Government – Action Needed!

You can help change the way things are done! Here is a time sensitive Call to Action! Several bills filed in the new legislative session are designed to improve the process of siting transmission lines. Two more relate to the application of herbicides near drinking water supply. With your help, we can get these bills co-sponsored before the deadline of this Friday, February 3 at 4:59pm!

Success depends on the number of sponsors and the support of the State House Leadership. YOU can make the difference, but you must take action before the deadline!

We need any and all Massachusetts residents to call their legislators and ask them to support the bills below. Each bill is designed to help better balance energy and the environment. Remind our legislators that we, their constituents, are in the crosshairs of projects going before the Energy Facilities Siting Board; that these bills look out for communities and promote locating facilities where it makes sense, and ask that they please co-sponsor the bills below.

The 3 Siting Board bills are:

  • 1297: (Rep. Day) “An Act Relative to the Energy Facilities Siting Board” (criteria to consider community and environmental cost, involve Fish & Game and Public Health)
  • 1301: (Rep. Day) “An Act relative to reasonable municipal expenses” (make energy companies reimburse municipalities for e.g. legal expenses involved in siting process)
  • 2672: (Rep. Gentile)”An Act relative to the placement of overhead transmission lines”  (ban placement of new overhead transmission lines in the fall zone of homes)

The 2 herbicide bills are:

  • 1259(Sen. Cyr) “An Act relative to vegetation management” (offer no-spray agreement through Water District)
  • 1841(Sen. Cyr) “An Act relative to the pesticide board” (involve Food & Agriculture, DEP, Public Health in decision)

Poor energy planning and a siting process that is slanted in favor of energy companies are systemic problems that need to be fixed. This recent blog post, Eversource: The Big Picture, highlights the many communities fighting Eversource transmission line projects across the region. Together, we can influence regulations to better balance energy and the environment.

Here are handy links for contact information for Congressional Leadership, our State Senators, and our State Representatives.

And the link to our call to action on the Protect Sudbury Facebook page: https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/form/apvkxf?from=admin_wall

If you have any questions about this call to action please contact Bill Schineller.