Actions To Take – North Quabbin Energy

Call your State Senator by June 28, 2016 to Ask Senator to Support Amendments to the Energy Bill.

Action to Take Now on Senate Version of Omnibus Energy Bill! – Call Today or Tuesday A.M.

Amendments must be filed by 12pm TOMORROW (Tues.)! The amendments are not listed online yet but will be here as they are filed: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S2372. Debate will be Thursday so call now through Wednesday to make change happen! Call your Senator today or tomorrow and ask them to co-sponsor and/or support the amendments. Switchboard (617) 722-1276.

Prohibit gas pipeline subsidies (support Sen. Jehlen’s amendment): Prohibit electric utilities from saddling customers with the costs of gas pipeline construction – Pipeline Tax.

Raise the Solar Net Metering Cap, Restore Retail Net Metering Rate: Net metering caps have again been hit in the National Grid service territory. The solar bill passed in April slashed net metering rates for low income and community solar customers.

Fix Gas Leaks and Protect Worker Safety (Sen. Eldridge amendment): Massachusetts customers are currently on the hook to pay for tens of thousands of gas leaks throughout the state as a results of the state’s aging gas distribution system.

If you don’t have time to call, please take action via MassPower Forward — bit.ly/MASenateEnergy

June, 2016 Actions to Take (Before June 30th) — Contact State Senators re: Passing a Comprehensive Energy Bill for MA

Thank your Senator for work concerning NED and then ask for their support for a comprehensive clean energy bill that includes more than off-shore wind and hydro (emphasis of House Bill). Now that the Omnibus Energy Bill passed in the MA House, it is time to contact state senators. For contact information on state senators see https://malegislature.gov/People/Senate.

The Mass Interfaith Coalition for Climate Action (MAICCA) compiled a short list of talking points to use when contacting your State Senator. We need to ask them to show support for bold energy legislation that will move our state toward a clean energy future.

Suggested Talking Points and Priorities concerning Senate Energy Bill:

Increased commitment to offshore wind: We seek a commitment of at least 2000 megawatts of electricity from offshore wind (the House bill that passed last week calls for only 1200 megawatts) to reduce costs and launch the offshore wind industry.
Increase Solar Cap and Protections for low-income solar projects: We seek 1) increased net-metering rates to allow low-income solar projects (and, ideally, community solar) to be reimbursed at the same rate as municipal projects; and 2) an increase in the solar cap. Note: The Solar Cap that was increased in April 2016 has already been reached for large projects in National Grid territory.
An increase in the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) from one to two percent to lock in our commitment to renewable energy and to meet the goals outlined by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008. (The RPS is the percentage of electricity that utilities in MA are required to procure from renewable or alternative sources).

A ban on the proposed pipeline tax that would force ratepayers to underwrite construction of new and unnecessary gas pipelines. (The House bill did not include a pipeline tax, but without an actual ban on the tax, the Department of Public Utilities, utility companies, and Governor Baker might still force ratepayers to fund construction of these massive pipeline projects.)

Call or write your state senator this week! The vote may come by June 30th. People from Eastern MA have been visiting some Senators. You can also send a copy to Sen. Downing. Thank you.

May and June, 2016 Actions

Working for Good State Policy on Energy and Land Use

Defending Article 97 Public Lands — We want Attorney General Maura Healey to continue to do everything the Attorney General’s office can do to preserve Article 97 and our conserved lands in MA.

Contact the Attorney General Office – Beginning of a Sample Message:

“I appreciate the advocacy of the Attorney General office in defense of Article 97 protections on behalf of the state. I understand that the Attorney General’s office has decided not to appeal the Berkshire Superior Court order at this time. I am concerned that this may not be the best course of actions, and I request that the AG’s office allow the decision (not to appeal now) to be revisited as your office gathers more perspectives on this issue. (May add – I am a supporter of the Pipeline Awareness Network for Northeast, and I appreciate your office’s discussions with them and their legal counsel).”

You may also Sign Online Petitions at https://toxicsaction.webaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=16517

Contacts for Attorney General Maura Healey — Write, call, email using above information and your own personal feelings —

MA Attorney General’s Office Email: ago@state.ma.us 617-727-2200

Melissa Hoffer MA Attorney General’s Office, Energy and Environment Bureau Chief Email: melissa.hoffer@state.ma.us 617-727-2200 or matthew.ireland@state.ma.us Mailing Address: One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108-1518

Contact Information for Director MA DCR Leo Roy — MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation — Email: Leo.Roy@state.ma.us 617-626-1250

No Pipeline Tax Campaign — “Pipeline tax” Still being pursued by Utilities

National Grid and Eversource are still pressing on with their request to the MA DPU for permission to charge their electric ratepayers an extra tariff to cover their costs for pipeline capacity contracts, aka “The Pipeline Tax”. When Spectra and Kinder Morgan work with utilities to get electric ratepayers to pay for new large gas infrastructure the risk is put on consumers and not on large corporation

Contact State Legislators for region — Thank Rep. Susannah Whipps-Lee, Rep. Stephen Kulik, Rep. Paul Mark and Sen. Stan Rosenberg for speaking out against the “Pipeline Tax.” Ask them to support legislation that would ban financing gas infrastructure by having electric ratepayers pay.

Contacts for Legislators:

Sen. Stan Rosenberg – Stan.Rosenberg@masenate.gov 617-722-1500 State House, Rm. 332 – Boston, MA 02133 Rep. Stephen Kulik – Stephen.Kulik@mahouse.gov 617-722-2380 State House Rm. 238 – Boston, MA 02133

Rep. Paul Mark — Paul.Mark@mahouse.gov 617-722-2692 State House Rm. 166 – Boston, MA 02133

Rep. Susannah WhippsLee – Susannah.WhippsLee@mahouse.gov 617-722-2090 State House Rm.540, Boston, MA

You may also Sign one of the online petitions

http://www.consumersforsensibleenergy.org/sign-the-petition

http://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/petition_to_gov_baker

Write and send letters-to-the-editor about the issue

Participate in the June 4^th statewide event to spread the word about PIPELINE TAX. Give people an attached fake electric bill and have them call Gov. Baker. If you want to organize more contact Emily Kirkland at 350MA-Better Futures Project emily@betterfutureproject.org, to get something set up!

Note: NQPA had people sign postcards and petitions earlier this spring and sent almost 400 to Gov. Baker and DPU.

Write Governor Baker to Tell him “NO to Pipeline Tax/Tariff.

Write or call Governor Baker now. There are also both online and print petitions circulating. If you wish to have a print petition to circulate in the North Quabbin region contact Pat Larson at plarson24@hotmail.com. The signed petitions will be collected in a central location and coordinated with 350MA Better Futures project.

From Toxic Action –“Governor Baker’s administration is trying to add a charge to our electricity bills to cover the costs of massive new gas pipelines.

Tell the Governor no way — we won’t pay. This is an outrageous proposal and would be an unprecedented giveaway to the fossil fuel industry. We need to stand up and speak out now, before we find ourselves paying billions for fossil fuel pipelines we don’t want and don’t need!” See https://pin.salsalabs.com/o/502/c/72/p/dia/action3/common/public/index.sjs?action_KEY=11198

Contact for government officials at Contact Information for Government OfficialsJuly2105.

Write Governor Baker and Your State Legislators NOW!

Let them know that you do not support the proposed Kinder Morgan/TGP Northeast Energy Direct project. Tell Gov. Baker and Legislators that you support lifting the Net Metering Cap so that the solar industry may grow. Join the campaign across the state to have thousands of cards, letters and articles arrive on the Governor’s desk in July. For addresses see Contact Information for Government OfficialsJuly2105. If you have not signed the petition which has almost 15,000 signatures now, sign it so it can be submitted to Governor Baker. Sign the Petition on MoveOn if you have not signed yet. See http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/massachusetts-petition.

Follow the MA DPU Hearings Regarding Proposed Agreements between Gas Companies and the Proposed Kinder Morgan/TGP NED project.

