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Energy & Environment

 

 

 

OVERVIEW

Protecting our environment and working to address climate change have been top priorities throughout my tenure in Congress. In fact, one of my first votes was to increase fuel efficiency standards for the first time in more than 30 years and to begin the process of putting federal funding behind alternative energy sources and energy efficient technology.

Too many of us can remember a time when our rivers were polluted, poor air quality was accepted as a fact of life, and private corporations polluted our environment with no consequences. For example, here in the Third District, the Nashua River was once so polluted that the river would change color almost daily because of the inks and dyes released into the river by paper factories, while the Merrimack River became one of the most polluted rivers in the nation - even as it helped power the Industrial Revolution.

Given the Republican control of both the White House and Congress, there is no doubt that we are at a crossroads when it comes to environmental protection. The Republican majority has made it clear that they will use all tools available to roll back important environmental protections for our clean air, clean water, and natural wildlife. I remain deeply concerned about President Trump’s agenda to roll back important environmental protections.

The science is clear: due to climate change, we will see more extreme heat, damaging storms, coastal flooding and risks to food security, further endangering our environment, economic opportunities, and public health. We are already beginning to see some of its effects. According to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), seventeen of the warmest years on record have occurred since 2001. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that the rate of global sea level rise over the past two decades is double that of the last century.

I am a senior member of the Natural Resources Committee, which oversees legislation related to domestic energy production, national parks, rivers, forests, oceans, and wilderness areas. This Committee is particularly appropriate considering the vast and unique landscape that makes up the Third District, including two national historical parks, two national heritage areas, three national wildlife refuges, and three rivers protected under the Wild and Scenic River designation. From 2015-2017, I served as the highest ranking Democratic member on the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

I am also a founding member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), a group of members of Congress focused on addressing climate change and protecting our nation’s clean air, water, and natural environment. The Coalition also seeks to increase deployment of clean energy technologies and drive American innovation in these fields.

 


PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES

Public lands protect some of the places that have shaped and defined who we are as a people, and a country, and would not have been protected without support from the federal government. Generation after generation of Americans have endorsed the idea that our public lands should be managed for the benefit of all Americans to support a wide range of activities. This includes recreation and sportsmen’s activities, responsible resource extraction, economic and energy development, conservation of land, wildlife habitat, and watersheds, and to create efficiencies in federal land stewardship. Public lands must continue to be managed on behalf of all the American people, no matter where they may live.

I strongly support full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which provides grants to States and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities, as well as funding for conservation strategies on our nation’s public lands. For over 50 years, the LWCF has carried out a simple bipartisan idea: use revenues from the depletion of one resource, offshore oil and gas, to conserve another, our land and water, and provide recreation opportunities for all Americans. By using revenues from offshore oil and gas leases, LWCF does not cost a dime to American taxpayers and does not contribute to the federal deficit.

I was proud to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in Chelmsford with the Director of the National Park Service in August of 2014. I was also a leader in 2015 to reauthorize the fund and increase its funding for 2016, and will continue working for its permanent reauthorization.

 

 

ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE

The global community has a responsibility to act on climate change, and America has a responsibility to lead. This is not a political issue; this is a critical generational responsibility that will take a commitment from Washington and from each of us here at home. Failure to support climate change initiatives is made all the more intolerable when considering the accompanying economic and job creation benefits presented by a clean energy economy.

I remain deeply concerned about the Trump Administration’s consistent denial of the realities of climate change and their rejection of commonsense policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting economic growth.

I am also deeply opposed to the Trump Administration’s decision to leave the Paris Climate Accord. In 2015, the United States and nearly 200 countries from around the world came together at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to outline long-term strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst impacts of climate change. The group of nations, representing 95 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, each submitted plans to reduce the harmful emissions that help cause climate change, including our own nation’s commitment to reduce our emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

America took a leadership role, with President Obama meeting personally with other heads of state, including the leaders of China and India - representing the world’s largest greenhouse gas polluters - to reaffirm their commitment to reducing carbon emissions. The result was a globally shared commitment to act on climate change.

The Paris Climate Accord became a powerful symbol of the international community, with the United States leading the way, signifying a global partnership to address a worldwide threat. It put America and the rest of the world on a trajectory towards meaningful action.

Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord denies the role the United States plays in contributing to climate change, reduces our ability to help shape a solution to this crisis, and retreats from our responsibility to serve as a global leader.

When President Trump withdrew the United States from the monumentally important Paris Climate Accord, I was in Germany on a bipartisan Congressional delegation.While in Germany, I heard firsthand the deep concern and criticism of this decision from our international allies. You can read more about my trip here.

 

 

DRIVING CLEAN ENERGY DEPLOYMENT AND INNOVATION

Our nation stands poised to lead the clean energy revolution that will create the next generation of research and manufacturing jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We can use our American entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic to harness wind, solar, and geothermal energy sources to power homes, office buildings, and appliances. As these technologies mature and become cost competitive with carbon equivalents, it will be American-made clean energy technology and products that are sold overseas. According to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, jobs in clean energy and energy efficiency across the Commonwealth have grown by 75 percent since 2010 and is now an eleven-billion-dollar industry. The clean energy sector also pays good wages; 68 percent of Massachusetts clean energy employees earned more than $50,000 in 2017.

