Use the links below to navigate:
Transition to Renewable Energy • Environmental Justice • Transportation • Toxics • Plastic Pollution • Open Space & Conservation
Check out our interactive bill tracker.
Transition to Renewable Energy
In October 2018, the UN Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) told the world that we have only until roughly 2030 to drastically reduce our carbon emissions or suffer some of the worst impacts of climate change. The Massachusetts Chapter Energy Committee has developed a legislative agenda to tranistion the Commonwealth off of fossil fuels. Click here to download our full list of clean energy priorities. Contact Paul Dale (paulbdale@gmail.com), Energy Committee Chair with any questions.
Top priority renewable energy bills:
- H.2836: An Act Re-Powering Massachusetts With 100 Percent Renewable Energy (Decker & Garballey)
- S.1958: An Act Transitioning Massachusetts To 100 Per Cent Renewable Energy (Eldridge)
These bills will power Massachusetts' electric grid with 100% renewable energy by 2035, and transition heating & transportation to 100% renewable energy by 2045, while ensuring that the communities most impacted by fossil fuel pollution benefit from the transition. Click here for the 100% Renewable Energy Bill fact sheet
- H.2810: An Act To Promote Green Infrastructure And Reduce Carbon Emissions (Benson)
This bill imposes a carbon fee beginning with $20 per ton (equivalent to 18 cents per gallon of gasoline or $1.06 per 1000 cubic feet of natural gas), which would scale up to $40/ton over four years. 70% of the proceeds would be rebated to the public, with emphasis on low and middle income and rural car-dependent households. 30% would be put into a Green Infrastructure Fund, focusing on transportation, resiliency, and energy efficiency. There would also be provisions to protect businesses exposed to greater competitive pressures. Click here for the Carbon Pricing Bill fact sheet
Other legislation that supports the transition to renewable energy:
- H.832: An Act To Create A 2050 Roadmap To A Clean And Thriving Commonwealth (Meschino)
- H.2802 & S.2005: An Act To Secure A Clean Energy Future (Balser & Pacheco)
- H.2832 & S.1986: An Act Relative To Energy Savings Efficiency (Energy Save) (Cutler & Lewis)
- H.853: An Act To Assure The Attainment Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Goals In The Alternative Portfolio Standard (Provost)
- H.2849 & S.1940: An Act For Utility Transition To Using Renewable Energy (Future) (Ehlrich/Minicucci & Creem)
- H.2877: An Act Relative To Solar Power Equity In Low-Income And Environmental Justice Communities (Holmes)
- S.1931: An Act Relative To Solar Power In Environmental Justice And Urban Communities (Chang-Diaz)
- H.2858 & S.1937: An Act Improving Outdoor Lighting And Increasing Dark-Sky Visibility (Garballey & Creem)
- H.3662: An Act Authorizing Independent Retirement Systems To Divest From Fossil Fuel Companies (Livingstone/Fernandes)
- H.2220: An Act Relative To Public Investment In Fossil Fuels (Decker/Domb)
- S.636: An Act Authorizing Independent Retirement Boards To Divest From Fossil Fuel Companies (Pacheco)
- H.2930 & S.1803: An Act Sparking The Modernization Of State Heating Systems (Vitolo & Chandler)
- H.2887 & S.1983: An Act Relative To Home Energy Efficiency (Madaro & Lesser)
- S.1970: An Act Relative To Monthly Minimum Reliability Contributions (Gobi)
- S.2006: An Act Relative To Solar Net Metering Fairness (Pacheco)
- H.2864 & S.1980: An Act Protecting Ratepayers From Gas Pipeline Expansion Costs (Gordon & Jehlen)
- H.2825 & S.1957: An Act Increasing Rooftop Solar Energy (Lewis/Connolly & Eldridge)
- S.1935: An Act Establishing A Net Zero Stretch Energy Code (Comerford)
Transportation
The largest portion of Massachusetts' greenhouse gas emissions comes from the transportation sector, and these emissions are still currently rising. Raising revenue for investment in clean transportation solutions is a key integral strategy to addressing this, and increasingly, local and state governments are committing to address this. Reducing pollution from transportation can be achieved with two main strategies. The first strategy is mode shift, or in other words, changing the way we move people and goods and ultimately reducing “vehicle miles traveled.” The second strategy is reducing carbon content of fuels by increasing the fuel efficiency of our current vehicles and shifting to vehicles that run on sustainable fuel sources.
Top priority transportation bills:
- H.3121: An Act Transitioning Massachusetts To Electric Buses (Rogers)
This bill requires all transit agencies and school buses be electric (or HFC) by the end of 2035. Transit agencies and school bus operators must submit an Electric Bus Rollout Plan that, as much as possible, avoids early retirements of ICE buses and includes training plan for EV drivers and maintenance and repair staff. Said plan also should identify possible funding sources. Transit agencies and school bus operators may request extensions or exemptions to DOT based on a limited number of scenarios (manufacturer and delivery delays, circumstances beyond agency's control, if available buses can't meet mileage needs, or financial hardship).
- S.2107: An Act To Study The Feasibility Of High-Speed Rail Access Between Pittsfield And Boston Via Springfield (Lesser)
This bill instructs the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study relative to high-speed rail service between the cities of Pittsfield, Springfield and Boston.
Other legislation that supports public transit and electrification of the transportation system:
- H.2653 & S.1694: An Act Relative To Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives (Vargas/Madaro & Lesser)
- H.2869 & S.2116: An Act Relative To A Clean Transportation Future (Hecht & Lewis)
- H.2872: An Act To Promote The Transition To Clean Transportation Fleets (Hecht/Barber)
- S.1927: An Act To Promote Zero-Emission Vehicle Fleets By 2035 (Boncore)
- H.2873: An Act Promoting Zero-Emission Vehicles (Hecht)
- H.3008 & S.2106: An Act To Advance Modern And Sustainable Solutions For Transportation (Ehrlich & Lesser)
- S.2054: An Act To Examine The Feasibility Of Rail Service Between North Adams, Greenfield And Boston (Comerford)
Plastic Pollution
The Sierra Club supports getting to zero waste. This can be done through a combination of increasing diversion and recycling. In addition, our landfills are nearing capacity and are failing. Removing needless plastic pollution is a strong step in the right direction.
Top priority plastic pollution bills:
- H.743: An Act To Reduce Packaging Waste (Connolly)
- S.439: An Act To Reduce Plastic Packaging Waste (Creem)
- H.771: An Act Reducing Plastic Bag Pollution (Ehrlich)
- S.462: An Act Reducing Plastic Bag Pollution (Eldridge)
Other legislation that will reduce plastic pollution:
- H.2682: An Act To Promote Cost Savings Through The Use Of Public Water (Cronin)
- H.2881 & S.452: An Act Promoting The Proper Disposal Of Miniatures (Hunt & DiDomenico)
- H.3502 & S.1205: An Act To Restrict The Use Of Polystyrene (Decker & Barrett)
Toxics
Top priority bills relating to toxic chemicals:
- H.3500: An Act To Protect Children, Families, And Firefighters From Harmful Flame Retardants (Decker)
- S.1230: An Act To Protect Children, Families, And Firefighters From Harmful Flame Retardants (Creem)
These bills bans 11 toxic flame retardants from children’s products, mattresses and bedding, upholstered furniture and window treatments. These chemicals get out of the products and into our bodies, and in fires, they turn into toxic smoke and soot, exposing firefighters.
Other legislation that will reduce exposure to toxic chemicals:
- S.463: An Act empowering towns and cities to protect residents and the environment from harmful pesticides (Eldridge)
- S.500: An Act Ensuring Safe Drinking Water In Schools (Lovely)
- H.763: An Act To Protect Massachusetts Pollinators (Dykema)
- H.776 & S.447: An Act Empowering Towns And Cities To Protect Residents And The Environment From Harmful Pesticides (Fernandes & Cyr)
- H.751 & S.490: An Act Promoting Awareness Of Sewage Pollution In Public Waters (Campbell & Jehlen)
- H.791: An Act relative to improving pesticide protections for Massachusetts schoolchildren (Gentile)
- H.792 (redraft H.4413): An Act relative to the prohibition of the transfer or use of glyphosate in the Commonwealth (Gentile)
- H.3839 & S.1315: An Act Relative To Chemicals In Food Packaging (Lewis & Moore)
Environmental Justice
Issues of health and the environment are intrinsically linked. We must acknowledge that those most impacted by the effects of pollution, climate change, and other environmental issues historically come from poorer communities and communities of color. For example, low-income populations are more likely to live near a landfill, runoff site, or waste incinerator facility. Environmental justice means that these impacts are shared fairly and equally and that all people (regardless of race, income, language, or country of origin) should be included in decisions about environmental issues. These bills also appear on our clean energy agenda.
Top priority environmental justice bills:
- H.761: An Act Relative To Environmental Justice And Toxics Reduction In The Commonwealth (DuBois/Miranda)
- S.464: An Act Relative To Environmental Justice And Toxics Reduction In The Commonwealth (Eldridge)
Environmental justice is the equal protection and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws. These bills codify EJ into law and secure enforcement of Executive Order 552, issued under Gov. Patrick and the state’s EJ policy, issued in 2002 and updated in 2017. Click here for our environmental justice fact sheet.
Other legislation that promotes equity and environmental justice:
- H.2853: An Act For Community Empowerment (Fernandes)
Lands, Conservation, and Open Space
Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution provides: “The people shall have the right to clean air and water, freedom from excessive and unnecessary noise, and the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic qualities of their environment; and the protection of the people in their right to the conservation, development and utilization of the agricultural, mineral, forest, water, air and other natural resources is hereby declared to be a public purpose.”
- H.732 & S.459: An Act Protecting The Natural Resources Of The Commonwealth (Balser & Eldridge)
- H.762 & S.535: An Act Relative To Maintaining Adequate Water Supplies Through Effective Drought Management (Dykema & Tarr)
- H.1765: An Act to Prevent Nonprofit Institutions from Avoiding Wetlands or Natural Resource Protections Under the So-Called Dover Amendment (Capano)
- H.2852 & S.448: An Act Protecting Our Coasts From Offshore Drilling (Fernandes & Cyr)
...and see our Boston Advocacy page.