Massachusetts

May 21, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today announced that the Committee approved S. 2555, “The Reducing Global Warming Pollution from Vehicles Act of 2008,” a bill that instructs the President to sign the California waiver so that California and other states can proceed with laws to improve air quality problems from cars.

On December 19, 2007, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson denied California’s request for the waiver – the first time in history that EPA had ever denied outright a request from California for a waiver to do more to cut air pollution.    » read more »

5/20/2008 -- Massachusetts Attorney General and automatic delegate Martha Coakley announced her support for Hillary Clinton today. The Massachusetts State Democratic Committee elected her one of its automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention on May 10. Attorney General Coakley’s statement follows below:

"I am determined to see a successful Democratic campaign for President in November. I believe that the Democratic primary has demonstrated to the American people that there are two able and hard working candidates, either of whom can win the presidency. Either will be a huge improvement for America over what the Republicans have offered for the last eight years and what they offer now for the next four. I will support whoever is the nominee of the party.    » read more »

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (May 1, 2008)—More than a million Boston-area electricity customers now have the option of buying 100 percent of their power from wind, thanks to yesterday's announcement that Massachusetts has approved NSTAR's green power program. The program should serve as a model for the rest of the nation, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which helped the utility design it.

Wind turbines near Walla Walla, Washington: Photo by Sparky (CC)    » read more »

May, 2008 - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick this morning delivered a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce where he presented a comprehensive, ambitious strategy for taking national leadership in clean energy in response to record high energy prices and in recognition of the opportunities for jobs and economic growth in the burgeoning clean energy industry.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick speaks on clean energy

Transcript: Clean Energy Strategy Remarks to Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

May 1, 2008
As Delivered

Governor Patrick

Good morning.    » read more »

May 02, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Today, Former Democratic National Committee Chair and Massachusetts superdelegate Paul G. Kirk, Jr. endorsed Barack Obama.

The endorsement brings the total number of superdelegates to endorse Barack Obama to 253. Senator Obama is 279 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

Barack Obama supporter, Indiana: Photo by John Bracken (CC)

His statement is below:    » read more »

Schwarzenegger praises Massachusetts for adopting California’s approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel, based on Task Force recommendation

April 23, 2008 -- BOSTON – Wednesday, April 23, 2008 – Seizing an opportunity to make Massachusetts a national leader in alternative fuels and clean energy policy, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi today announced their support for developing a Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which would set limits on greenhouse gas emissions without mandating the use of specific technology or fuels, and encouraging neighboring states in the Northeast to do the same.    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- BOSTON – Today, six people were arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court in connection with their participation in staging fraudulent motor vehicle accidents to scam insurance companies. The six defendants - Fred Battista, age 46, of Revere, his stepmother Laura Battista, age 58, of Weymouth, David Forlizzi, age 47, of Hudson, NH, William Penta, age 44, of Revere, Janet Vaccari, age 46, of Reading, and Vaccari’s daughter Deana Pistone, age 25, of Wakefield, all entered pleas of not guilty and were released on personal recognizance. They are due back in court on June 9, 2008, for a pre-trial conference.

The defendants are charged as follows:

Fred Battista:
Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud (3 counts)    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has proposed amendments to its Brownfields Covenant Program regulations in order to streamline the application process for future agreements and to create new incentives to redevelop abandoned or underutilized contaminated properties. The program, which has been in place since 1999, promotes environmental cleanup and economic development by providing liability protections to individuals or companies with redevelopment projects on contaminated property.    » read more »

April 09, 2008 -- BOSTON – Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed an amicus brief in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey supporting New Jersey’s challenge to a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policy limiting the states’ ability to use federal money to fund health insurance for low-income children.

Sick baby: Photo by Melting Mama (CC)    » read more »

BOSTON– Monday, April 7, 2008 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today made two announcements relative to renewable energy in Massachusetts – a second phase of expansion by Marlboro-based Evergreen Solar at its manufacturing facility in Devens, and a year’s worth of progress with state agencies adopting renewable energy under the Governor’s “Leading By Example” Executive Order.

Massachusetts Governor Patrick explains how expansion will create jobs, protect the environment, and reduce energy consumption: Photo courtesy Massachusetts Governor's office    » read more »

April 03, 2008 -- BOSTON – A Dorchester mortgage broker was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court yesterday afternoon on multiple charges in connection with her alleged fraudulent activity in securing subprime mortgages for several unqualified home buyers. Nicole Lyder, age 33, was arrested on Tuesday evening on unrelated charges in Norfolk County. Late last month, she was indicted by a Suffolk Grand Jury. Lyder is charged with forgery (6 counts), uttering (6 counts), making or publishing false or exaggerated statements (4 counts), and larceny of credit by false pretenses (5 counts).    » read more »

Regenerative Medicine leader to expand space and employees in Massachusetts, encompassing over 250,000 square feet for new global headquarters

CANTON – April 3, 2008 –Joined by local officials and Organogenesis, Inc.’s CEO Geoff MacKay, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announced today that the Massachusetts-based company, which was once planning to move its operations outside of the state, is initiating an expansion of its global headquarters, R&D and manufacturing facilities in Canton.

Massachusetts Governor Patrick addresses the importance of expanding local companies like Organogenesis: Photo: Massachusetts Governor's office    » read more »

04/02/2008 -- BOSTON – Senator John Kerry today issued the following statement praising Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley for her bold efforts to fight climate change and require the Bush Administration to act.

On April 2, 2007, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Massachusetts (and other petitioners), finding that the EPA has the authority to regulate CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

Earth's limb: Photo: NASA    » read more »

EPA Ignores Supreme Court Ruling on Regulating Greenhouse Gases

April 02, 2008 -- BOSTON – Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office along with Attorneys General from 17 states, the Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, the City Solicitor of Baltimore, and 13 environmental advocacy groups have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to order the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to respond to last year’s landmark ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA.    » read more »

EPA Ignores Supreme Court Ruling on Regulating Greenhouse Gases

BALTIMORE, MD (April 2, 2008) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, along with Attorneys General from 16 other states, the Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, the City Solicitor of Baltimore, the District of Columbia, and a host of environmental advocacy groups, has asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to order the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to respond to last year’s landmark ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA.

Tailpipe emissions: Photo by Simone Ramella (CC)    » read more »