PAST EVENTS

June 5, 2025 - Webinar

SPJE Webinar on Important Updates & Next Steps

SPJE provided updates on the Merlin Lab’s proposal regarding the Old Navy Hangar, how it impacts our campaign, SAFs, and what you can do to help. Watch the recording here.

April 1, 2025 - Event

A Historic Stand Against Private Jet Expansion

Sponsored by: Save Our Heritage, The Walden Woods Project, National Parks Conservation Association, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Learn more here.

January 8, 2025 - Webinar

Sustainable Aviation Fuels: Can They Meet 2050 Climate Goals?

Panelists:

  • Dan Lashof (Director of World Resources Institute, US) - Topic: "Crop-based biofuels and their implications for land use and resources"

  • Neil Rasmussen (MIT-trained engineer) - Topic: "The Science of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs): Types of SAFs, their stages of development, their promise and limitations"

  • Chuck Collins (Director of Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, DC, and author of report "Alternatives to Jet Fuels: Promising Solution or Industry Hype?" - May 2024) - Topic: "Sustainable Aviation Fuel as a Policy Question: What are the trade-offs?"

Sponsors: Institute for Policy Studies Program on Equality; Sierra Club Massachusetts; Massachusetts Climate Action Network; Mass Power Forward; Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere; Center for Biological Diversity

Learn more here.

October 26, 2024 - Event

A Walden Woods Walk to Stop Private Jet Expansion

SPJE, Sierra Club MA Chapter, and The Walden Woods Project hosted a free guided walk through the historic Walden Woods, where participants learned more about the organizations, the parks, and the threat posed by the proposed private jet hangar expansion at Hanscom Field. Learn more here.

September 19, 2024 - Webinar

What We’ve Achieved Together & What’s Next

Special Remarks by: Susan Solomon (Nobel Peace Prize recipient, author, and atmospheric chemistry professor at MIT)

SPJE Coalition Speakers:

  • Corinne Doud (Mothers Out Front Bedford, Climate Reality Project Leader Boston Metro Chapter, EJ Committee First Parish in Bedford)

  • Neil Rasmussen (president of Save Our Heritage, tracking Massport-owned Hanscom Field since 1998)

  • Chuck Collins (co-author of the reports "Hanscom High Flyers" and "Sustainable Aviation Fuels as a Marketing Ploy," Institute of Policy Studies)

  • Alex Chatfield (St. Anne's Climate Justice Ministry, Creation Care Justice in the Episcopal Diocese Network in Massachusetts)

Moderator: Diane Proctor (League of Women Voters Concord-Carlisle, Concord Indivisible)

May 1, 2024 - Event

America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places 2024

Due to the threat of private luxury jet expansion at Hanscom Field, on May 1st The National Trust for Historic Preservation designated Minute Man National Historical Park & Walden Pond as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Learn more here.

April 20, 2024 - Talk

Sudbury Earth Fest

Featuring State Representative Carmine Gentile and Lincoln resident, Anne Sobol
(starting at minute 50:45) View it here.

April 7, 2024 - Talk

Presentation by Kati Winchell at First Parish Bedford

View it here.

March 6, 2024 - Webinar

SPJE Webinar

Sponsored by: Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere, League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle, Sierra Club Massachusetts

Speakers:

  • Naomi Oreskes (Harvard professor of the History of Science and co-author of "Merchants of Doubt")

  • Neil Rasmussen (president of Save Our Heritage, tracking Massport-owned Hanscom Field since 1998)

  • Chuck Collins (co-author of report "Hanscom High Flyers: Private Jet Excess Doesn't Justify Airport Expansion," Institute for Policy Studies)

  • Alex Chatfield (St. Anne's Climate Justice Ministry)

Moderator: Diane Proctor (League of Women Voters Concord-Carlisle)

Learn more here.

March 3, 2024 - Talk

First Parish Lincoln Forum on Stop Private Jet Expansion

four-minute talk starting at minute 31:00 View it here.

