Cape Cod’s environment is our main attraction – the reason people live, work, and visit our beautiful part of Massachusetts. Our environment is a gift we hold in trust, not just for ourselves, but for future generations.

Preserving that trust means we must be environmental stewards — making improvements where possible and doing repairs when necessary. Signs of environmental stress are plentiful, particularly in our underground aquifer. We need to improve our wastewater treatment process. We also need to keep our air clean. Although some of these environmental stressors lie outside of our direct control, we can take important measures to maintain and improve our water and air.

Clean Drinking Water: Virtually all of our clean water comes from just one aquifer. While this water is deemed safe, there is mounting evidence that watershed areas are becoming stressed due to increasing development. There are also warning signs that harmful chemicals and pharmaceuticals are finding their way into our underground water. Our towns need increased resources to test the water for toxic or harmful additives, and to protect recharge areas so our watersheds and wellheads remain safe from pollution.

Enhanced Wastewater Treatment: Water quality issues with coastal embayments, ponds and lakes force Cape Cod communities to take immediate – and expensive – action to address these problems. Our solutions must be both effective and cost-effective. Cape-elected officials must collectively make every possible effort to target federal and state funding for this multi-billion dollar capital program. I intend to lead that effort. | Read more

Air Quality: The Cape has already begun to develop new solar and wind energy resources. This will improve our air quality and help reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil. I will continue to support responsible alternative energy projects and cutting-edge technology for Cape Cod.