The recent movie “Don’t Look Up” is creating a stir. Is it a good movie? Does it move us forward? Listen in as five climate hawks talk to each other about this thought provoking movie.

The reading list:

• Netflix link to the movie
• Wikipedia on Don't Look Up
• Michael Mann on Don't Look Up
• George Monbiot on Don't Look Up
• Peter Kalmus on Don't Look Up
• Forbes on why the critics hate Don't Look Up
• Wikipedia on Network
• Wikipedia on The Day After
• Wikipedia on Dr. Strangelove
• Wikipedia on Do the Right Thing
• Titlow/Tinger's book on Environmental Champions
• Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
• King Of The World

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 recent report “What’s the Score?” provides a comparative analysis of Massachusetts’ Municipal Light Plant’s (MLP) clean energy and climate action performance. Part of the report provides pragmatic recommendations for how MLPs can improve their performance. Listen in as we speak with an author of the report.

The reading list:

• The MLP scorecard report and graphics on the MCAN site

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

Municipal Light Plants (or MLPs) are local utilities in individual towns in Massachusetts. These utilities are responsive to the democratic process- the ‘light board’ is often an elected position. The MLPs are also on a journey to decarbonization. MCAN has published a report assessing the efforts, successes and opportunities for these MLPs. We discuss the report with the authors.

The reading list:

• The MLP scorecard report and graphics on the MCAN site

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 needs to decarbonize all homes in the state. We discuss the specifics of “The Future of Heat” bill currently before the legislature. (These are Senate bill S.2148 and House bill H3298.) The bill provides a path where everyone, from home owners, renters to the utilities can move smoothly to a green future.

The reading list:

• The Climate Minute with Ania Caramago on a vision of home heating for everyone
• Gas Leaks Allies site describing the Future of Heat Act
• The Climate Minute on decoding your gas statement
• The Climate Minute on why repair of gas pipes is better than replacement
• HEET on Geo-microdistricts
• Report on DPU 20-80
• Mothers Out Front
• HEET
• Report: GSEP at the Six Year Mark
• WBUR on the Significant Environmental Impact Leak regulation
• The Climate Minute considers "How to use your Green Hydrogen"
• The Climate Minute on the GSEP Megaproject
• The Climate Minute on legislative responses to the GSEP problems
• The Climate Minute on the EJ implications of GSEP

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 faces a challenge in finding climate friendly ways for everyone to heat their homes. We talk to an expert about a concept that meets the scale and urgency of the work.

The reading list:

• Gas Leaks Allies site describing the Future of Heat Act
• The Climate Minute on decoding your gas statement
• The Climate Minute on why repair of gas pipes is better than replacement
• HEET on Geo-microdistricts
• Report on DPU 20-80
• Mothers Out Front
• HEET
• Report: GSEP at the Six Year Mark
• WBUR on the Significant Environmental Impact Leak regulation
• The Climate Minute considers "How to use your Green Hydrogen"
• The Climate Minute on the GSEP Megaproject
• The Climate Minute on legislative responses to the GSEP problems
• The Climate Minute on the EJ implications of GSEP

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

A well-intentioned plan to fix gas leaks in MA has gone astray. By prioritizing the costly replacement of pipelines over simple repair, the project locks us into decades of carbon emissions. Listen as an expert explains this problem and recommends ‘triage and transition’ as the path forward.

The reading list:

• Report: GSEP at the Six Year Mark
• WBUR on the Significant Environmental Impact Leak regulation
• The Climate Minute considers "How to use your Green Hydrogen"
• The Climate Minute on the GSEP Megaproject
• The Climate Minute on legislative responses to the GSEP problems
• The Climate Minute on the EJ implications of GSEP

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 big utilities like Eversource get paid a lot to build those gas pipes in the street in front of your house. Who does the paying? As a ratepayer, you do. Every month your bill carries obscure charges that fund more pipelines. We talk with an expert on how all this money changes hands and why climate activists should understand some details.

The reading list:

• Report: GSEP at the Six Year Mark
• A 2 minute video explaining the layout of your gas bill
• The Climate Minute on the GSEP Megaproject
• The Climate Minute on legislative responses to the GSEP problems
• The Climate Minute on the EJ implications of GSEP

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

Maine’s recent referendum vote rejecting a clean energy transmission line raises large questions about how Massachusetts will achieve it’s climate goals.

The reading list:

• WGBH summarizes the ME vote
• Avangrid moves ahead
• ME DEP suspends the construction license
• ME lawmakers urge Baker to back off
• The first Climate MInute from 2018 on the NH rejection
• The second Climate Minute on the 2018 rejection of the NH line
• About HydroQuebec
• HydroQuebec and New England
• The Revelator on the green-ness of Hydro Quebec
• The path thru VT

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 pandemic, climate change, and mass transit planning all come together to allow new ideas about the future. A recent opinion piece in Commonwealth Magazine proposes that the City of Boston turn Storrow Drive into a clean energy mobility corridor. In many ways, doing so would cut the Gordian Knot of Boston traffic. We talk to the author, and find out why this is the moment to act.

The reading list:

• Phillips' op/ed piece in Commonwealth Magazine
• Wikipedia on Storrow Drive
• Boston Globe, May 2020 piece on the Allston interchange
• Mayor Wu's steps to 'free' mass transit
• Baker pulls out of TCI
• Paris bans cars
• SIx cities that removed freeways
• Universal Hub commentary on Storrow

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

In addition to global warming pollution, the manufacture and disposal of plastic creates environmental injustice. Frontline communities are devastated by local pollution from the factories, and the export of our garbage to other continents leads to horrific scenes on the coasts of other places. Micro-plastics are ubiquitous and wildlife cannot distinguish plastic from their food. You can lobby your MoC for the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act.

The reading list:

• The Climate Minute on making plastics from methaneReport: Plastic is the new coal, from Beyond Plastic Break Free from Plastic
• A refinery in Monaca PA
• Here is the bill to address the 'upstream' manufacture
• Cancer Alley
• Are you eating a credit card per week of microplastic?
• https://upstreamsolutions.org/national-reuse-network

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