Mass Audubon

New online program alert! We are excited to announce our new Conservation in Action Certificate Program. Over 11 weeks, explore the basics of land conservation, ecological restoration, environmental advocacy, and motivating others to engage in conservation. After, you'll have the chance to participate in hands-on experiences around the state. Ready to take action? Learn more, check out the schedule, and register: https://bit.ly/3XN1Nvj

Highlight of the week: coming together for our annual staff outing, this year at our Wildwood property in Rindge, NH.   After a morning of nature walks, archery, mushroom hunting, paddling, and more, Mass Audubon staff came together over lunch to celebrate employee milestones and the organization's exciting accomplishments so far this year.   We capped the day with some friendly competition, racing cardboard boats on the lake. Collaborating and connecting with colleagues from across the state is always energizing, inspiring, and a whole lot of fun. We are already looking forward to next year!

Mass Audubon President David O'Neill shares how we, along with partners like MathWorks, can address our climate crisis and reverse biodiversity loss. "As climate change worsens, we need to move as quickly as we can to stabilize global temperatures. [The Catalyst] fund can serve as a model in the global effort to protect 30 percent of the world’s land by 2030, capably illustrating how the power and beauty of nature is an essential tool to fight climate change and loss of biodiversity." https://lnkd.in/edRhfgSW

Make a difference in your community. Our Forum for Safe Rodent Control features New England’s leading poison-free pest control professionals. Learn about their proven, wildlife-safe pest control approaches, then use this new knowledge to advocate for an end to rodent poison use in your community. Tune in on Wednesday, October 9 at 6pm for this virtual panel discussion hosted by Mass Audubon, New Hampshire Audubon, and Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Register: https://bit.ly/3TqGPB1 Barred Owl © Jenny Zhao

Last night, the legislature failed to pass legislation that would streamline clean energy projects while protecting nature and communities. We’re incredibly disappointed. Last year was the hottest year on record, and 2024 is on track to be even hotter. We don’t have time to wait two more years before accelerating clean energy. Massachusetts has been a global leader in climate and energy policymaking, but this delay puts that leadership at risk. The legislature’s clean energy siting and permitting proposal has the consensus support of Mass Audubon, other stakeholders who served on the Governor’s Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting, the House, and the Senate. We’re calling on legislative leadership to urgently approve this energy siting and permitting proposal in an August informal session. https://bit.ly/3Wmubn6q

The Mass. legislature is on the verge of passing a major climate bill—but time is running out. This bill would streamline clean energy development in Massachusetts while protecting forests, farms, and environmental justice communities. Right now, the House and Senate conference committee is at an impasse, putting this critical climate bill at risk. In less than 48 hours, they must get a final version to Governor Healey’s desk, or we’ll have to wait another session before accelerating clean energy in Massachusetts. Climate change isn’t waiting, so neither can we. Help get this crucial bill across the finish line by sending an email to House and Senate leadership today: https://bit.ly/46nDmZ6 

On Wednesday night, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed their clean energy and climate bill! This bill will accelerate permitting for solar, wind, transmission, and energy storage infrastructure, all while protecting environmental justice communities, farms, forests, and wetlands from excessive development. The bill aligns with our Growing Solar, Protecting Nature report—we don’t have to sacrifice land and wildlife to produce the solar energy we need. A huge thank you to Reps. Aaron Michlewitz, Ron Mariano, and especially Jeffrey Roy for getting this done! Now, the House and Senate must settle their differences in conference committee before July 31 so the bill can go the governor’s desk to become law. Paired with the administration’s proposal to reform solar incentives, this will put Massachusetts on the right track for years to come. Let’s hope the final version pushes us further away from fossil fuel infrastructure while protecting nature and environmental justice communities. https://wbur.fm/3xUgRyq  

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources just released its ideas for changes to the state’s solar energy incentive program (known as SMART).  They’ve heard our voices—we’re excited to see many recommendations from our Growing Solar, Protecting Nature report in the proposal, including:      *Unlimited support for residential and small commercial rooftop solar     *Higher incentives for solar located on parking lots, landfills, and brownfields, and for projects serving communities and low-income customers     *Better protections for residential solar customers      Before the SMART regulations are finalized, we’ll work to make sure that state funds are used for projects that benefit ratepayers the most and protect our highest-quality natural resources.     https://bit.ly/3y1kWkh  

Amazing coverage of Massachusetts’ Bald Eagles and the threats they face from rat poison in today’s Boston Globe Media. Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Stan Grossfield captures the majesty of KZ, the male Bald Eagle ruling over the Mystic Lakes, and explains how the long recovery of eagles from DDT is threatened by the overuse of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. We’re fighting for regulation of these dangerous poisons every day, and we’ll need the support of advocates in communities all over the Commonwealth to succeed. https://lnkd.in/enZabxJU   

Last week, the Massachusetts Senate passed an important climate and energy bill. S.2829 sets the stage for us to accelerate clean energy while creating strong protections for environmental justice communities and our most valuable farms, forests, and wetlands. We’ve worked hard this year to push the administration and the legislature to prioritize natural and workings lands as a solution to climate change, and we’re thrilled that this proposal has passed the Senate.  But it still must pass the House of Reps. before heading to Gov. Healey’s desk. Help us accelerate clean energy and protect nature by sending your Rep. an email today: https://bit.ly/4c9E12y