What if trucks could haul away greenhouse gases as easily as they cart off recyclables? It sounds too good to be true, but dozens of US cities, including nearby Cambridge, are doing just that by picking up bins of food scraps on trash day.
Author Archives: quincycan
Greening Our Grid Together
Around the Commonwealth, more than 130 cities and towns have opted for community choice aggregation – pooling residents’ and businesses’ purchasing power to negotiate better electricity prices, and to lock in these rates, avoiding unpredictable price swings. Community choice aggregation (also known as municipal aggregation) is strictly voluntary; customers can easily opt out at any time. And best of all, community choice aggregation can be a key step on the path towards a more sustainable energy portfolio.
Cities opting for community choice can offer residents a renewable-heavy option for prices comparable to – or lower than – the local utility’s standard rate. (Arlington, which began aggregation last year, is now offering residents 50% local renewable energy for less than NSTAR’s basic service.)
If you’re interested in bringing this environmental, affordable option to Quincy residents, join QCAN in fighting for community choice aggregation. Together we can green our grid!
Omnibus Clean Energy Bill
February 25, 2018
The Massachusetts Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change released an ambitious omnibus bill on February 14. If enacted, the bill will keep the Commonwealth on track toward 100% renewable energy by 2050. Attorney General Maura Healey has said Massachusetts needs 50% renewables by 2030 to meet the requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act, so along with this bill, we will need to continue energy conservation and efficiency and increase renewable wind and solar with efforts like community aggregation.
This omnibus bill combines other, smaller bills into one package that can be passed together. Some of its most important features include: Continue reading
Food Waste Composting: A Letter to the Quincy Sun
December 12, 2017
Dear Editor,
The Quincy DPW recently won a grant from the state that allows it to sell backyard composters for $25, half the previous, already discounted price. Whether you garden or just care about the health of our planet, I’d urge you to visit the DPW at 55 Sea Street weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and get yourself one of these great devices—or buy one as a gift. Continue reading
Tale of Two State Reps: A Letter to the Quincy Sun
November 30, 2017
Dear Editor,
Last month, citizen activists from Quincy Climate Action Network met separately with two Quincy state representatives to request their support for pending legislation that will affect public health, electricity costs, and greenhouse gas emissions in our city and state for years to come. The responses we got from the legislators, Rep. Bruce Ayers and Rep. Tackey Chan, could not have been more different.
Continue reading
Candidates’ Night 2017
October 19, 2017
See where candidates for Quincy city council stand on environmental issues
The Quincy Climate Action Network hosted a candidates’ night for open city council seats on October 19, 2017. All 12 candidates – six vying for three at-large positions and two contenders each for wards 1, 5 and 6 – attended. They answered QCAN members’ environmental questions, most of which had been sent to them ahead of time. Continue reading
Quincy’s LED Streetlights
10/13/17
As of today, Quincy has converted more than half of its streetlights to LEDs. Upon completion the project will reduce city government’s electricity usage by 10% and make a big dent in our greenhouse gas emissions. You can follow the progress of LED conversion at the web site below. Areas in blue have already been converted, areas in yellow are scheduled for conversion, and lights in areas in pink–eg, Quincy Shore Drive–are not owned by the city:
Quincy Climate Action Network 