Issue Position: Protecting our Environment and Natural Resources

Issue Position

Clean Energy

Boston and Cambridge can lead the world in developing green technology and increasing energy efficiency. I support clean, renewable energy for the 21st Century. We have vast untapped energy from wind, solar, water, and geothermal power. By investing in a modern clean energy system now, we can lower costs for residents and businesses, improve health, and reduce carbon emissions to help slow global warming.

The science is clear -- carbon emissions intensify the problem of global warming, causing changes in our weather patterns and rising sea levels. Reasonable projections show that within this century, rising sea levels could put parts of Boston under water during storms. We must act now to reduce carbon emissions from sources such as oil-dependent cars and fossil fuel energy such as coal and oil. We must do so in a way that does not create new problems. We must make sure there is a regulatory structure that makes sense not only to encourage use of alternative energy sources, but also to ensure the safe use of new technologies.

We can reduce our need for energy by increasing our energy-efficiency. By getting more energy out of each kilowatt of power, we can save money and save the environment.

The Bottle Bill

I favor updating and expanding the bottle bill. Since its passage in 1982, the bottle bill has been effective at reducing the waste stream. Currently 80% of containers covered by the bottle bill are recycled instead of buried or burned. But the bill does not cover many bottles including those that did not exist in 1982. The omissions are significant: we only recover about 20% of the containers not covered in the bill.

There are about one billion bottles a year that get buried or burned instead of recovered, enough to fill Fenway Park to the Monster seats. I support the updated bill that covers the water, energy and sports drink bottles, and the revenue generated to go fund a restored Clean Environment Fund.

Open Spaces

We have beautiful open spaces in our district and the Commonwealth. I support funding and laws for the preservation of open space and green space, including the Esplanade, Charles River, the Boston Common, the Public Garden, and Magazine beach. These special places bring beauty and respite to our community, a heritage for us to enjoy, treasure and preserve.

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