Thank you to Rachel Branch, producer of the television show Solutions Rising for including a “BEAT” series for people to learn more about the fracked gas pipelines proposed to bring gas from the fracking fields of Pennsylvania across New York, Massachusetts, and New England.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a national nonpartisan organization, released its 2016 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard yesterday, with Massachusetts maintaining its #1 ranking for the sixth year in a row but now sharing the podium with California. Last year, only a half point separated the states’ rankings. In achieving its highest score to date, Massachusetts’ score increased a point due to adopting the most recent IECC 2015 and ASHRAE 90.1-2013 as part of the state building code. These new standards will reduce the cost of energy for new homes and businesses in the state. Press Release from The Acadia Center, September 28, 2016.
Natural Gas: Dems express interest in permitting reform,
export scrutiny
Activists and angry landowners have been advised in the past to take their complaints about the spread of natural gas pipelines, compressor stations and export terminals to the halls of Congress. Last week, more than 180 environmental groups followed that advice, and their call for oversight hearings appears to be gaining traction, at least among House Democrats. And in the Senate, a dozen lawmakers questioned whether regulators are being too quick in approving exports of domestic natural gas. By Hannah Northey, E&E Publishing, September 26, 2016.
Jobs
GIS Consulting Services – Columbia Land Conservancy – Chatham, NY
MassLIFT-AmeriCorps Member Positions
MassLIFT-AmeriCorps Operations & Communications Coordinator, full-time staff position, available Sept/Oct
Experienced Solar Technician – Berkshire Photovoltaic Services – Adams, MA
Research Scientist – SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Albany, NY
Weekend Visitors Services Staff – Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox, MA
Important update from PLAN-NE regarding our 10-citizen appeal of the 401 Water Quality Certification issued by MassDEP for the CT Expansion project
BEAT commented during the 410 Water Quality permitting process and now we are a part of the Citizen Appeal of this proposed permit. PLAN-NE has organized this appeal and is working closely with the lawyers to help us through this process.
TGP’s response to the appeal was to sue all of the petitoners, and MassDEP, in federal court.
A hearing is scheduled for September 29th at the U.S. District Court in Boston. TGP claims that MassDEP lacks jurisdiction to continue with its administrative process, because a section in the Natural Gas Act provides for ultimate review at the federal Circuit Court of Appeals (rather than state court, which is normally where final DEP orders are reviewed after the internal agency appeals process is complete).
So at this point the matter is under review in three different venues. This means we have had to spend significant funds before even reaching the merits of our appeal. Your generous contributions have helped us sustain this and other legal efforts to date. Because of the federal litigation, however, we will need additional funding to continue these efforts through the end of the year. Please help us see this through.
We (or MassDEP) will now have to defend the agency’s right to prevent tree-felling while our appeal is ongoing, but so far our appeal has had the effect of preventing any such activity.
In other pipeline opposition news in the region, on September 22nd the Town of Weymouth requested an adjudicatory hearing for (appealed) the Superseding Orders of Condition issued by MassDEP for the compressor station site of Spectra’s Atlantic Bridge project. Spectra is proposing 4-acre compressor station on a 12-acre peninsula in the Fore River in Weymouth. Similar to our 401 appeal, the Town of Weymouth contends that MassDEP’s decision does not adequately protect the Waters of the Commonwealth.
Check out the op-eds from the last few days from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, all variations on a theme: our respective administrations continue to push gas rather than focusing on sustainable energy solutions. We must all stay engaged!
Happy trails: Nine projects in Berkshires to receive over $1 million in Recreational Trail program funding
State grant to fund private, state park upkeep of hiking, off-road vehicle pathways
Hikers, dirt bikers and snowmobilers in the Berkshires can expect better trails in the future, the upgrades funded through $252,000 in state grants.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has awarded a total of $1 million for 30 projects — nine in the county — courtesy of the DCR’s Recreational Trail Program.
Each recipient matches their grant with a minimum 20 percent in funding or in-kind services, this year adding up to $1.6 million.
The trail grant program funds construction and maintenance of hiking, bicycling, snowmobile and off-road vehicle trails throughout the commonwealth.
Three DCR projects in the Berkshires received funding; the other six awarded to private organizations that either help maintain state or municipal trails or have their own trail system.
The single largest Berkshire grant, nearly $74,000, will go toward improving a one-mile section of the Finerty Pond trail on October Mountain State. The DCR will also spend nearly $50,000 to hire a seasonal trail crew to work on Off-Highway Vehicle trails (OHV) in the West Region that includes the Berkshires.
