MA Interfaith Coalition for Climate Action Calls on Legislature to Support Clean and Just Energy Legislation

MA Interfaith Coalition for Climate Action Calls on Legislature to Support Clean and Just Energy Legislation

Boston, MA, November 10, 2015 -- The Massachusetts Interfaith Coalition for Climate Action today urged the Massachusetts Legislature to pass comprehensive energy legislation that meets the state’s energy needs, with an emphasis on local, renewable energy and benefits communities that have been disproportionately affected by our dependence on fossil fuel. The announcement took place at the Coalition’s Legislative Action Day at the State House. The Coalition was formed just a month ago and already includes members of more than 60 religious and spiritual groups that have come together inspired by Pope Francis’s message to act on climate change and issues of social justice. About 200 people turned out for the morning rally with faith and political leaders. After the gathering, Coalition members fanned out to visit legislators’ offices to promote energy policy that not only meets the state’s energy needs, but also meets the moral obligation to slow global warming, preserve the environment, and lessen the impact on the most vulnerable communities. A solar bill is said to be moving rapidly through the House, and the Coalition highlighted the need for that bill to lift the caps on solar power and to ensure that all communities are able to benefit from the solar transition. “There are powerful interests invested in the status quo,” said Reverend Fred Small, representing the Unitarian Universalist Association of America, and a leader of the Coalition. “They are not evil people, but they are captive to an energy system that is deadly to life on earth. They know how to lobby. They know how to influence. They know how to press the levers of power. But we, too, are learning. If the voices of people of faith and affected communities are not heard when policy decisions are made, fossil fuels win,” Small said. The Coalition has identified five priorities to be addressed in upcoming energy legislation:

• Lift caps on solar energy and strengthen incentives for the development of community and low-income solar installations;

• Invest in offshore wind development, particularly in communities that have hosted coal-fired power plants that are now closing;

• Ensure that energy efficiency programs are reaching low-income and moderate income households; • Increase accountability for and timely repair of natural gas leaks;

• Reject ratepayer funding for new natural gas pipelines.

The rally at today’s event featured Coalition leaders and key elected officials in both branches of the Legislature, including State Representative Lori Ehrlich, State Representative Antonio Cabral, and State Senator Marc Pacheco. Rebecca Tepper, head of the Attorney General’s Energy Division and Deputy Chief of the Energy and Environmental Bureau, also spoke at the rally. About the Massachusetts Interfaith Coalition for Climate Action The Massachusetts Interfaith Coalition for Climate Action launched on October 12th, 2015, with 550+ people and more than 50 sponsoring congregations and organizations at “Answering the Call: An Interfaith Gathering for Climate Action.”

The event and the Coalition were inspired by our shared values and by Pope Francis’ urgent call to action on the environmental crisis and the human suffering caused by climate change. Working for sustainability within the four walls of our homes and houses of worship is no longer enough to address the issues we face. We will work with our legislators to create systemic change that will help ensure a clean, just, and inclusive energy future for our Commonwealth.

CONTACT: interfaithclimatecoalition@gmail.com Phyllis Theermann, Phyllis@Theermann.com, 617-686-7652 Amy Benjamin, a.benjamin@comcast.net, 425-785-1609 Lise Olney, lmolney@fulhamco.com, 781-929-0246