February 27, 2024 - Event

WBUR’s Jim & Margery Show Standout & Aired Call-in

Governor Healey joins hosts Jim and Margery on WBUR once a month for an “Ask the Governor” show where everyday Massachusetts residents can call in. Our campaign has been hard at work taking advantage of this opportunity to ask Governor Healey to: be our climate champion. Learn more here.

Jan 21, 2024 - Talk

Climate Justice Moment

Climate Justice Moment with Dorothy Anderson at the First Parish in Bedford service
View it here.
Talk transcript here.

January 9, 2024 - Event

WBUR’s Jim & Margery Show Standout & Aired Call-in

Governor Healey joins hosts Jim and Margery on WBUR once a month for an “Ask the Governor” show where everyday Massachusetts residents can call in. Our campaign has been hard at work taking advantage of this opportunity to ask Governor Healey to: be our climate champion. Learn more here.

December 6, 2023 - Interview

The Economics of Everyday Things: Private Jet with Chuck Collins

Executives shell out millions of dollars for the privilege of flying private — but that convenience comes at a steep cost to the rest of us. Zachary Crockett prepares for takeoff. A FREAKONOMICS Podcast. Listen here.

December 7, 2023 - Action

Jeffery Leerink Protest

SPJE and allies told Jeffrey Leerink: Time to decide your legacy! Public Health or Climate Catastrophe? Jeffrey Leerink is a principal investor driving the proposed private luxury jet hangar expansion at Massport-owned Hanscom Field. Learn more here.

December 6, 2023 - Forum

Concord Forum on Climate Impact of Private Jet Expansion

Hosted by: League of Women Voters, Concord Carlisle

Sponsored by: Concord Select Board & Climate Action Committee, Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere, Restore: The North Woods, Concord Climate Action Network, The Thoreau Society, Concord Democratic Town Committee, The Walden Woods Project

Discussion Panelists: Senator Mike Barrett (Third Middlesex District), Alex Chatfield (St. Anne's Climate Justice Committee), Neil Rasmussen (Save Our Heritage), Chuck Collins (Institute for Policy Studies), Michael McDonald (Town of Concord Climate Action Committee)
View it here. Event Flyer here.

November 11, 2023 - Interview

How to stop private jet expansion at Hanscom (or anywhere) with Alex Chatfield

Massachusetts Climate Action Network’s Climate Minute Podcast. Listen here.

November 8, 2023 - Interview

Should Hanscom accept more private jet traffic? A new report explains who is flying where with Chuck Collins

Massachusetts Climate Action Network’s Climate Minute Podcast. Listen here.

October 8, 2023 - Interview

GBH News

Climate activists warn Hanscom Airfield expansion will worsen private jet emissions with Senator Barrett & Chuck Collins Watch here.

October 2, 2023 - Action

Statehouse Rally & Petition Delivery

Over 240 people rallied at the State House to deliver more than 10,000 petition signatures urging Governor Healey to stop the reckless private jet hangar expansion at Hanscom or anywhere. Learn more here

September 28, 2023 - Forum

Bedford Community Forum: Climate Impact of Private Jet Expansion.

Sponsored by: Bedford Energy & Sustainability Committee, Bedford Mothers Out Front, Bedford MA League of Women Voters, Bedford MA Third Act

Discussion Panelists: Neil Rasmussen (President, Save Our Heritage), Emily Mitchell (Bedford Select Board), Bill McKibben (Author, Educator, Environmentalist)

View it here. Event flyer here.

August 22, 2023 - Webinar

Mother’s Out Front Massachusetts Climate Action Call

On Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere!

View it here.

June 21, 2023 - Webinar

Stop Private Jet Expansion Webinar

Bill McKibben (Third Act), Neil Rasmussen (Save Our Heritage) and Kannan Thiruvengadam (East Boston/Eastie Farm) speak. Sponsored by 350 Mass

View it here.

May 23, 2023 - Talk

Presentation by Neil Rasmussen to Bedford Mothers Out Front

View it here.