Why did Biden visit Somerset?
The presidential convoy rolled into Somerset last week, met by protests. Biden refrained from declaring a climate emergency.
In the scorching midday heat, the presidential motorcade rolled down Brayton Point Road in Somerset last Wednesday, past about a hundred protesters and nearly as many cops. The Trump faithful dominated, though a group of protesters from Extinction Rebellion Boston also showed up for the festivities.
Dueling megaphones went back and forth between the two groups of protesters: “Biden must declare a climate emergency to address this – LET’S GO BRANDON – if you care about your air and your water – LET’S GO BRANDON.”
The day before, members of the Biden administration told the press that Biden was considering an official declaration of a climate emergency (though he has so far refrained), which would allow him to use increased executive powers to spur the transition away from fossil fuels.
The protesters from Extinction Rebellion Boston, holding up a large banner which read “DECLARE CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY,” spoke to me about their disappointment with the lack of executive action on the climate crisis.
“We’re really here to call Biden out, because he hasn’t done what he said he’s gonna do, and he’s not taking any meaningful action on the climate,” said Linden, an XR Boston member who is motivated by her fears as a grandmother. “He’s moving at a snail’s pace. The earth is going to be truly a dystopian place, where few if any humans are even going to be able to survive if he doesn’t pick up the pace.”
Allen, another XR Boston protester, also expressed his disappointment about the absence of climate urgency from the country’s political elite.
“We’ve seen the last, smallest attempt at any sort of climate legislation at the federal level blocked, and the Democrats are unable to pass anything, despite controlling the House and the Senate,” he said. “We’re stalled out on federal action unless Joe Biden takes executive action by declaring a climate emergency and using emergency powers to do the things that are in his control.”
Further up the road, the traveling circus of aging Trump fanboys wasn’t particularly keen to talk with me. Apparently, my turquoise sandals gave me away as a member of the John Kerry payroll (by the way John– I’m still waiting on that check). The few that were still willing to speak with me didn’t seem to be concerned about the climate, as sweat dripped from their noses.
“These windmills don’t work, it’s been proven,” said Jeremy, an earnest and talkative Trump supporter. “We need to start drilling domestically. We have more oil under our land, in this country, than anywhere else in the world. And this country could be thriving, security-wise, we could all be living better lives. But because of Joe Biden, his agenda, and all these liberals that are behind him – he’s not even the real president anyway, we’re not even going to get into that – but it’s all a hoax.”
Another Trump supporter taught me a lesson in climate change while Elvis Presley sang about Dixie from a portable boombox.
“It’s just the circadian rhythm of the planet. It has nothing to do with us, it has nothing to do with the fossil fuels, or anything like that. Basically, they’re just being alarmist. It’s a ruse for control.”
Minutes later, the Biden motorcade blew right past the protesters, and that was that – the presidential speech was only open to a handful of pre-approved attendees.
“As president, I have the responsibility to act with urgency and resolve when our nation faces clear and present danger,” Biden said at the private event, standing in the empty lot of a decommissioned coal plant wearing a suit and aviators. “That’s what climate change is about – it is literally and not figuratively a clear and present danger.”
But despite calling climate change a clear and present danger, an existential threat, and an emergency several times, Biden declined to actually declare a climate emergency. Instead, he announced a handful of relatively miniscule executive actions focused on climate resiliency and was soon on his way back to Washington.
Climate News Roundup
Connecticut
A new Connecticut law will allow for stricter vehicle emissions standards (WSHU)
UConn researchers map the unequal effects of extreme heat in the state (NHPR)
Maine
As climate change threatens Gulf of Maine lobster populations, some lobstering communities turn to seaweed harvesting (Washington Post)
Maine increases the battery capacity of its electrical grid (Maine Public)
Massachusetts
The Mass legislature reached a compromise on a broad climate bill, sending it to Gov. Baker (WBUR)
In a win for opponents of the Weymouth compressor station, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will reevaluate the facility’s waterways permit (WBUR)
As the climate warms, extreme heat disproportionately affects Boston’s Chinatown (Boston Globe)
New Hampshire
Gov. Sununu vetoed a bill increasing protections for wetlands (NHBR)
Climate-related flooding threatens the Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth (New Hampshire Bulletin)
Rhode Island
Low-income Providence residents face lead contamination in drinking water (The Guardian)
The Providence chapter of the Sunrise Movement announced their endorsements for the upcoming election cycle (Twitter)
Vermont
Vermont farmers now have to keep track of their water withdrawals, as climate change affects precipitation patterns (VTDigger)
Climate change threatens the water quality of Lake Champlain (WCAX)
Candidates for Lieutenant Governor respond to questions on climate (Renewable Energy Vermont)
