The (ahem) “Americans for Carbon Dividends” PAC has proposed a carbon fee and dividend plan, sponsored by Trent Lot of Mississippi and John Breaux of Louisiana. Lots of big-wig conservative types are smiling on the idea. Should climate hawks rejoice? Not yet! The poison bill is to prevent EPA from regulating CO2, and absolve Exxon from lawsuits. Listen in.

The reading list:

• Wikipedia on Astroturfing
• Vox's Dave Robert's take on the plan

Events

• 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

The retirement of Anthony Kennedy is bad news for climate hawks (along with lots of others.) That bad news comes together with cruelty on our borders, against both children and Muslims. How should we interpret these events and formulate a path forward? Listen in.

The reading list:

• Legal Planet: What does retirement mean for environment
• Vox: Make SCOTUS term limited
• Grist: what retirement means
• Grist: A new climate champion
• Detention camps are totalitarian
• Safe Communities Act
• MoveOn June 30 events
• 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

The Massachusetts Senate recently passed "An Act to Promote a Clean Energy Future", otherwise known as the “Pacheco Bill” after Senator Mark Pacheco who introduced it. The bill has so many good aspects, it is hard to fit them all into a single podcast! Listen in as we discuss a lot of them. Now the bill awaits action in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It could face a much tougher time there, and needs the support of all climate hawks! Join the MCAN Legislative Action Team to help out.

The reading list:

• MASSLive on the bill
• WWLP on the bill
• RenewablesNow on the bill
• PV Magazine on the bill
• Utilitydive on the bill
• UCS on the bill
• CLF explanation of Net Metering
• BlueMassGroup on Transporation under the bill
• MCAN Legislative Action Team
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES
• Schoolhouse Rock "I'm just a bill"

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.

The dark policies being enforce on our borders by the Trump administration can be considered in parallel with it’s similar impulses on climate. Denial of facts and humanity are needed to either separate families or deny the reality of global warming. One man who does not deny facts is Jim Hansen, the NASA scientist who 30 years ago told Congress that the climate is changing. We consider his legacy. Listen in.

The reading list:

• The Solstice
• Why Climate Hawks should oppose the immigration policies
• NPR's Folkenflik on White House lies
• James Hansen's 30 year anniversary
• 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

Despite pressure at the G7 Summit and a poignant message from Pope Francis about the importance of addressing climate change, Trump refuses to accept reality and show leadership. Will we lose our top climate scientists and watch as the rest of the world moves forward on the clean energy revolution without us? Tune in for more details!

Reading list:

• BlackRock’s push for ‘social responsibility’ highlights this major shift among corporations
• In the Trump Administration, Science Is Unwelcome. So Is Advice. - The New York Times
• France says "Make out Planet Great Again!
• Pope warns oil executives: Climate change may ‘destroy civilization’ | TheHill
• G6 leaders advance climate agenda while Trump's US defends fossil fuels

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.

The politics of climate change and clean energy rolled on this week in Boston. Marty Walsh held an international mayoral climate summit and discussed plans to coordinate clean energy plans with other cities, but activists were upset by his support for urban pipelines and reticence to implement Community Choice Energy. In parallel, Senator Pacheco’s excellent energy bill (S2545) nears a vote in the upper house. Listen in!

The reading list:

• Read about Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) aka Community Choice Energy (CCE)
• Boston to join other cities to collectively buy energy from renewable sources - The Boston Globe
• Activists criticize Boston mayor over energy policies - The Boston Globe
• Mayors can get around the feds in going green - The Boston Globe
• Status of Pacheco Bill!
• 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

The DOE, staying faithful to Trumpian absurdity, has floated a proposal to force utilities to purchase the electricity produced by coal and nuclear plants. The anti-free-market nature of such a move is obvious. Coupled with its corrupt benefits to a limited number of politically connected corporations, it is an assault on our democracy. Somewhere, Joe Stalin is raising a glass of vodka.  

The reading list:

• Bloomberg on DOE plan
• NYT on the DOE proposal
• GreenTech Media on legal aspects of the DOE
• NYT on Swampy Scott's Chick-fil-a adventure

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

The abhorrent practice of family separation at our borders highlights the need for a wise, long-term immigration policy. Of course, our stance on immigration should be rooted in the knowledge that climate change will drive a rise in migrants and refugees seeking shelter in the US and other countries around the world. In fact, the acknowledgement of climate change should be the basis for all our national policies and actions. Health care, taxation, defense, housing and infrastructure policy should be based on the reality of global warming.

The reading list:

• USA Today- Family separation neither moral or required
• NatGeo- Migrants and climate change
• What is an organizing principle?
• Mayor's Conference demonstration, Copley June 8
• 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

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine finds more then 4600 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria. The enormous discrepancy with the Trump administration’s estimate of 64 is stark. After months in the dark, we hope some light shines on that island. Also, two legal cases that could force the disclosure of what Exxon knew, and when it knew it advanced. The judges allowed ‘discovery’ of corporate documents to proceed. Finally Dave Roberts of Vox tweeted an interesting question: “What would the last two centuries of human development have looked like if fossil fuels had always been properly priced?” Let us know what you think!

The reading list:

• NYT: a report estimate 4600 death in Maria aftermath
• Julian case goes to discovery
• Oakland case goes to discovery

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

The concept of a massive seawall to protect Boston Harbor is less cost effective than local adaptations, says a new report. Mayor Walsh plans a climate conference, but must answer questions on urban pipelines and procrastination on implementing Community Choice Energy. Listen in!

Reading list:

• Globe: Seawall not worth the effort
• WBUR on seawall
• Community Choice Energy
• One Dalton
• Steve Minditch
• Wikipedia on the Boston Phoenix
• 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