Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) partnered with MCAN for many years and is now an MCAN chapter for far western Massachusetts. In the past, BEAT would bring students and volunteers to MCAN's Local Environmental Action conference. Now, we partner on getting electric generating facilities to transition from fossil fuel burning to solar/wind/storage. MCAN has been a leader in helping municipal light plant towns reduce fossil energy use and lead the effort to use building codes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thank you, MCAN, for all you do!
I lead the Boston Climate Action Network, one of MCAN's larger local chapters. The Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) has been a strong partner in our work in Boston for decades. Earlier this year, when we were working to pass the specialized opt-in municipal stretch energy code in Boston, I got a call from Miranda, MCAN’s building decarbonization lead. She made sure we had everything we needed to be successful, including thoughtfully crafted messaging addressing the unique concerns each City Councilor posed. With MCAN’s messaging support and BCAN’s organizing efforts, we passed the stretch code with a supermajority of the Boston City Council and the Mayor’s signature within the month.
As MCAN's Board President, I'm proud of our achievements and accomplished over the past 23 years in working with our 65 local chapters to make real and impactful change in addressing the climate crisis among all communities. Through MCAN's work at the grass-roots level with our local chapters, municipal and state leaders and our partner organizations on statewide policy development, local level planning, municipal regulations and environmental justice, we seek to empower all people to create and promote a healthy, resilient, equitable, green future for all. MCAN's role as a facilitator of equitable climate solutions at the municipal-level is unique among Mass. environmental groups.
Janet Hartke Bowser, MCAN President
The Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) is one of the original grassroots organizations in the state. It has a long history of work on leading-edge on climate issues. I serve on the Board of MCAN. I am proud of the role the organization has played in inspiring and facilitating our states response to the issue of climate change.