OHV state coordinator Scott Morrill, based out of Pittsfield State Forest, says the additional trail work will take place next April into November, with repair or rebuilding worn out brook and stream crossings a top priority.
“We have so many bridges that are catered to the crossing,” he said. “Some need to support heavy grooming equipment and others just ATVs.”
“We’ve got October Mountain and Pittsfield so this money is crucial,” he said. “The nature of OHV trails is they get ripped up, so we must maintain them as they are fragile.”
Case says one-fourth of the $1 million in grants coming to the Berkshires shows the DCR values the outdoor recreational uses in the county.
Since Gov. Charlie Baker named Leo Roy DCR commissioner last December, the Vermont native has led the charge to enhance the state parks recreational uses.
“The Baker-Polito Administration remains steadfast to protecting, promoting, and enhancing the state’s natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the well-being of all,” he said in prepared remarks.
Four of the nine local grants went to snowmobile clubs, volunteer groups Case says are vital to the upkeep of state park snowmobile trails, especially given the state’s fiscal constraints. The Know Trail Sno-Riders snowmobile club of Otis landed a $71,250 grant to keep working on the trails in Tolland and Otis state forests.
In addition, about 20 club members also work on private trails, keeping them clear of natural debris and grooming them in the winter if Mother Nature cooperates in an effort to bolster the local economy.
“When we have snow here, there’s a buzz,” said Knox Trail spokesman Jim Richard. “Snowmobiling used to be a hobby — now it’s an industry.”
Massachusetts and California Share
Top Energy Efficiency Ranking
Press Release from The Acadia Center
September 28, 2016
BOSTON — The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a national nonpartisan organization, released its 2016 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard yesterday, with Massachusetts maintaining its #1 ranking for the sixth year in a row but now sharing the podium with California. Last year, only a half point separated the states’ rankings.
In achieving its highest score to date, Massachusetts’ score increased a point due to adopting the most recent IECC 2015 and ASHRAE 90.1-2013 as part of the state building code. These new standards will reduce the cost of energy for new homes and businesses in the state. Massachusetts could earn a perfect score in the category of utility programs and policies, the largest category in the ACEEE scorecard, with deeper savings in its natural gas programs. [emphasis added]
“Progress in investing in energy efficiency raises all boats—consumers in Massachusetts, California and all the leading states are the real winners here,” said Daniel Sosland, Acadia Center’s President. “Maximizing efficiency is a major step toward securing a clean and affordable energy future. Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other leaders are showing that it really works to deploy least-cost, non-polluting measures to benefit the environment, the economy and consumers,” said Sosland.
Massachusetts has proven its continued commitment to energy efficiency under its Green Communities Act of 2008 by saving a large and growing percentage of energy every year through efficiency measures and delivering over $14.8 billion in economic benefits and energy savings for ratepayers over the last six years. Massachusetts’ current 3-year plan (2016-2018) is expected to deliver $8.1 billion in economic benefits and energy savings and sets savings goals (2.93% of sales for electric and 1.24% of sales for natural gas) that are the highest in the nation, yet again. The environmental benefits the 3-year plan will deliver are equivalent to removing approximately 408,000 cars from the road.
California’s rise to the top is a sign that other states are rapidly ramping up their investments in low-cost energy efficiency and helping consumers lower their energy bills and spur economic growth. One area where Massachusetts risks falling behind the rest of the country and losing the top ranking is in the management and public availability of efficiency data. Massachusetts satisfies only one of six standards on which ACEEE intends to score states in the future—for comparison, California satisfied five.
“Massachusetts is on the winning path, but there is still plenty of work to do to make the most of this low-cost, clean resource,” said Amy Boyd, Senior Attorney at Acadia Center. “We should celebrate our success, but then return to the hard work that it takes to accelerate strategies to reach the homes and businesses that still need help lowering their energy costs,” Boyd said. “Making smart use of all the data that new technologies can provide utility companies will reduce costs, make processes more transparent, and keep us on track to stay on top of the ACEEE rankings,” Boyd concluded.
Acadia Center is a member of the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council, a stakeholder board that has statutory responsibility for advising and assisting the state’s utilities in developing and implementing cost-effective energy efficiency plans for electricity and natural gas. Acadia Center looks forward to working with fellow members, utilities and other stakeholders to make sure that the efficiency plans for Massachusetts are implemented effectively to deliver cost savings through lower utility bills, emissions reductions, and clean energy job growth, in addition to broader economic benefits.
See the Scorecard at: http://www.aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard
Natural Gas: Dems express interest in permitting reform, export scrutiny
By Hannah Northey
E&E Publishing
Monday, September 26, 2016
Activists and angry landowners have been advised in the past to take their complaints about the spread of natural gas pipelines, compressor stations and export terminals to the halls of Congress.
