy underground US internet cables, scientists warn
• https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sea-levels-rise-internet-cables-climate-change-underground-new-york-miami-a8449716.html

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

We discuss the status of clean energy legislation on Beacon Hill. Listen in!

The reading list:

• Globe on the House action
• BlueMassGroup on the House action
• Better Future blog
• Protest July 19 at Statehouse
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

We continue our chat with Senator Pacheco on the Clean Energy Future bill, and how he became a climate activist. Listen in!

The reading list:

• The Climate Reality Project
• _{Thursday July 19 at the Statehouse}
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Massachusetts State Senator Marc Pacheco is the sponsor of the Clean Energy Future bill that recently passed the Senate. He joined the Climate Minute to discuss some key aspects of the bill. The Senator pointed out that the economic and health benefits of building a renewable future come at no risk, since studies show there would be no rise in electricity rates. This is based on a study by the Applied Economics Clinic. Listen in as we discuss battery storage, solar rates and other aspects of the bill. Remember: Call your State Representative soon (like NOW!) at 617-722-2000 and urge them to support the related bills in the House.

The reading list:

• Applied Economic Clinic report on economic impact of the clean energy bill
• The Climate Minute on the passage of the Senate bill
• RE100
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Today’s breaking news is that Scott Pruitt has finally resigned. His venality may be gone but what comes next? Listen in for insight and perspective.

The reading list:

• Kristin Mink tells Scott to resign
• Ingraham tell Pruitt to resign
• John Kelly wanted Pruitt to resign
• NYT: Pruitt resigns
• Pruitt's cringe-worthy resignation letter
• Bill Shine did it?
• Meet the new boss, Andy Wheeler
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre