Green Hudson November Newsletter

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

A Message from Green Hudson's President

This a note to all of us who care about the beauty and health of our earth and the urgent need to adapt to climate change:
It is a hard time to be a climate activist. It feels like we are losing ground, with the reductions in funding for needed climate action and the degradation of the EPA (among other things).

At the same time, efforts at the local level are continuing and, in many places, thriving. We all know a lot is needed to make change fast enough to make a difference. It is, sometimes, hard to have faith.

But the next time you visit another town or state, look around for signs of climate activism. People are planting native plant gardens in abundance; recycling and composting are gaining new attention and support; EV adoption is slower than hoped but it is still proceeding, with the promise of new, less expensive EV's coming in 2026 and 2027.

Communities are learning that if we want something improved, we need to do it ourselves. This helps people take action and also to feel stronger as a community. We hope we are doing this in Hudson as well.

Here's a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh which helps me to stay our course and feel hopeful: 

Someone asked me, “Aren’t you worried about the state of the world?”

I allowed myself to breathe and then I said, “What is most important is

not to allow your anxiety about what happens in the world to fill your heart.

If your heart is filled with anxiety, you will get sick, and you will not be able to help.”

Jeanette Millard, President

Committee Reports

The Climate and Energy Committee's next team meeting will be at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 16th. Mark your calendar! We are now meeting monthly on the 3rd Sunday, right before the general meeting. Current topics include: Heat Smart Cool Smart, EV charging infrastructure, and Climate Cafe topics (shared with Education and Outreach Committee).

The Education and Outreach Committee There are two Climate Cafes to wind up 2025. November's presentation was on the 4th and focussed on bringing our green values closer to home. We explored aspects of Green Giving in preparation for many of the season’s holidays. Green Hudson members shared ideas related to creating and procuring gifts, wrapping and presenting those gifts, and a range of alternatives to traditional gift giving. Others who attended shared their own ideas on ways to give gifts and celebrate, without adding to our carbon footprint. Fun was had by all.

December's Climate Cafe brings us back to our gardens and yards, and to some shared town land. We’ll be looking at invasive plant removal and facilitated/natural forest succession,
using Danforth Falls Conservation Land as a local example. The proliferation of invasive plants has a strong tie-in with climate change. These non-native aggressive plants take advantage of our ecosystems that are being weakened by more frequent climate extremes, such as record heat, prolonged drought, and intense rainfall events.

Brooke Warrington and Patrick Thayer, two of our local experts from the Conservation Commission, have a story to tell that shows what can be done to restore and promote the ecological health of conservation land in Hudson. Come hear what is being done–and is succeeding! They’ll also spotlight a few invasive plants that are most prevalent in the Town of Hudson and how you can identify and remove them in your own yards.

We are then taking a break to retool the Cafes for the next year. All of our Climate Cafes can be found on our webpage.

The Plastic Reduction Committee

It’s hard to believe but the winter holidays are fast approaching. On November 4th our Climate Cafe focused on environmentally responsible gift giving. Here are a few of the ideas we shared: (For the full presentation see https://greenhudson.org/previous-climate-cafes/. It may take us a while to get the recording up there so be patient!)

Alternatives to physical presents:

Give a donation through Heifer International (www.heifer.org) that sends baby chicks to a family in need, or through Unicef (www.unicefusa.org) who will send blankets, food, and other supplies to needy areas.
Offer a service–“I’ll teach you how to make quiche!”
Provide a two-month membership in Black Earth Home Composting.

Alternative wrapping: (Most Holiday paper cannot be recycled.)

Wrap in previously used paper or gift bags.

Wrap in scraps of cloth, newspaper, decorated paper bags, scarves …

Alternative product gifts to raise awareness:

Fill a stocking or basket with plastic-free alternatives for the bath, kitchen or on the go.

On-the-Go: Give a small reusable grocery bag with cloth produce bags, reusable straws, a wooden spork and knife for take-out, metal or glass doggie bags for left-overs.

Gift bags with bar shampoo, toothpaste pellets, bamboo toothbrushes, metal razors, stick deodorant …

Kitchen items such as dishwasher soap pellets, non-plastic sponges and reusable cleaning cloths.

Cloth napkins. New or from scraps of cloth you’ve saved.

Handmade gifts are the best!

Send us your ideas to [email protected]

Legislative Update

Many climate and environmental bills have had hearings at the State House but a few are still waiting for hearing dates. The Governor’s Affordability Bill and Environmental Bond Bill (Mass Ready Act) will be the main climate bills this session and the vehicle for any other climate-related bills to be incorporated. Intel from the State House hints the Affordability bill might get reported out and voted on before the end of the year.

The Municipal Reforestation bill (in the Senate) was reported out of committee to Ways & Means. The Climate Bank bill is in the Financial Services Committee and will hopefully have a hearing mid-November. Check out the tool kit here and take action!

Gas expansion bills have a hearing before Telecommunication, Utility and Energy (TUE) on November 13.

Because of earlier rule changes each chamber will vote on their own bills separately including in the Joint Committees.

Take Action NOW on the
Commonwealth's Climate Bank Bill

A proposal on Beacon Hill aims to accelerate clean-energy and climate-resilience projects through a dedicated

Massachusetts Climate Bank. The House (H.3937) and Senate (S.786) bills would establish a public, mission-driven financing institution to attract private investment for projects that cut carbon emissions, boost energy efficiency, and strengthen communities against climate impacts.

Modeled after successful “green banks” in other states, the Climate Bank would use public seed money to leverage many times more in private funds—helping towns, nonprofits, and local businesses launch clean-energy and resilience initiatives that might not otherwise qualify for traditional financing. The proposal is now before the Joint Committee on Financial Services.

YOUR HELP! Green Hudson members can help pass the Climate Bank Bill
by submitting your written testimony before the hearing
on Tuesday November 18, 1:00 p.m.

Here is a template to frame your letter along with a list of key points to incorporate into your own testimony. Personalized comments carry the most weight so, please, do not simply copy the template letter and send it. In your own words select the key points you wish to highlight, including why this bill is important to you. Short and to the point is fine.

Winter Driving with an EV

Many people are concerned about the performance of electric vehicles in winter. Electric vehicle (EV) performance does change in winter, but so does that of gas-powered cars.

There are thousands of EV drivers who drive through winters in New York and New England (and even colder places like Canada and Norway) with their EVs every year. Click here to read more about what winter weather will do to your EV and for tips from other EV owners.

November 10th Deadline! Get Your Comments in Now.

You may already be aware, but we wanted to flag that the commonwealth's Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources has quite a few bills that might be of interest. They are open for public comment up until November 10th and can be viewed here.

Public comments can be submitted by emailing the joint committee at [email protected]. Of particular interest is "An Act Restricting the Use of Rodenticides in the Environment" (H965/S644).

December 2nd Climate Cafe

Tuesday, December 2nd, at 7:00 p.m.

Hudson Public Library

3 Washington Street, 2nd Floor in the McLellan Room

Recycling Volunteers Needed!

Have fun! Meet your neighbors and make new friends while helping the planet. Recycling volunteers needed Saturdays.

For more information:

contact [email protected]

Green Hudson's monthly general meetings are open to the public and held the third Sunday of each month, from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson, 80 Main Street in Hudson.

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. We need to do more to put a stop to the threat.

Join Green Hudson now to learn more.

You are invited

Do you have suggestions for articles, resources of note, inspirations, relevant books to recommend, etc.? Send to [email protected] with the subject line "Green Hudson".

Share Green Hudson’s Newsletter

If you found something of value in this newsletter, please forward it to others who might be interested. And, if you’re reading someone else’s copy and would like to receive your own newsletter each month, please subscribe by emailing [email protected].

For more information on Green Hudson ... visit our website at www.greenhudson.org.

If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.