Jess Nahigian, Sierra Club Massachusetts, jess.nahigian@sierraclub.org
Claire Karl Miller, UUMass Action, claire@uumassaction.org; 781-775-1429
Daniel Zackin, 350 Mass and Better Future Project, dan@betterfutureproject.org, 203-802-7464
BOSTON, MA. – Today, Mass Power Forward — a coalition of over 200 environmental leaders, community organizations, clean energy businesses, and more — hosted a lobby day in support of five key pieces of climate legislation. Over 200 coalition members met with nearly 50 legislators, either in person in their district or virtually, over several days. The coalition’s five priority bills, organized by committee, are:
Joint Committee on Public Health
- Bill S.1382 The Air Quality Bill: An Act to Improve Outdoor and Indoor Air Quality for Communities Burdened by Pollution.
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
- Bill H.3187 Siting Reform: An Act Relative to Energy Facilities Siting Reform to Address Environmental Justice, Climate, and Public Health.
- Bill H.3232 ZCRF: An Act Establishing a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund.
- Bill S.2135 Put Gas in the Past: An Act Establishing a Moratorium on New Gas System Expansion.
Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
- Bill H.872 Make Polluters Pay: An Act Establishing a Climate Change Superfund and Promoting Polluter Responsibility.
In meetings throughout the day, the coalition urged legislators to further Massachusetts climate goals by ensuring passage of these critical bills. Each bill will substantially help alleviate the consequences of climate change, better public health, lessen impacts on already disproportionately impacted environmental justice communities, and advance clean, sustainable energy solutions.
Following the lobby day, coalition leaders issued the following statements:
“December brings us to the darkest time of year, but we at Mass Power Forward have hope, hope that these important bills for our future will be favorably voted out of committee,” said Claire Karl Miller, UU Mass Action.
“350 Mass is proud to stand with allies from across the state to urge our legislators to act with haste. Among other strong bills for climate and environmental justice, we are proud to support the Make Polluters Pay bill to make the biggest oil and gas companies fund climate adaptation and resilience,” said Daniel Zackin, 350 Mass.
“The priority bills mentioned in today's meetings are essential to building the sustainable and equitable climate-future Massachusetts needs. The Commonwealth must act to lessen the state's poor air quality caused by energy infrastructure, especially in our state's environmental justice communities. Massachusetts decision-makers must also stop utilities from using energy bills paid for by local families and businesses to fund gas expansion projects that only worsen the problem. Our state needs a pause on gas expansion until we have a plan to transition off the pollutant for good. There is no time to lose. We call on the legislators present today to champion these bills out of committee,” said Jess Nahigian, Sierra Club Massachusetts.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.