When the federal government clawed back a $20 million environmental justice grant awarded to Springfield, the headlines focused on what that city lost. And rightfully so. But what did Massachusetts gain — and what will we do with it?

Across the Commonwealth, cities, towns, and grassroots coalitions spent the better part of two years developing detailed, locally grounded proposals for federal climate and environmental justice funding. These proposals were more than grant applications — they were community-driven blueprints for how to decarbonize neighborhoods, make homes healthier, build local workforce pipelines, and adapt to a rapidly changing climate.

Now, in the wake of Springfield’s high-profile loss and amid shifting federal priorities, Massachusetts has a rare opportunity. We can l

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