Massachusetts Sierra Club Praises State Senate for Climate Bill Passage

Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Sierra Club applauds the state Senate for passing a climate bill last night that would take steps to create incentives, investments, and targets necessary to meet the state’s goals for clean energy and transportation. The bill introduces programs to make electric vehicles more affordable, fund public charging stations, electrify public transit, invest in clean energy development, and support all-electric building codes.

These programs will accelerate progress towards the goals established by last year’s climate law, including statewide emissions reduction targets of 50% by 2030 from 1990 levels, 75% by 2040, and ‘net-zero’ by 2050. The bill will need to be reconciled with the House version and signed by the governor before it becomes law.

The key provisions of the bill include:

• Increasing the minimum required offshore wind to 10,000 MW total by 2030;

• Creating a $100m Clean Energy Investment Fund that will support clean energy infrastructure development;

• Requiring the entire MBTA bus fleet to be electric by 2040 and codifying Governor Baker’s pledge for all vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035;

• Establishing a $100 million fund for the MOR-EV rebate program and providing a $3,500 point-of-sale rebate for the purchase of a new or used electric car or light-duty trucks (with an additional $1000 for trading in a gas-powered vehicle), with $4,500 for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles;

• Increasing publicly available air quality monitoring and directing the state to establish baseline air quality in air pollution hotspots and corridors;

• Removing impediments to medium-sized solar developments and teeing up a successor to the state’s SMART solar program that favors development in the built environment;

• Limiting ratepayer-funded efficiency programs from incentivizing fossil fuel equipment starting in 2025;

• Allowing 10 municipalities to pilot all-electric building construction;

• Preventing biomass facilities from receiving state clean energy incentives;

• Banning competitive electricity suppliers, who often prey on the most vulnerable, from operating in Massachusetts.

Jess Nahigian, Political and Legislative Coordinator of Sierra Club Massachusetts, released the following statement:

“We’re happy the Senate is taking this first step toward meeting the climate goals set out in last year’s Next Generation Roadmap bill across all sectors of emissions. The legislation increases renewable energy and clean transportation options and responds to several areas where the Baker administration has attempted to delay progress in implementing our state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.

“We look forward to even more robust policies in the future across all sources of pollution, particularly our second highest emitting sector - buildings. Future policies must increase funding mechanisms and other tools available to residents to assist in the transition to renewable energy. They must also continue to fix the ongoing inequitable impacts of pollution and dirty energy infrastructure on Black and Brown communities.

“We thank President Spilka and Senators Barrett, Comerford, Chang-Diaz, Crighton, Cyr, Edwards, Eldridge, Hinds, Jehlen, Lesser, Pacheco, Rausch, Rogrigues, and more for the leadership they have shown in drafting and working to strengthen this bill. We look forward to working with the legislature to steward bold climate legislation to passage.”

Veena Dharmaraj, Director of Transportation of the Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter, released the following statement:

“We appreciate the funding available in the Senate climate bill to expand the electric vehicle rebate program, making new and used zero-emission cars more affordable to small businesses and moderate- and low-income residents.” 

“Adoption of the provision requiring a phased plan for the electrification of  commuter rail that prioritizes environmental justice communities is a welcome decision. However, we are disappointed by the continued reluctance of the Commonwealth to set electrification targets for state fleets that meet the needs of the moment. Communities across the state should not have to wait until 2050 to benefit from pollution-free school buses, municipal, and transit fleets.”

“Policies to expand access to transit, biking, and pedestrian infrastructure would have had a significantly higher impact on reducing transportation sector emissions and supporting mode shift. Not addressing these critical areas is a big missed opportunity.”