Last week, more than 180 environmental groups followed that advice, and their call for oversight hearings appears to be gaining traction, at least among House Democrats. And in the Senate, a dozen lawmakers questioned whether regulators are being too quick in approving exports of domestic natural gas.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats signaled interest in taking a closer look at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s handling of project proposals under the Natural Gas Act following a letter from Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, and more than 150 groups outraged by what they call the agency’s “bias and abuse.”
Most of Congress’ efforts have been focused on streamlining the siting process for pipelines and liquefied natural gas export terminals “for the benefit of the industry with little regard for the rights of private property owners, communities’ concerns, or the views of state and local officials,” said a spokesman for E&C Committee Democrats.
“At a minimum, it is time for us to take a serious and comprehensive look at this 1930s statute to see whether it is truly serving the public interest in its current form,” the spokesman said.
FERC recently drew the ire of landowners by changing its public input process by collecting comments in private rooms. The agency said doing so would ensure everyone’s voice is heard, but landowners and community members said it denies people a chance to be heard on stage (EnergyWire, Aug. 18).
Separately, 11 Democrats and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), in a letter to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on Wednesday, questioned whether the agency was moving too quickly in approving exports of LNG to foreign countries, noting DOE has already approved 18 export applications. The senators questioned whether the administration considers climate change in export reviews and how sending natural gas abroad is affecting domestic industries and energy bills.
“The DOE has approved a substantial volume of LNG exports and continues to do so at an alarming rate,” the senators wrote.
Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Al Franken of Minnesota, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Barbara Boxer of California, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire signed the letter.
Democrats have for years been stuck in a tricky balancing act, torn between calls for more natural gas exports and risking the shale boom’s domestic benefits (E&E Daily, Jan. 15, 2014).
Adding to their complex dance is a growing, national anti-fossil-fuel movement that has claimed success with the Obama administration freezing construction on a portion of the Dakota Access pipeline.
And as projects spread across the country, so too does the pressure from national environmental groups and landowners for regulators, Congress and lawmakers to step in.
Many of those concerns have cropped up on a regional basis along pipelines routes, compressor stations and other projects.
New York Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, for example, recently sent letters to FERC with concerns about an underground gas storage facility in the town of Reading.
Nationally, activists pressured Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to clarify her position on Dakota Access. They pushed her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), to clarify his position on the Atlantic Coast pipeline.
Groups that signed onto the van Rossum letter called for reforms at FERC and asked the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to take a closer look at the agency’s operation under the Natural Gas Act.
The law, the groups argue, gives too much power to the agency and too little power to landowners in the path of new gas infrastructure developers with eminent domain on their side.
“The number of frack gas pipelines is exploding and the feds are not only not applying appropriate oversight, but are in fact also enabling the trampling of people’s property rights, public health standards, and environmental protection,” David Pringle, Clean Water Action’s New Jersey campaign director, said in a statement.
Jobs
GIS Consulting Services
Request for Qualifications: GIS Consulting Services
Columbia Land Conservancy
Release date: August 25, 2016
Introduction: The Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) seeks GIS services including data compilation, analysis, and mapping. CLC is working with a network of conservation organizations in the four-state Berkshire-Taconic region, the Berkshire-Taconic Regional Conservation Partnership (RCP). The services provided by the selected GIS consultant will support the RCP in collaborative conservation planning. The process is being overseen by a working group, coordinated by CLC. CLC will contract with the GIS consultant and be the primary contact with the consultant. The budget for this contract will be capped at$14,875.
Purpose: The purpose of this RFQ is to solicit the services of a qualified GIS analyst(s) to provide mapping and spatial analysis desired for the RCP to identify potential focus areas and spatially-explicit conservation priorities and to produce maps depicting the conservation values of the Berkshire-Taconic region which encompasses parts of four states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York. (See attached boundary map.) Scope of Services: The contracted services will assist in the RCP’s evolving conservation planning process during the project period. On selection, CLC and the GIS consultant will develop a mutually agreeable scope of work. At minimum, the GIS consultant will produce the following deliverables: • A series of maps of conservation values, including farmland, water features, and organization service territories, and an integrated protected open space parcel layer, among other features at the regional level and within sub-regional geographic areas, with all data sources appropriately credited. Any digital datasets are to be fully documented with metadata detailing source data and methods of developing final data products; deliverables will include map package files for the final maps;• Display-quality maps, finish copies able to be printed at high resolution on ARCH36” wide, of the four-state Berkshire-Taconic region, showing conservation values and features for a public audience. All final electronic files (including shapefiles, mxd files and pdfs) are to be delivered to CLC. The GIS consultant will be overseen by staff at CLC, and will, as needed, participate in conference calls or, if possible, in person meetings with the working group. All work should be completed in the ArcGIS version 10.4.
