“The governor has made remarkable strides to protect the environment, but there’s more work to be done,” commented Lora Wondolowski, Executive Director of the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters. “We look forward to working closer with the Patrick Administration to continue to improve and ensure a good grade in our end-of-term scorecard in 2010.”
According to the report, Governor Patrick was the first gubernatorial candidate in years to make global warming and environmental issues a central part of his platform. In his first 100 days he signed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to reduce emissions, merged the state environmental agencies with the energy agencies, and signed several executive orders to increase energy efficiency and include global warming impact in development decisions. From the outset it has been clear that his top environmental priority is clean energy, and his Administration has led the state and the region into groundbreaking territory.
“Overall, the first two years of the governor’s term have been a strong improvement over previous administrations. The governor has done well in land protection, endangered species protection, and in fulfilling transportation commitments. Strong groundwork was laid in the first two years of Governor Patrick’s term, still there is much to do in the second half of his term to implement the initiatives he began on environmental protection,” said Wondolowski. The state’s successful Riverways program received a dramatic 40% cut to its budget in 2008, while the Department of Environmental Protection began hearing permit appeals of their own decisions.
The Administration achieved positive assessments in the following areas: Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Ocean Management, Energy & Global Warming, Endangered Species Protection and Long-Term Environmental funding, Conservation Land Transfers, Zoning Reform, Lead in Children’s Jewelry, Big Dig and Fairmont Line Transportation, and New Water Conservation Conditions. Several other areas earned both positive and negative reviews, including mixed progress on smart growth initiatives and stormwater regulations.
I would like to support the Governor in pro-environmental policies and strides toward greener opportunities in the Commonwealth. I am surprised however, of the absence of even a small reference to the Governor’s casino bill that did not incorporate smart growth regulations in the above review. There were environmental considerations for some portions of building construction but a huge absence of restrictions to prevent water, air, sewage pollution and fossil fuel consumption/increases to “destination” casinos.
<
p>The Mass Audubon Society Sanctuary Magazine winter issue 2009 as reported by the Enterprise strongly rebuked mega-casinos for the negative environmental impacts.