The Third District is leading this charge toward clean energy innovation. We have companies developing and manufacturing solar and fuel cell technology, new ways of transporting energy, and other clean energy technologies that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency. Local colleges and universities are expanding to include new classes and innovation technology centers that will pave the way for future pioneering in this field. The Third District has over 70,000 homes that use solar power and 46 companies that manufacture, install, and develop solar projects. Massachusetts is ranked 6th in the nation in terms of total installed solar capacity and has over 11,000 jobs in solar energy. Companies of all types and sizes now use solar to power their operations, ranging from historic mill buildings like Everett Mills in Lawrence to family-owned apple orchards like Carlson Orchards in Harvard and Mann Orchards in Methuen. I have also helped secure federal funding to install solar panels in Lancaster, Lowell, and Haverhill to reduce energy costs for public buildings. Massachusetts is also home to 9 wind-related manufacturing facilities.

In order to take full advantage of the environmental and economic benefits of clean energy, we need to make sure American workers are fully trained and ready to pave the way for growth and innovation in this new American energy industry. That is why I introduced the Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act, legislation that creates a new grant program to help colleges and universities, unions, state and local governments, and nonprofits develop offshore wind job training programs. These grants will help develop curricula, internships, health and safety programs, and other activities deemed appropriate by the Secretaries of Energy, Labor, Interior, and Education to develop an offshore wind workforce. The bill prioritizes grants to community colleges, organizations that service minority populations, and those helping workers from other industries transition to the offshore wind workforce. You can read more about the legislation here. The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources also held a hearing on the legislation, which included testimony from Stephen Pike, CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. You can read more about the hearing and watch video here.

 

 

PROTECTING THE RIVERS OF THE THIRD DISTRICT

The rivers in the Third District play an important role in our communities today and in our history. I recognize this each year by hosting River Day, when I join a group of volunteers to visit various rivers and sites around the district to promote the conservation and importance of our region’s beautiful natural resources. I was honored to host Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel during River Day 2015. The 2017 River Day marked this event's 11th anniversary.

In 2014, I successfully passed legislation that was signed into law by President Obama to study the potential designation of the Nashua River and its tributaries as Wild and Scenic rivers. This classification would help preserve and protect this historic waterway while making it eligible to receive federal funding for further conservation efforts. The Nashua River Wild and Scenic River Study Committee recently completed the three-year study authorized by my legislation and I will continue working in Congress to formally designate the river as Wild and Scenic.

 

 

ADDRESSING NEW ENGLAND’S ENERGY CHALLENGES

New England, like many areas around the country, faces energy challenges. We need careful and strategic long-term planning in order to lower energy prices and maintain reliability.

Increasing access to reliable sources of natural gas could help address some of New England’s energy challenges, including energy prices which have historically been above the national average, however there is no guarantee.

While natural gas is not a renewable resource or the answer to global warming, in the near term natural gas can serve to diminish a number of public health threats caused by generating electricity because power plants burning natural gas produce less air pollution than coal-burning plants. However, we must ensure the process for extracting natural gas from our land is done safely and responsibly and does not displace investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.

I have cosponsored several pieces of legislation in support of stronger environmental protections for fracking activities. For example, I am a cosponsor of a package of bills called the “Frack Pack,” which would strengthen federal fracking safety rules, close loopholes for the oil and gas industry under the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act, and require companies to document baseline water quality conditions before fracking begins. And, I support implementing all of the Natural Resources Defense Council fracking safeguards.

 

OUR NATIONAL PARKS

Find a national park near you!

I serve on the Natural Resources Committee and was named Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee for 2015-2017, which oversees America's National Parks.

I am fortunate to represent two outstanding National Parks in the Third District. The extraordinary transformation of Lowell began when the Lowell National Historical Park was established within the city’s core in 1978, the first urban national park of its kind in the United States. The park has been instrumental in preserving and protecting the historic landscape of the city and revitalizing the economic and physical condition of the downtown area.

Every year, thousands of people visit Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord to see first-hand where “the shot heard ‘round the world” was fired and where the American Revolution began. The National Park Service plays a vital role in preserving these important pieces of our history as well as our wild spaces and landscapes.

I am also working to ensure that our national parks are open and accessible to the next generation of Americans. I introduced the bipartisan Every Kid Outdoors Act, legislation to provide America’s 4th graders and their families free entrance to all federally managed land, waters, and historic sites, including national parks – more than 2,000 sites in all. The Every Kid Outdoors Act is aimed at encouraging kids to get outdoors and experience America’s public spaces, while engaging in healthy activity and educational programs. Additionally, the bill encourages increased public/private partnerships between our federal lands, schools and private and nonprofit organizations. You can read more about the legislation here.

BARRETT FARM

In 2009, President Obama signed my bill to protect Colonel James Barrett's farmhouse, allowing this historic site, which was the impetus for the British march on Concord and Lexington, to be brought within the boundaries of Minute Man National Park. This action ensures that current and future generations can learn about the important role it played in the birth of our nation. In October of 2012, I celebrated, along with the organization Save Our Heritage, the completed restoration and transfer of ownership of the Barrett Farm. You can read more about Barrett Farm here.

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR VISITS

At my invitation, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell joined me for River Day 2015 and to celebrate our region’s national parks. Previously, former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar visited Lowell at my invitation for a tour of the Lowell National Historical Park, the nation’s first urban national park of its kind. I urged Secretary Salazar to visit Lowell NHP to see a firsthand example of the important role that national parks can play in both the economic development and cultural preservation of cities. Following the tour, Secretary Salazar commented that Lowell NHP could be "a model" for urban national parks throughout the nation, including in such cities as St. Louis and Los Angeles.

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