EDITORIAL
Celebrating Independence

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. . . ."

- John Adams, in his letter to wife Abigail, July 3, 1776

Happy birthday, America! This week, Nantucket's skies will - fog permitting - be ablaze once again with illuminations in celebration of our nation's independence, as John Adams himself had predicted 232 years ago.

Energy Independence.

Fast forward two centuries and Nantucket and Massachusetts have a single opportunity to renew our commitment to independence through leadership toward energy independence. Last week, the Massachusetts House and Senate unanimously approved the Green Communities Act, which Governor Deval Patrick is expected to sign into law. The act encourages cities and towns to develop alternative energy solutions.

This spring, the Nantucket Board of Selectmen signed a resolution joining the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, which provides a basis for municipal governments to work toward lowering their and their citizens' greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing their lives in their community through education on how to solve climate change issues. Local leadership on this important issue also comes from Nantucket's Energy Study Committee and Sustainable Nantucket's Green Council.

With the Green Communities Act, Massachusetts becomes a national leader in the campaign for energy independence. Nantucket should be a leading local community in that campaign.