By Eric Smalley
The fossil fuel divestment movement is making progress here in the Commonwealth. Earlier this year, the House has passed HB 4354, a bill that creates a committee to assess whether a divestment plan for the state’s pension systems is feasible. The bill is now in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. On November 17th, the Boston City Council weighed in in favor of divestment, passing a resolution urging the Massachusetts legislature to take action before year’s end to begin divesting state retirement funds. The City Council resolution, sponsored by Councilors Matt O’Malley and Michelle Wu, passed by an 11 to 1 vote.
In sharp contrast to our local and state politicians, federal officials come off rather poorly in a new report by DeSmogBlog and Republic Report about the revolving door between government -- including the Obama administration -- and the fossil fuel industry. The report exposes efforts by the fossil fuel industry to gain government support for exporting fracked natural gas. The report details the efforts of former government officials lobbying on behalf of the fossil fuel industry. The industry has repeatedly claimed that fracked natural gas is intended for the domestic market. Though the climate and the environment will suffer no matter who burns the gas, the industry has garnered support for fracking by claiming that it will lower US energy costs and reduce US reliance on foreign oil.
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