…READ FULL REQUEST FOR QUALiFICATIONS HERE.
MassLIFT-AmeriCorps Member Positions
MassLIFT-AmeriCorps was established in 2010 by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust as a collaboration of regional conservation organizations seeking to engage with more people and do more community conservation projects. The mission of the Massachusetts Land Initiative for Tomorrow (MassLIFT-AmeriCorps) is to strengthen and grow the land conservation movement by developing the next generation of land trust leaders and mobilizing them in every MA community. Our vision is one where the benefits of land conservation reach every community and are meaningful for all people.
This year, 36 MassLIFT-AmeriCorps members will serve at 21 different host sites (including urban conservation and community gardening/food systems non-profits) across Massachusetts as Land Stewardship Coordinator, Regional Conservation Coordinator, Youth Education Coordinator, or Community Engagement Coordinator. Members create and accomplish projects that increase their host site’s capacity, educate people in environmental stewardship, engage people in volunteerism, and include new constituencies. Specific activities vary by host site.
People of color strongly encouraged to apply. AmeriCorps programs provide equal service opportunities. MassLIFT works to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to any particular status. We encourage applications from individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations for interviews and service upon request. The program runs 8/29/16 – 7/28/17. More info at masslift.org.
MassLIFT-AmeriCorps Operations & Communications Coordinator, full-time staff position, available Sept/Oct
MassLIFT-AmeriCorps was established in 2010 by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust as a collaboration of regional conservation organizations seeking to engage with more people and do more community conservation projects. The mission of the Massachusetts Land Initiative for Tomorrow (MassLIFT-AmeriCorps) is to strengthen and grow the land conservation movement by developing the next generation of land trust leaders and mobilizing them in every MA community. Our vision is one where the benefits of land conservation reach every community and are meaningful for all people.
The Operations and Communications Coordinator (OCC) supports the MassLIFT-AmeriCorps program vision on a statewide scale. Reporting to the MassLIFT Program Director, the OCC manages member recruitment and onboarding, communications and marketing, and day-to-day administration of program operations.
We’re aiming to fill this position in September/October 2016. MassLIFT-AmeriCorps may spin off as a separate nonprofit between Fall 2016 and Summer 2017, in which case program headquarters would likely move to Lowell, MA. Applicants should be prepared and willing to relocate to be able to work out of a Lowell office. View the complete position description and application instructions at masslift.org.
Experienced Solar Technician
About Berkshire Photovoltaic Services (BPVS)
Since 1985 our mission has been to install safe, efficient & durable PV systems. We are looking for an Experienced Solar Technician to join our team! BPVS is fully licensed (MA HIC 131996) and insured for commercial, institutional and residential PV systems. All of our installations are fully permitted and approved. BPVS has helped pave the way for PV acceptance by installing the first solar electric systems in over 90 jurisdictions and several utility territories. Office Phone: 413-743-0152.
Job Duties
PV installation tasks
Qualifications
At least 2 Years working in solar field
10 Hour OSHA Card
Drivers license (with a clean record)
Plus but not required:
CSL
NABCEP Certified
Experience working with AutoCAD
Send resume & cover letter to Becca Martin at Becca@bpvs.com
Rebecca Martin
BPVS (Berkshire Photovoltaic Services)
46 Howland Ave
Adams, MA 01220
Tel: 413.743.0152
Fax: 413.743.4827
www.bpvs.com
Research Scientist – SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Albany, NY
Category: Research Foundation
Department: EFB
Locations: Albany, NY
Posted: Jun 27, ’16
Type: Full-time
About College of Environmental Science and Forestry: Founded in 1911, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is the nation’s oldest and most respected school dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies and building a sustainable future. The ESF main campus is in Syracuse, NY and has regional campuses throughout Central New York and the Adirondack Park. ESF consistently earns high rankings in US News and World Report, Forbes, Peterson’s Guide, The Washington Monthly, Princeton Review and other national college guidebooks.
Job Description:
Title: Research Scientist
Department: Environmental and Forest Biology
Salary: $50,000 minimum
Duration: Through March 2018, with likely continuation through March 2023
Location: Albany, NY (New York State DEC Headquarters)
Brief Description of Duties: This position will work closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Bureau of Wildlife (BOW) staff and will function as the BOW’s Data Scientist. This position will assist the Game Management Section with annual monitoring efforts by maintaining current systems in antiquated database software (i.e., Visual FoxPro and Turbo Pascal) while simultaneously working to upgrade the programs in a modern data analysis language (i.e., R or Python) and database platforms (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, sqllite, or MS Access). The position will seek opportunities to streamline and automate the workflow and data flow involved in annually recurring surveys conducted by the Game Management and Wildlife Diversity Sections.
