Local environmental advocates across Western Massachusetts are intensifying their efforts at the state and municipal levels, a strategic shift propelled by the recent decision from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to revoke its authority over greenhouse gas emissions. This pivotal moment has galvanized climate action groups, transforming their initial frustration into a renewed, focused drive for regional change and legislative advocacy.

The EPA’s contentious proposal effectively overturns the 2009 “endangerment finding,” a landmark decision that had previously categorized carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as harmful air pollution, thereby granting the agency regulatory power under the Clean Air Act. This reversal fundamentally redefines air pollution, limiting it to localized or regional exposures, a move widely condemned by environmental organizations as a significant setback for national climate initiatives and public health protection.

Activists, including Susan Theberge of Climate Action Now Western Massachusetts, view this federal retreat as a direct challenge, fueling their resolve to “hold the line” at the state and municipal levels where their influence remains strong. Andra Rose, president of Local Energy Advocates of Western Mass, described the EPA’s action as a “criminal act,” dismantling the very foundation of federal efforts to limit pollution and climate emissions.

Further exacerbating concerns, the EPA’s proposal dismisses the substantial impact of greenhouse gases on climate change and human health, citing a non-peer-reviewed study from the Department of Energy’s 2025 Climate Working Group. This study controversially suggests that U.S. policy has only a marginal effect on combating global climate change, a claim that starkly contradicts scientific consensus and the lived experiences of communities grappling with environmental degradation.

This federal stance is interpreted by some, like Naia Tenerowicz of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition, as a form of “gaslighting,” especially amidst escalating heat waves and wildfire smoke, which directly impact public health and quality of life. The EPA’s actions, spearheaded by Administrator Lee Zeldin who previously championed deregulation, have effectively undermined numerous environmental rules, with an Associated Press examination projecting devastating costs exceeding $275 billion annually and over 30,000 preventable deaths each year in the U.S., largely due to increased air pollution.

In response to these national policy shifts, local groups are now laser-focused on combating specific projects that threaten their communities. Springfield, known for having one of the highest asthma rates in the country, serves as a crucial battleground. The Springfield Climate Justice Coalition is actively fighting two major proposals: a new wood-burning power plant slated to burn 1,200 tons of wood daily, and an Eversource natural gas pipeline extending into the city, both of which would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbate air quality issues.

Recognizing that permitting and approvals for these projects reside at the state and local levels, organizations like Climate Action Now Western Massachusetts and the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition are mobilizing communities. They plan demonstrations and letter-writing campaigns, advocating for state bills aimed at blocking large-scale natural gas infrastructure in environmental justice areas and accelerating the transition to clean, non-combusting heating systems. Additionally, proposed legislation like the Climate Bank Bill and the Make Polluters Pay Bill seek to finance decarbonization and hold fossil fuel companies accountable for environmental and health impacts.

The urgency of the climate disaster, as emphasized by Susan Theberge, underscores the critical importance of collective action. Despite federal setbacks, the overwhelming power of people uniting at the state and municipal levels offers a potent pathway forward for a just energy transition, ensuring that environmental policy serves the health and well-being of all citizens.