By Emily Norton, Massachusetts Chapter Director
Bottom Line: Final Bill Does Not Match Urgency of Climate Change
Last night, on the final day of the legislative session, the Massachusetts House and Senate passed a clean energy compromise bill. While this bill does make some incremental positive changes, such as a small annual increase the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), it falls far short of the policy changes needed to boost Massachusetts’ renewable energy profile. Our state is quickly falling behind leading states such as California, New York, and New Jersey in terms of meeting climate goals.
How We Got Here
Conventional wisdom in a year and a half ago was that there would be no energy bill at all this session. Any small victory is thanks to the hard work of hundreds of activists around the state who worked tirelessly for the last 18+ months to educate and pressure their legislators on clean energy policy.
In the words of State Senator Jamie Eldridge:
"When the 2017-2018 legislative session began, I was very skeptical that the Legislature would pass any clean energy bill at all, due to the opposition of House leadership and the power of corporate lobbyists on Beacon Hill. However, the Massachusetts Sierra Club, led by Emily Norton, broke through these powerful interests (and a State House conference room or two), and helped pass an energy bill that will ensure investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, reduce gas leaks, and help generate thousands of new jobs across Massachusetts. The Mass Sierra Club, and its members, have cemented themselves as forces to be reckoned with on Beacon Hill."
What's In the Bill:
- Boosts the RPS annual increase from 1% to 2% starting in 2020, but declines back to 1% in 2030 (However, studies show a 3% increase is needed to stimulate our renewable energy industry)
- Authorizes 1,000 MW hours of energy storage
- Authorizes 1,600 MW of offshore wind by 2035
- Expands energy efficiency within MassSave program
- Implements new “clean peak” standard, which incentives Class II renewables (such as polluting waste to energy and biomass)
- Requires the Department of Public Utilities to quantify how much gas is leaking from pipelines across the state
- New minimum charge on every solar customer
What’s Missing:
- Increase in solar net metering cap; remove existing barriers to solar for low-income residents
- 2030 and 2040 Global Warming Solutions Act targets (currently our only stated emissions targets are for 2020 and 2050)
- Any language around environmental justice
- Prohibition on charging consumers for the cost of new fossil fuel pipelines
- Any reference to putting a price on carbon emissions
While we are pleased to see an interest in supporting renewable energy policies, these measures fall far short of what is needed.
What's Next?
Since January the Massachusetts Chapter has...
- Led 27 clean energy activist trainings across the state
- Organized and supported 35+ constituent meetings with state legislators, including 3 town hall events with key policymakers
- And in the last 7 months, made over 3,000 personal phone calls to activate Sierra Club members and educate them around these important issues
The next legislative session begins in January of 2019 and we’re already laying the groundwork for what comes next. Want to be a part of it? Interested in hosting a clean energy activist training or scheduling a meeting with your State Legislator? Email Jacob Stern, Clean Energy Organizer (jacob.stern@sierraclub.org).