January Newsletter

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Buckle up for a highly anticipated wild ride.

Start here with perspectives on Cop28 beginning with inspiration and motivation from our own Tina Grosowsky whose Boston Globe Letter to the Editor (below) is a reminder of the adage, “All organizing is local.”

“Underwhelming World Climate Talks Spur Calls for Action

It remains up to individuals and advocates to keep pushing. In her Dec. 16 op-ed, “World leaders at COP28 agreed to transition away from fossil fuels. Will they follow through?” Rachel Cleetus asks the important question. In the United States, it is up to citizens to do our part individually and at local and state levels—to follow through on actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As a member of the Massachusetts chapter of Elders Climate Action, I am committed to educating my friends and neighbors about what we can do about climate change. I also work with colleagues to advocate for policies to reduce emissions in Massachusetts.

We must work together with the Healey administration and the Legislature to speed up solutions. We’ve got to find the funding to support the transition from fossil fuels to electrification. Statewide organizations such as 350 Massachusetts, Third Act, Mothers Out Front, and others work alongside our chapter on both education and advocacy. We must do this for our children and grandchildren. The work on climate change begins in our homes and communities.”

—Tina Grosowsky, Hudson

More on COP28

From the Outrage and Optimism podcast produced by architects of the Paris 2015 climate agreement, a highly recommended 18-minute listen to insider/activists’ views—Cop28: The Outcome is a Signal.

Food and agriculture were discussed, and made it into the final COP28 agreement for the first time!—"Food is finally on the table": COP28 addressed agriculture in a real way.

Third Act Call to Action—Non-violent Civil Disobedience Opposing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Expansion

Just when we need to be halting fossil fuel projects, the U.S. has become the largest producer and exporter of LNG. And much more expansion is planned. In protest, Third Act is organizing 3 days of civil disobedience to take place early February in Washington D.C. LNG is primarily made up of methane, making it 80 times more potent than CO2 in the short term, and 30 times worse in the long term. The literally, potentially explosive harm is both to the environment and to thousands of primarily poor communities, populated largely by people of color, situated along the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast. Follow the links below for details on the protest, background on non-violent civil disobedience, background on LNG, and an in-depth piece on the Gulf Coast projects.

#StopLNG Sit-in

Third Act Non-violent Civil Disobedience Trainings and more

Liquefied Natural Gas 101 (NRDC)

Death stars on sinking land: How LNG took over the Gulf Coast (Grist)

Committee Reports

Climate and Energy

Climate and Energy continues its focus on electrification and reducing carbon emissions. Join us to put advocacy in action by promoting renewable energy, heat pumps, and electric appliances in the Hudson community. Contact: Brian White [email protected]

Education and Outreach

Climate Cafes are happening! They’re fun, they’re informative. We’ve lined up great speakers: January 23—Bart Yeager from Black Earth Compost (see Climate Cafe notice below); February—Jackie Gillis on trash, recycling, and Hudson’s proposed new recycling center; March—not yet finalized; April— Elisa Pearmain with a speaker from Beyond Plastics on all things plastics reduction. Other topics being explored include getting gardens ready for native plants, EVs, and EV school buses. Suggestions of topics and speakers welcome. Cafes take place from 7–8:30 PM and end on time! Come have some goodies, meet new friends, and get inspired to help your town and the planet. Contact: Jeanette Millard [email protected]

Plastics Reduction Committee (PRC)

On December 12^th members of the PRC went to the Board of Health (BOH) hoping for their support for a Plastic Reduction petition. Michael Delfino spoke for the Board saying that, 1) “He had done a lot of research, and the restaurants in Hudson were not ready for this.” 2) “That they (the BOH) would rather see the state pass a law so that they can follow their rules.” 3) They (the BOH) are feeling overwhelmed with the refugees that they are overseeing and that they are just now starting to enforce the bag ban and can’t handle anything more.

We do not agree that restaurants are not ready for this. The growing number of towns in MA that

have passed this legislation, and a growing number of states that have also passed similar measures backs up our thesis. It can and is being done. We would love nothing more than for the state to pass comprehensive bans on all kinds of single-use plastics. Unfortunately, year after year bills come up in our state house and die in committee.

The BOH also declined to co-sponsor a bill to ban Styrofoam containers. (We asked, considering our survey showed only sixteen of the forty-four restaurants surveyed continue to use them.)

We sympathize and agree that they are overwhelmed by their new responsibilities.

As head of the PRC, I have decided not to pursue a Green Hudson citizen’s plastics reduction petition for the May town meeting. I propose that we wait and see what the state does with a number of new bills aimed at reducing single-use plastics. We will know their fates by July ’24 at the latest. If nothing significant passes, then I will propose that we move ahead with a fall citizen’s petition that would, if it passes, go into effect in June of 2025.

We will be coming to you soon with a postcard writing campaign with the help of Beyond

Plastics to spur our state legislature to act. If you are interested in reading about the Plastic

Reduction bills now in committee, please follow this link to our website Plastic Reduction. For more information on the PRC’s work and to get involved, please contact Elisa Pearmain,

(781) 640-9499, [email protected]

Legislative News

The Massachusetts legislature is beginning its second year of the two year session. Many of the important climate oriented bills are in the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee (TUE). The TUE House and Senate Co-chairs have said they will create another omnibus bill this year with many elements of the bills in the committee. This will be done by February 7 when all bills have to be reported out of committee or “sent to study” which means they are finished for this session.

Other important committees also have climate related bills including Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), Transportation, and Workforce Development. It will be interesting to see which bills are reported out of those committees. When a bill gets reported out it goes to a conference committee consisting of members of both House and Senate. They will work out a compromise bill and send it to the Ways and Means Committee where it will then be determined by leadership whether or not to send it to the floor for a vote. It’s a long complicated process!

Other climate related issues also being considered through a regulatory framework include reform of the Mass Save program, permitting reforms, and the transition off gas.

Green Hudson will keep you updated as the legislative session proceeds and will let you know when it’s time to get active contacting our representatives.

Mass News

Healey-Driscoll Administration releases climate report card. Read or listen here (WBUR): Mass. is on track to meet its near-term climate goals, but the hardest work lies ahead.

State utility regulators have issued a sweeping ruling for reducing the use of gas for heating. Read here (Inside Climate News): Massachusetts Just Took a Big Step Away from Natural Gas. Which States Might Follow?

After years of negotiation and controversy, finally, the first delivery of wind power began January 3 from Vineyard Wind. Read here (Yahoo News): Vineyard Wind powers up approximately 5 megawatts of wind power offshore.

Background on Massachusetts wind power controversy. Read here (Harvard Political Review ): Turbines in Trouble: The Controversy Behind Vineyard Wind & Offshore Wind in Massachusetts.

Inspiration and Resources

This month's resources include one from a previous newsletter, and two new resource/inspirations to get your ideas flowing for 2024.

Previously published and worth repeating: If you’re asking “What can I do?”, marine-biologist, activist Ayana Elizabeth-Johnson’s Venn Diagram can help you find your way. Originally envisioned specifically to combat climate change, this venn diagram is a guide for any path of service to people and planet. And if that path brings you to Green Hudson, whether in big or small ways, we welcome you.

What are you good at? Think about your skills, resources, and networks. What are your areas of expertise? Who and what do you have access to? What can you bring to the table?
What is the work that needs doing? Think about system-level change. Are there particular climate and justice solutions that interest you? Maybe starting a composting program, protecting forests, or getting climate candidates elected?
What brings you joy and satisfaction? What gets you out of bed in the morning? Don’t pick things that make you miserable and will burn you out! This is for the long haul —find things that enliven and energize you.

Chop Wood, Carry Water—Jessi ca Craven’s sub-stack newsletter, special climate edition: I want to do more on CLIMATE. (Editor’s comments—#2 Pick ONE good environmental organization: consider us—Green Hudson! And #4—I love that Jessica is promoting Who Gives a Crap Toilet Paper, a sustainable TP. And while I love their poo inspired marketing, what I love most is that they donate 50% of their profits to building toilets for the billions who still don’t have access to clean sanitation. Read more here: WASH—Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Now, that is a project worth getting behind!)

The Green Energy Consumers Alliance sponsors many free webinars with new ones always being added—explore their website for many resources.

The Assabet River flows through the town of Hudson providing a powerful reminder of why we want to protect the beauty the earth provides. Scientists are alarmed as we witness climate change happening and we need to do more to put a stop to the threat. Join Green Hudson now to learn more.

The Green Hudson Newsletter team needs your help! Low commitment and lots of fun! Contact Linda Miller at [email protected].

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