Massachusetts Could Impose Restrictions on Local Water Use

Those who believe "climate change" has made the Earth a tinder box, ready to burst into flames at a moment's notice, continue to lobby hard for legislation to give the Commonwealth the power to regulate local water use during times of drought.

That is, take control away from local communities and give it to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

To be clear, these climate alarmists want to give an unelected official at the executive level of state government, and not elected officials at the local level, the authority to restrict water use on your street.

In other words, an appointed bureaucrat on Beacon Hill would tell you when you can water your lawn.

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Water use for agriculture or businesses would be exempted, according to State House News Service (SHNS).

SHNE reported that "Similar legislation received a favorable report from the Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources last year and died in the Senate Ways and Means Committee."

Rep. Joan Meschino (D-Hull), the sponsor of the House version of the legislation, reportedly believes the conservation measures that take local decisions from individual community leaders and place them with the state are necessary for "resilience," "biodiversity" and "climate mitigation."

Meschino told the Commonwealth Beacon, "The current patchwork approach leaves towns to fend for themselves and leads to regional inequities."

The Massachusetts River Alliance strongly supports the legislation.

Various versions of the legislation have been sponsored and supported by Democrats and Republicans in recent years.

The Beacon reported, "The state's climate resiliency plan notes that warmer temperatures due to climate change will likely lead to longer, more severe droughts and a longer, more severe wildfire season."