Th first hearing on these precedent agreements is Thursday, May 7th at 2:15 p.m. in Boston. Richard Kanoff, the attorney hired by PLAN-NE, will be present.
• Comment on Local Distribution Companies’ Contract Applications with the DPU
Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast, Inc.(PLAN-NE) is engaging in regulatory proceedings to challenge Kinder Morgan’s contracts (aka “precedent agreements”) with local gas distribution companies such as National Grid, Liberty Utilities, Berkshire Gas, and Columbia Gas. These sort of contracts are what FERC would look at to determine whether Kinder Morgan has established a “need” (market demand) for the pipeline. If Kinder Morgan does not receive state approval for each of these contracts, it should be very difficult for them to proceed with the project. So far, PLAN-NE’s technical review suggests that “need” is seriously overstated. You can help by directly commenting on these application Dockets!
The Docket Numbers to reference pertaining to NED precedent agreements are:
– DPU Docket No. 15-39 (Columbia Gas)
—— Comment Deadline, May 5
—— Hearing May 7, 2:15 pm, DPU, Hearing Room A, One South Station, Boston

– DPU Docket No. 15-34 (National Grid)
—— Comment Deadline, May 5
—— Hearing May 7, 2:15 pm, DPU, Hearing Room A, One South Station, Boston

– DPU Docket No. 15-48 (Berkshire Gas)
—— Comment Deadline, May 22
—— Hearing May 26, 2:00 pm, DPU, Hearing Room A, One South Station, Boston

» View the dockets directly by searching the Docket Number on the DPU Site

Sending Comments:
E-mail your comments to the hearing officer at: laurie.e.weisman@state.ma.us
We also highly recommend cc-ing:
– Attorney General’s office, at matthew.saunders@state.ma.us
– Your legislators

Participating in the Hearings:
The public is welcome to participate in the hearings for these precedent agreement applications. Here are some guidelines confirmed with Laurie Weisman, the hearing officer:
— no pre-registration is needed to attend or to comment
— people who want to comment on the 7th will probably need to sign up to do that when they arrive
— anyone can submit spoken &/or written comments; and the content need not be the same
— a court reporter will transcribe all of the spoken comments
— the hearing officer will extend the time as long as needed for everyone who wishes to speak

Basic talking points:
— If you are a gas ratepayer with any of these companies, specify which one
— If you are an affected landowner, let them know
— Ask that a hearing be held in the service areas for these companies (particularly where ratepayers are also directly impacted landowners – i.e., Franklin County, for Berkshire Gas – but plenty of you are concerned ratepayers with the other companies and can ask for local hearings)
— Express your array of concerns regarding this oversized “solution” (environmental, economic, etc.)
— The only capacity constraints we have heard about are during winter peak demand times (a few hours per day, a dozen or so days per year). A targeted solution to reduce those winter peaks would allow the utilities to expand their customer bases. These solutions include seriously addressing leaks in the distribution systems and helping with insulation and weatherization, as well as increased storage of alternative fuels for peak demand.
— Request a stay of these precedent agreement proceedings until DPU Docket No. 15-37 has resolved the regulatory and legal framework relating to possible longterm contracts by electrical distribution companies. The outcome of this investigation could be a game changer in terms of the viability of Kinder Morgan’s proposal. Docket No. 15-37 is an investigation “into the means by which new natural gas delivery capacity may be added to the New England market, including actions to be taken by the electric distribution companies.” In other words, a major question on the table is how to get electric ratepayers to pay for new gas infrastructure (in addition to funding by gas ratepayers in conjunction with the precedent agreements currently under review).

Sign New Petition to Governor Charlie Baker now — here.

After a collaborative process involving activists from across the Massachusetts, a new petition is circulating to be presented to Governor Baker. Please spread the word! This new petition to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker asks him to implement key policies regarding energy policy, natural gas, and climate change. Governor Baker is aggressively promoting natural-gas pipeline expansion for Massachusetts and New England. He is also championing statewide or regional tariffs on electric ratepayers to pay for new gas infrastructure. Any group or individual working toward the goals described in the petition is welcome to circulate it. Sign on line, print and get others to sign. When submitting signatures to the governor by postal mail or email, please let us know how many you have sent, so that we can keep a rough count. Send signature counts, campaign reports, questions, comments to: petition@stopned.org (StopNED Coalition – Alternative Solutions Team). Print PETITION on Clean Energyto GovBaker March2015 and get signatures. Please share it widely!

Write Letters to state officials — Gov. Charlie Baker, Sec. Matthew Beaton (EEA) to voice your concerns about the proposed pipeline.

For addresses of state and federal elected officials see Elected Officials Contact Info. You may also use the link to email a comment to Gov. Baker. http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituent-services/contact-governor-office/

Write and Call AG Maura Healey — Urge AG Healey to Take Action on Electric Utilities Recent Windfall Profits.

Contact AG Healey and urge her to take action on high electricity rate increases. It would help to mention the need to focus on green energy, and against overbuild of un-needed long-term fossil fuel infrastructure. It would also be good to reference her keynote speech on March 13 at NECA Conference (Healey comes out strong for renewables – CommonWealth Magazine”) , which does a good job of discussing these and other key energy points–but not windfall profits made by utilities.

Attorney General’s Office: One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108-1518; Phone: (617) 727-2200; Email: ago@state.ma.us; Website: http://www.mass.gov/ago/ (Note: To send a consumer complaint to the AGO’s Public Inquiry & Assistance Center, please see the File a Consumer Complaint page of this website for information and instructions on emailing a consumer complaint to the Attorney General’s Office.)

Below are some potential talking points for making calls and writing letters. Our letters and calls do matter.

Our energy future is in your hands, please do what’s best for the people of the Commonwealth and future generations.
MA has a choice to invest ($) in a clean energy future or a huge long-term commitment to fossil fuel(ff). The impact of fossil fuels on climate change is well documented, so the choice is clear. We are already being impacted, and our children’s future is at stake. The pipeline is not a bridge, it is a road to a cliff.
Tariff – Publicly subsidizing a gas pipeline is unprecedented, unnecessary and poor public policy. Ratepayers should not be expected to cover the costs of a multi-billion dollar, for-profit corporation, and certainly not without a voice in the process.
MA Global Warming Solutions Act – MA passed comprehensive climate legislation in 2008, but has failed to fully implement the law and is not on track to meet our greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets. The NED pipeline project would increase our greenhouse gas emissions from current levels making compliance with the goals the people set impossible. We support full implementation of the GWSA.
Protected Lands, MA Constitution Article 97 – MA has made a environmental and financial choice/commitment to protect these lands. They shouldn’t be given up for profit. The natural beauty of our state has economic value in our communities. A scar across any of them will have untold effects that can’t be undone.
Green Jobs – growing our green economy will provide many more, and local, jobs than the same investment in fossil fuel infrastructure.
Energy Efficiency – MA is a leader on efficiency through the GWSA, Green Communities Act and efficiency incentives. Efficiency is the most cost-effective way to reduce emissions and saves consumers on their energy bills. Although we excel, Massachusetts can do much more in this area.

Stand up for Solar — Write your state legislators asking them to support lifting the Net Metering Cap. Some background information on the bills being supported:
http://www.solarisworking.org/sites/default/files/MassSolar%20Net%20Metering%20Briefing%2C%20March%202015_0.pdf Note: Make a quick phone call to let your state legislators to let them know how you feel? We’re at risk of seriously slowing the Massachusetts solar market if our legislature doesn’t vote to lift net-metering caps ASAP! Please call your legislators and ask them to lift the caps on net-metering and support 20% solar in MA by 2025. Click here for a sample script.

Campaign to Educate and Lobby all 200 Legislators in the State Senate and House Moves Ahead. Your help is needed with this project.

Send the following short letter to family and friends in towns not on the pipeline. Dear Friend,Please send this one-page flyer (“Legislative-Pipeline-Infosheet-9-2-14 4“) to your state rep and to your state senator. Attached to a very brief personal letter. You can write a longer letter of course, but your letter could be very brief and just say something like this, “Dear Legislator: I have learned about the proposed Massachusetts pipeline project and am firmly opposed to it. I hope you will agree with me, and join other legislators who are opposed to it. I am attaching an information sheet that is full of information about the pipeline project and why it should be opposed. Thank you.”
Join a letter writing group and watch for other events such as the “Rolling March of Words” across the state. Write letters to State Legislators who represent people not along the pipeline route. See Events.
Put out a lawn sign – Lawn signs, buttons, and bumper stickers are available at Bruce’s Browser in Athol (close to Uptown Common). Lawn signs are $5. For more than 5 signs or other materials contact Rene Lake-Gagliardi at renelake@msn.com

Join the Letter Writing Campaign to let elected state and federal officials know that you are against the TGP/Kinder Morgan Proposed Gas Pipeline. Write your letter today — Letter-Writing-Campaign-against-the-Pipeline-2-6-July-21 It is important to continue writing letters. Get friends and family to write letters to legislators in districts in Boston and other eastern areas of the state. Personally written letters are better than form letters, but included is a form letter if you need one. Phoning is a second tier alternative and emailing a third. But remember, an original letter is the best thing to do. Write one letter and send it to all the names.L

Letter Writing to FERC — Continue to write and send comments to FERC now, in this Pre-Filing Period (with copies to Baker, Rosenberg, Kulik, McGovern, Warren, and Markey). FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) has the final say in permitting pipelines. There are two main phases to the pipeline proposal: the Pre-Filing Period and the period after a formal Application is filed. We are still in the early part of the Pre-Filing Period. Comments sent in now are good to show widespread opposition to the project. A formal “scoping comment” period (still part of the pre-filing process) is expected to take place around May. We recommend that you save detailed technical comments for the formal comment periods. (Now is a good time to start gathering detailed information and requests for information about impacts to your property and the community, to use for future “scoping comments” that will inform FERC’s environmental impact statement.) So commenting right now is easy – but PLEASE WRITE YOUR OWN THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS! Multiple letters with identical wording are likely to be disregarded and hurt our cause in the long run. Please write about your own narrative for opposing the pipeline. How to Comment — 1. Go to the e-comment page at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. You do not need to Register with FERC to comment. Click on the e-Comment button, which takes you to an authorization page. Enter your name and email address, and type in the weird “authorization” letters / numbers that appear. Click on authorize. FERC will send you an email. Click on the link in the email. It will lead to a page on the FERC website with your name and email filled in. In the field for “Enter Docket Number” type docket number (No Spaces) — Docket # PF14-22 Click on the Search button and wait a moment for a response. Click on the blue cross in the far right column under the heading labeled “Select”. A box for entering the comment appears. It lets you enter up to 6000 characters. It’s best if you type up your comment before, and just copy and paste it into this box. Click on Send Comment. FERC will send you an email confirming receipt of your comment. It’s really easy. Just write the PF14-22 and paste in your comment. (If you want to submit a longer comment or attachments online, you do have to register first. Instructions are available here: http://ferc.gov/docs-filing/eregistration.asp)

2. Surface-mail, which can even be hand-written, will take a few weeks to be scanned and uploaded. But it will be recorded! Remember to include Docket # PF14-22 in your letter. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426

Get media coverage – write letters to the editor – talk to your neighbors face to face, everywhere you meet them. Media Contacts is an easy-to-use list for newspapers, radio, and TV outlets.

Sign the Petition on MoveOn if you have not signed yet. See http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/massachusetts-petition

Contact local, state and federal officials (both elected and appointed).

The Gas Leaks Bill S. 2073 passed unanimously in the Mass Senate on April 10th. However, the bill doesn’t include the amendment that would require all new gas pipes to comply with the Global Warming Solutions Act. The bill now heads to a conference committee of 6 legislators. These are: Rep. Keenan (Salem), Rep. Cusack (Braintree), Rep. Mirra (Newbury), Senator Finegold (Andover), Senator Downing (Pittsfield/Berkshires) and Senator Tarr (Gloucester). Folks can contact these legislators and their own and ask them to keep the Senate version of the bill, which is much stronger. And let’s get the rest of the country to pass Senator Markey’s Pipeline Modernization and Consumer Protection Act of 2013, as well as the second part of the bill, the Pipeline Revolving Fund and Job Creation Act. Go here for more info.

Tell everyone you know to see the film GASLAND II, so they too can see where this pipeline starts and the damage that is being done there.

Get a free home-energy audit from Mass Save. No matter how your heat your home, you can stop wasting energy, save money, and be more comfortable all year round.

Take advantage of the MA rebates and incentives to install a solar system at your home.

Make ‘winserts’ for your home or place of business to save energy and make your winters (and summers) more comfortable.

Buy green electricity, and better yet, get in the habit of turning things off if you are not using them.

Divest your savings from fossil fuels.