Candidate Survey: 350 Mass Action
The survey questions are provided as written. While most of the survey questions were purely Yes/No options, I have provided additional commentary next to some responses to provide my constituents with additional clarity.
I thank 350 Mass Action for reaching out with this survey.
I would also like to note that I consider climate change, clean energy, and heat/transportation electrification to be one of my key strengths as a candidate. I am purposefully waiting to post a formal platform position on this topic until after the current legislative session (ending on or around July 31st), because I want to see what sort of compromise bill (if any) on this topic is signed into law this year in order to provide more specific information in my platform.
1. The Next Generation Roadmap Act requires the Commonwealth to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To ensure that Massachusetts continues to lead the way on curbing the devastating effects of climate change, would you:
a. Oppose new gas infrastructure (i.e., pipeline expansion, compressor stations), which would lock in dependency on unsustainable fossil fuels?
Yes — However, I would want to ensure that gas infrastructure that is able to be repurposed for geothermal heating is maintained. Also, I understand that there may be some industrial uses that may continue to need gas service in the future.
b. Preserve and improve the Mass Save program and support its move toward resilience to the effects of climate change with continued and strengthened emphasis on equity safeguards and incentives such as up-front financing and no-cost options so that barriers to accessing the program are reduced for low- to moderate-income families?
Yes
c. Oppose all increases in incineration of trash or any type of municipal solid waste at so-called "waste to energy" plants, including newly proposed so-called “chemical recycling” technologies?
No — I cannot say “oppose all” based on the question. To the extent that an existing WtE plant was converting from incineration to a lower emitting “chemical recycling” process or an existing recycling plant was able to add this technology to improve its ability to divert waste from the landfill by recycling a wider variety of plastics (and happens to make electricity as a byproduct), I would be open to such improvements that are a net benefit from an emissions and waste perspective.
2. Do you support the inclusion of race as a factor in the environmental justice definition?
No — Definitions could easily be crafted that have all of the benefits to communities that are primarily composed of racial minorities without including race as a factor. Therefore, I would not want to risk excluding any community due to its racial makeup being on the wrong side of an abitrary statistical “cliff”.
3. Would you support requiring the Energy Facilities Siting Board to consider environmental justice, public health, and climate impacts in decision-making on siting projects?
Yes
4. Breathing clean air is a matter of life and death. Would you support legislation to improve indoor and outdoor air quality by expanding outdoor air monitoring in pollution hotspots, setting air quality targets to reduce pollution in those areas, and installing air filters in existing eligible buildings within 200 meters of congested roadways?
Yes — However, I would want to understand how wide spread and severe this issue is. There may be alternative solutions that could be more effective for improving air quality in these “hotspot” areas. I would also want to understand the full cost of this approach compared to the overall social benefits.
5. Since woody biomass burns dirtier than fossil fuels or coal, would you support ending public subsidies for this industry by eliminating woody biomass from the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard?
Yes
6. Do you support holding the corporations who are most responsible for causing global climate change financially accountable to pay for damages caused by climate driven extreme weather and the infrastructure improvements needed for resilience?
Yes — This needs to be done pragmatically rather than punitively. We should be fully focused on mitigating future damage and adapting to climate change, which will include providing positive economic incentives for correct behaviors going forward.
7. Green jobs creation is an important tool to stimulate economic development, target effective programs in hardest-hit low income communities of color, and meet our environmental health goals in one fell swoop. Do you support the expansion of safeguards and funding for just transition from a fossil fuel economy and equity centered workforce development for a new green economy?
Yes — See commentary on answer 2 above.
8. Responsibly-developed offshore wind will play a key role in ensuring that Massachusetts meets our emissions goals. Will you support actions that would enable our state to have at least 14 gigawatts of offshore wind under contract by 2035, while ensuring that local residents have strong access to high quality jobs with projects that include Project Labor & Community Benefit Agreements?
Yes
9. A number of cities and towns across Massachusetts have restricted the use of wasteful and toxic single-use plastic products. Do you support state-wide legislation taking similar action to regulate and restrict the use of such products, including those that contain PFAS?
Yes — Overall, I’m very supportive of waste reduction, but we would need to carefully craft any such legislation to avoid unintended consequences, such as increased use of more robust “multi-use” plastics that are more environmentally damaging if not re-used enough times to offset the manufacturing emissions.
10. Given that the largest source of greenhouse gasses in MA is transportation, would you support converting public buses, publicly owned fleets, ferries, and heavy rail to electric, as well as requiring more electric vehicle charging stations be installed to be easily accessible to all income levels?
Yes — I would actually propose to go even further than you are suggesting with regard to EV charging station installations, especially for chargers with speeds >100kW along state routes and highways. I would also propose setting targets and/or incentives for private entities that host publicly available lower kW chargers on a minimum percentage of existing parking spots.
11. What other efforts are you committed to engaging in, if elected, to fight for climate action and justice? What efforts are you committed to engaging in that will directly benefit your district?
I would start with ensuring that the previously passed climate legislation is implemented expeditiously and without delay. The MA DPU has still not fully implemented the 2021 climate legislation! Once implemented, I would evaluate the previous legislation for real-world effectiveness and propose amendments to address gaps and unintended consequences. I would focus on permit process improvements at all scales and seek to on-shore supply chains of key electric grid equipment such as transformers and protective relays that are needed to deploy renewable energy, batteries, and heat/transit electrification. I would prioritize smart solar and EV development on existing parking lots along state routes and interstates to avoid further forest clear cutting.
12. What experience do you have related to the climate crisis, or in activism more broadly?
I have a graduate degree in climate change science. I’ve participated in climate activism in the past with Our Revolution Somerville, the MA Sierra Club, the March for Science, and also several 350 Mass events. More importantly, I have over 15 years of professional experience in sustainability, climate change, and clean energy jobs — including a dozen years in the utility industry, so I understand the systemic and regulatory issues that are driving us forward and holding us back on achieving emissions reductions.