The Research Scientist also serves as a consultant to BOW staff throughout the state and research collaborators, providing direct support with statistical analyses, guidance on sampling designs, evaluation of project proposals to ensure statistical validity, assistance with preparation and review of technical reports and manuscripts, and response to data requests from staff and the public.
Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Oversee annually recurring deer harvest estimation. This is a major project and involves validation of all input data sources (e.g., harvest reports from hunters, biological data from field checked deer, etc.), statistical analyses (descriptive and inferential), development of summary tables, and appending estimates to several long-term databases and spreadsheets.
Oversee data validation and analysis of annual data collection from a variety of wildlife observation surveys (e.g., bow hunter sighting log, big game hunter survey, grouse and turkey hunter logs, drumming surveys, incidental sightings) to monitor relative abundance of deer, bear, moose, turkey, selected furbearers, and other game and non-game wildlife species statewide. Evaluate and refine as appropriate.
Provide technical guidance on data management systems, maintain and update computer programs used to analyze survey data, and help identify and correct sources of errors that occur in telephone, internet and scannable form reporting systems.
Provide statistical expertise and consultation for design and analysis of wildlife population research, user surveys, and monitoring programs and evaluate those surveys and programs after implementation.
Provide user-friendly reports and data queries from the above surveys as needed for public information or management purposes.
Assist BOW biologists in the preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts and technical reports.
Train and supervise support staff to assist with data quality assurance and validation procedures.
Travel around New York State as needed to meet with and make presentations to regional staff, other professionals, and wildlife management stakeholders.
Requirements:
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree and two years of professional research experience, OR a Master’s Degree and one year of professional research experience, in biometrics, biostatistics, data sciences, wildlife population ecology or related field.
Expertise MS Access and with one or more statistical programming language such as R, Python, and/or SAS.
Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to establish and maintain satisfactory working relationships and collaborate with diverse personalities on project teams.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s Degree and two years of professional research experience, OR a PhD, in biometrics, biostatistics, data sciences, wildlife population ecology or related field.
Proficient with a version control system for software development (e.g., Git, Subversion, etc.)
Familiarity with Turbo Pascal and/or MS Visual FoxPro
Proficient at writing custom functions and/or packages in R and/or Python
Strong familiarity with relational databases and proficient using SQL
Experience developing dashboards such as RShiny Flex Dashboards, ArcGIS Dashboard for Operations, Rbokeh, Python bokeh, etc.
Proficiency with likelihood-based and Bayesian inference.
Experience working closely with state or federal wildlife agency staff.
Advanced user of ArcGIS for Desktop.
Additional Information: In accordance with the “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” institutions of higher education are required to prepare an annual report containing information on campus security policies and campus statistics. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by SUNY-ESF; and on property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a printed copy of this report by contacting SUNY-ESF University Police at 315-470-6667 or by accessing the following web site: http://www.esf.edu/univpolice/crimereports/
As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer, the Research Foundation will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin and veteran or disability status.
Application Instructions:
Date to Be Filled: August 1, 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Application Deadline: Although the college will accept applications until the position is filled, interested candidates should submit their materials by July 15, 2016 to ensure optimal consideration.
Application Procedure: Employment application must be submitted on-line. Be sure to include contact information for a minimum of 3 references in your resume/CV.
APPLY HERE.
Weekend Visitor Services Staff
Responsible for staffing the admissions office, Sundays, 10am – 4pm and some Monday holidays, greeting visitors, answering telephones, selling books, gifts, and bird feeders, processing registrations for programs, events and camp and generally representing Pleasant Valley and Mass Audubon to the public.
If you are looking for a part time position, have a love of nature, and enjoy sharing that enthusiasm with our visitors, this is a great opportunity for you. This is a year round position, however seasonal applicants will also be considered.
Qualifications
- Friendliness, tact, dependability, enthusiasm and a desire to work with people.
- Ability to deal with the varied pace of a public attraction necessary (there can be over 400 visitors on a busy day).
- Experience with handling money, using a cash register and credit card machine.
- Ability to take responsibility for office without additional staff.
- Customer service experience preferred.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn basic computer programs.
- An interest in natural history is helpful, natural history background a plus.
- Must pass a background records check (CORI and SORI).
Compensation and Benefits – Rate of pay $10-$11.00/hr
How to Apply
Please email your resume and cover letter to: