Municipal Light Plants (MLP) are a great opportunity for introducing clean energy. Proposed legislation would dim that bright chance. Listen to Oriana Reilly as we discuss the latest twists in the saga of the Massachusetts MLP’s path to a green future.

The reading list

• Learn about MCAN's MLP program
• Read MCAN's MLP report card

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The movement of people based on climate related effects has already begun. Some asylum seekers at the US border are there because of climate stress. Trump’s repugnant border policies may set a precedent for the future management of much larger flows of people, across the globe. It is fair to say that the US is building a concentration camp system. History teaches us that such efforts only deteriorate, and we see this in increasing deaths in custody. This is unacceptable to American ideals. We must view our border circumstances in the context of climate change, and demand a humane and farsighted response.

The reading list

• NYT/Kristof on climate as a driver for Guatemalan asylum seekers
• Esquire "Things can be concentration camps without being Daschau.."
• Texas Monthly on CBP conditions
• Daily Kos reviews a thread on freezers and dog pounds
• Rolling Stone gives definitions of Tonks and Guats
• Pacific Standard asks if there have been unreported deaths
• NBC reports 24 deaths in ICE custody 
• Mother Jones reports on For-Profit prisons holding detainees  
• Time reports on use of Fort SIll, where Japanese internment happened
• The Nation on climate change and open borders
• UNHCR on climate and displacement
• Grist asks "what’s a climate refugee and how many are there?"
• MA MIRA supports the "Safe Communities Act"
• RAICES Texas is on the front lines
• Wikipedia on the Gulag
• ThinkProgress on Trump's tweets

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Sunrise Movement says “The Green New Deal is the only plan put forward to address the interwoven crises of climate catastrophe, economic inequality, and racism at the scale that science and justice demand.” We discuss some of the ideas underlying this bold proposal.

The reading list:

• Sunrise Nashville
• Sunrise Nashville on Facebook
• Citizen's Climate Lobby Boston
• Sunrise on the GND
• CCL's Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act
• Kelton on Modern Monetary Theory
• Tcherneva on a Jobs Guarantee

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Carbon pricing is in front of Congress in the form of the “Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.” We catch up Gary Rucinski on the recent lobby day efforts in Washington, and discuss some philosophy with Rick Herron of Sunrise Nashville.

The reading list:

• Sunrise Nashville
• Sunrise Nashville on Facebook
• Citizen's Climate Lobby Boston
• CCL's Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act
• Capitalism is the enemy of climate action
• Capitalism is the friend of climate action

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Massachusetts is moving ahead with new wind power developments. This is great, but a few questions sneak into our discussion. The issue of Environmental Justice continues to take stage in the climate movement. From Weymouth to Springfield to Beacon Hill, we discuss various aspects of this important topic.

The reading list:

• MA to double wind commitment
• Hearings on Environmental Justice Bills in MA Legislature
• Weymouth Compressor News
• A new Bio-Mass debate?
• Hearings in Springfield

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

American farmers are late-almost too late- to plant corn because of massive flooding in the Midwest. (Spoiler alert: It’s climate change!) What is to be done? The back and forth between personal climate guilt (because you don’t recycle) and corporate guilt (that they don’t feel) is laid out in stark detail by Mary Annaise Heglar . A better way to think about this is to ‘broaden’ your definition of personal action. Seek those personal action that self-amplify, having a ripple effect on other people. Simply talking about climate change is personal action that influences other people. But how? Listen in as we consider that as well.

Reading list:

• READ THIS!! Heglar on climate guilt and personal action
• Scientists show a 2018 heatwave was caused by climate change.
• US Farmers cannot plant due to floods likely caused by climate change
• Heatwave in India
• Mann says we must have system change
• Marching works!!
• Climate Adam on how to discuss climate change

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The Pilgrim Station nuclear power plant outside Boston shut down this week. That is good news, but also raises questions about what comes next. Fracking technologies can be put to use in creating clean geothermal energy. Should they? Our mindless trade war with China risks the availability of rare earth metals, which are needed for some renewable energy technologies. Should we fight wars, or recycle what we already have? Listen in as we discuss these difficult, but good questions.

The reading list:

• Pilgrim shuts down
• Nuclear storage in the South Pacific at risk
• Fracking for geothermal?
• Compare gas and geothermal fracking
• China to restrict rare earth metals?
• Implications for renewables.

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The Trump Administration is undermining the credibility of US science by attempting to suppress data and modifying the next “National Climate Assessment” so that the science doesn't seem as dire. It is that equally heartening (the NCA provides legal basis to attack Trump's dismantling of climate protections) and maddening (Trump is therefore trying to adjust the next NCA so it loses its teeth and can't be used against bad policy.) In particular, the efforts will

• Force the USGS to model climate effect only thru 2040, hiding the truly bad effects that come later
• Eliminate the ‘worst case’ scenario in future reports
• Resurrect the idea of a White House Panel to review (and distort) the science

All this is in keeping with the latest press release that renames natural gas as ‘freedom gas’ and ‘molecules of freedom.’ After the chuckles die down, we consider the role of branding. Why not call solar panels “Patriot Panels?”

Finally, we discuss the upcoming all generation climate strike slated for September 20. This is your opportunity to take action, wherever you are! Listen in.

 https://soundcloud.com/massclimateaction/truncated-models-climate-strikes-and-freedom-photons-the-climate-minute-podcast

The reading List 

• NYT on the DJT's effort to distort science
• NPR's On Point interviewed Coral Davenport 
• NYT's The Daily interviews Davenport
• Mother Jones on Freedom Gas
• NYT on Freedom Gas
• NYT on how to discuss climate- change the subject!
• Thunberg calls for Sep 20 Strike
• McKibben echoes the call for a strike
• Track strike opportunities here
• Sign up for MCAN's Net Zero Building Webinar!

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The Climate Action Business Association is a membership-based organization in Massachusetts that helps local businesses take targeted action on climate change. Listen in as we chat with Tim Cronin, the Policy & Partnerships Manager about CABA and the weekly Climate Exchange Policy Roundup newsletter. Top stories this week? First it’s the Baker Administration’s apparent suppression of science communication, and then the ongoing saga of the Weymouth Compressor Stations.

The reading list:

• https://cabaus.org/
• Climate Exchange Policy Roundup-- sign for the newsletter here
• Rep Meschino's 2050 climate bill
• Suppression of Science in MA??
• Dave Abel can't find a MA Government scientist to talk to!
• A hitch in compressor hearings

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 impact of climate change is often seen at the local level, in towns and cities. Whether it is beach erosion on the coast or heat waves in cities, local elected officials are on the scene first. Listen in as we chat with Tim Cronin of the Climate Action Business Association (CABAUS) about the roles and opportunities for local elected officials in fighting climate change.

The reading list:

https://cabaus.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.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre