Tag: winserts

People Speak Out on Climate Crisis, Sustainable Energy and Protecting the Earth

Views of North Quabbin March for the Earth – Nov. 29th

People from many small towns in the region came together and joined with thousands participating in events  around the world before the Climate Talks in Paris (11/30-12/11/2015)

As the Paris Climate Summit  (Nov. 30-Dec. 11) approaches, we all must step up and raise our voices.  On the eve of the biggest U.N. climate talks of the decade, we’re taking to the streets — all around the world.  With news from Paris that security will prohibit many of the Paris mobilizations and events from happening this means all people must make their voices heard around the world and be louder everywhere.  Join with people from around the North Quabbin and other places on Sunday, Nov. 29th from 1-2 p.m. at the Uptown Common in Athol for a short march, speakers and music.

No. Quabbin Global March for the Earth
No. Quabbin Global March for the Earth

Other Local and Regional Events

Winsert Making Workshops (interior storms) took place in both Orange and Royalston during November.  North Quabbin Energy and town energy committees in Orange and Royalston helped town residents build winserts for the Water Department Building in Orange and the Town Hall in Royalston.  These interior inexpensive winserts help increase the R-value of windows and cut down on heating costs.   See winsert page for information on using the “wrap method” to make winserts.

Public Lands Protected by Article 97 in Massachusetts  — Close to 20 people from the North Quabbin area were among the almost 150 people from across the state who attended a hearing in Boston recently on Article 97 and the proposed pipeline.

Alan Berman and Betsy Alkins (Warwick) were among many who attended Nov. 10 hearing at Boston State House.

People from across the state attended to give testimony to uphold Article 97 and keep Otis State Forest land from being taken out of Article 97 protection for a proposed gas pipeline running into Connecticut — another Kinder Morgan/TGP proposal.

Other News on Kinder Morgan/TGP proposed pipeline – Northeast Energy Direct Project — On Nov. 20, FERC posted the formal application submitted to them by Tennessee Gas Pipeline.  In the application Tennessee Gas makes the following comment about Article 97:   “Tennessee anticipates that it will seek Article 97 authorization from the Massachusetts legislature to obtain easement rights on lands that promote conservation purposes and that are owned by the Commonwealth  or  by a town or city.” (Nov. 20, 2015 application by Tennessee Gas Pipeline to FERC, Attachment A – Scoping Summary Matrix Responses, p. 40.).  For a listing of all sections of the application go to www.nofrackedgasinmass.org 

Solar Legislation — No Bill was passed by the MA State Legislature so works on this continues.

 

Acting Locally and Regionally on Energy Issues

Both North Quabbin Energy and North Quabbin Pipeline Action continue to plan events to educate people about energy conservation and efficiency as well as working to stop the proposed gas pipeline.

In the area of energy conservation, winsert making workshops are alive and well.  North Quabbin Energy along with town energy committees will co-ordinate two workshops in November – one on Nov. 7th at the Royalston Town Hall and the other on Nov. 14th at the Orange Armory. For information about these workshops see events and for instructions on how to make inexpensive interior storms (winserts) see Winserts – the Wrap Method.

People from the North Quabbin area also attended recent hearings at the State House in Boston.  These hearings before the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy considered several energy bills. People working on these issues hope that the net metering cap affecting solar development projects in National Grid territory will be lifted this fall, and that a favorable energy bill will be passed by the State Legislature.

North Quabbin Pipeline Action had a presence at the Garlic and Arts Festival in Orange recently.  People staffed a table and got over 100 people to sign and write short letters to State Senators asking them to commit to upholding Article 97 of the State Constitution – an article pertaining to protected public lands in the state (see Resources and Research).  See Events for more information about upcoming activities.

Watch for Local Actions on Nov. 29th — Week-end of Climate Action on Road to Paris —  Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground.  See http://350.org/roadthroughparis/  —  “This huge weekend of action is being dubbed the Global Climate March, and a lot of organizations will be taking part. There will be a big march in Paris with hundreds of thousands of people, as well as key marches on every continent. Here in the U.S. it will be a holiday weekend, so we’re anticipating that many events will be a bit smaller. We’re still fired up to add our voices to the global call for action though, and we hope that you are too.”