by Jacob Stern
There's a lot of energy for 100% renewables!
It’s only a week before the legislature is scheduled to go on August recess. Typically the summer is a slow time at the State House, but we’re working hard to keep pressure on our state policymakers.
On Tuesday, July 23, the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy held a hearing for public input on a long list of bill topics, including emissions targets, building energy efficiency codes, and electric vehicles. Sierra Club members showed up in force alongside our Mass Power Forward allies (Environment Massachusetts, 350Mass, Mass Climate Action Network, and others) to advocate for the proposed legislation.
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| Over 25 legislators, led by Rep. Decker and Rep. Garballey attended in support of the 100% renewable legislation |
H.2853 / S.1958 An Act re-powering Massachusetts with 100 percent renewable energy
This bill is one of Sierra Club’s top priorities and would commit the Massachusetts to a goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2035 and 100% renewable energy economy-wide (including buildings and transportation) by 2045. Similar legislation has already passed in seven other states.
H.2865 / S.1935 An act to establish a net zero stretch energy code
This bill directs policymakers to develop a net zero building standard by 2030. This legislation would also requires policymakers to consider feedback from environmental justice communities to ensure that the standard is equitable for all, especially low-income families.
We also testified on multiple transportation and electric vehicle bills. Sierra Club supports: (1) setting strong targets and developing a comprehensive strategy to accelerate the phased electrification of our cars, buses, and trucks -- beginning with vehicles owned or leased by public entities, and (2) increasing and ensuring sustained sources of funding to achieve a safe, equitable transportation system that serves the needs of all residents of the Commonwealth.
Want to help advocate for this legislation? Call or email your State Represenative and ask them to tell the Committee to support the above bills. Click here to look up your State Representative and State Senator.
Bills are starting to move at the State House
It’s also worth noting that several other clean energy bills have already been reported out of committee. These bills cover a variety of topics, including emission limits, energy efficiency, and solar energy. Each of the following bills is advancing to the next step in the legislative process:
H.3983 (formerly H.832) An Act To Create A 2050 Roadmap To A Clean And Thriving Commonwealth
This bill updates the Global Warming Solutions Act to be net zero by 2050. It directs the adoption of strong emissions limits for 2030 and 2040 and gives the administration a full range of carbon pricing and other market-based mechanisms.
S.1986 An Act relative to Energy Savings Efficiency (Energy SAVE)
This bill introduces higher standards for 10 common products, including computers and monitors, plumbing products, and food service equipment. By 2025 energy savings will equal 3% of all residential electricity in Massachusetts and reduce the equivalent of emissions from 37,000 cars in that year. Most of the standards have no incremental cost. Of the remaining standards, the payback period is 2 years or less.
S.1957 An Act increasing rooftop solar energy
This bill would require rooftop solar panels to be installed on new residential and commercial buildings.
S.1995 An Act providing solar energy to state agencies
The bill would require solar panels to be installed on the roofs of new and renovated buildings owned or operated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Read more about these solar bills here.
And just this past week, the Massachusetts House passed Speaker DeLeo’s Greenworks proposal. This legislation would authorize the state to borrow $1.3 billion in bonds, to be distributed over 10 years for municipal sustainability and resiliency projects. We were especially pleased to see an adopted amendment sponsored by Rep. Dykema that would fully fund the Massachusetts electric vehicle rebate program for the next ten years -- a total of $3 million annually for rebates between $2,500 and $5,000 for cars under $40,000.
While Sierra Club favors a legislative approach that focuses more on carbon emission reduction and climate mitigation, we applaud the leadership of Speaker DeLeo. We hope that the House will continue to prioritize climate legislation this session as this bill does not fully address the scope of the crisis.
The bill will now move to the Senate and if it passes there, will head to the Governor's desk.
And a setback from the South Coast...
A proposed offshore wind development hit a snag this month. On July 10, officials announced that the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) that “they are not yet prepared to issue” the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the 800 megawatt project. The same day, the Edgartown Conservation Commission voted 5-1 to deny a Vineyard Wind permit for the export cables that would pass through the Muskeget Channel.
These developments came as a shock to Sierra Club. Massachusetts will benefit tremendously from this offshore wind project. Vineyard Wind estimates will reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million tons per year, or the equivalent of removing 325,000 cars from state roads, not to mention the creation of long-term high-paying jobs. Despite this challenge, there is broad support for wind power and we anticipate that the project will continue to move forward. Read more here.