LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2019-2020 Legislative Session ad We advocate for strong environmental laws and regulations on a broad range of issues. • Encouraging adequate funding for • Creating sustainable management of our state environmental programs water resources • Combating climate change • Ensuring stewardship of our urban and • Supporting compact, walkable state parks communities • Reducing the use of toxic chemicals • Building a 21st century transportation • Increasing recycling and reducing solid system waste FIRST TIER PRIORITIES Green Budget DEP Admin, DCR Parks, NHESP, and DER Our environmental agencies remain underfunded and understaffed. Adequate budgets for DEP, DCR, NHESP, and DER are critical to maintaining Massachusetts’ clean air and water and the public health of our residents. An Act Relative to Multi-State Offshore Wind Procurement H2920 – Representative Dave Rogers Compels Massachusetts to reach out to the other New England states to explore issuing a joint procurement for 6 GW of new offshore wind. It would also authorize Massachusetts to enter into such an agreement and direct utilities to purchase this new power. Between 4 and 9 GW of older fossil and nuclear power plants will close in coming years. It should be replaced by clean, inexpensive, and plentiful offshore wind. An Act to Promote Green Infrastructure and Reduce Carbon Emissions H2810 – Representative Jen Benson Puts a price on carbon emissions and creates new revenue while ensuring low and moderate income families are protected. In order to meet our GWSA mandates, we need to accelerate our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This market based approach would result in significant emissions reductions. An Act to Create a 2050 Roadmap to a Clean and Thriving Commonwealth H832 – Representative Joan Meschino Amends the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) to require carbon neutrality by 2050. It would authorize carbon pricing, identify pathways to eliminate carbon from all sectors, and require 2030 and 2040 interim emission limits. 1 An Act providing for climate change adaptation infrastructure investments in the Commonwealth S10 – Governor Charlie Baker Increases the real estate transfer tax to fund the Global Warming Solutions trust fund; which would fund the Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP)and other resiliency initiatives. Greenworks Speaker Robert DeLeo Legislation under development; would generate $1 billion over 10 years, through bonding, to fund municipal level projects needed for resiliency and mitigation. SECOND TIER PRIORITIES Energy An Act relative to energy savings efficiency (Energy SAVE) H2832 – Representative Josh Cutler Updates the energy efficiency standards for appliances. An Act re-powering Massachusetts with 100% renewable energy H2836/S1958 – Representative Marjorie Decker and Senator Jamie Eldridge Sets a goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2035, and 100% renewable energy economy- wide (including heating and transportation) by 2045; accelerates the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2035; requires the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to set interim renewable energy targets for 2030 and 2040, and issue regulations to meet those targets; and establishes a Clean Energy Workforce Development Fund to support training and job placement assistance for Massachusetts residents to work in the clean energy industry. An Act relative to enhancing reliability of renewable resources in the Commonwealth H2862 – Representative Thomas Golden Enhances the Commonwealth’s usage of energy storage. An Act relative to the continued enhancement of the offshore wind industry in the Commonwealth H2867 – Representative Patricia Haddad Reforms the offshore wind procurement process by removing utilities from the selection committee and removing the decreasing price requirement. Also codifies the additional 1600 MW approved last session. An Act sparking the modernization of state heat systems H2930/S1803 – Representative Tommy Vitolo and Senator Harriette Chandler Creates statewide heat pump training program at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; begins to change the gas utility business model to lower incentive to oppose clean heating conversions, lowers the risk of stranded costs after 2040, and requires that any gas conversions must be efficient; and updates state building “lead by example” statute and requires non-fossil heating for new state buildings. An Act to secure a clean energy future H2802/S2005 – Senator Marc Pacheco and Representative Ruth Balser 2 This is the Senate energy omnibus that passed the Senate last session; it includes a requirement to establish a carbon pricing mechanism, an increase in the Renewal Portfolio Standard (RPS), and solar and EV initiatives. An Act to combat climate change S1924 – Senator Michael Barrett Directs the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary to establish a market based mechanism to reduce GHG emissions. Proceeds from a price on carbon would be used for appropriate rebates, and to support transit (60%), school aid (30%) and environmental health and justice (5%). An Act promoting clean energy storage S1977 – Senator Adam Hinds Establishes a new exemption for the cost of energy storage systems, at the sole discretion of a municipality. The exemption will be allowed for a period of twenty years from the date of the installation of such system or device. In addition, the Department of Energy Resources is required to establish a rebate for Massachusetts-based companies installing and manufacturing energy storage systems, and provides a sales tax exemption for the sale of energy storage systems. Environmental Justice An Act relative to environmental justice and toxics reduction in the Commonwealth H761/S464 – Representative Michelle DuBois and Senator Jamie Eldridge Codifies environmental justice language relative to human exposure to environmental toxins. Land An Act to sustain natural and working lands carbon in communities H842/S2014 – Representative Sarah Peake and Senator Bruce Tarr Enables the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to accurately measure carbon stored by, and released from, natural and working lands. It sets a goal for increasing the size of our natural carbon sink, and develop a plan to reach it with public and private lands. Also establishes the Communities for a Sustainable Climate Program for municipalities (like the Green Communities Program), which provides technical assistance and funding to communities that opt in and adopt carbon-friendly local policies and practices. An Act relative to the conservation land tax credit H2522/S1767 – Representative Bradley Jones and Senator Bruce Tarr Increases the Credit Against Taxes Imposed for Qualified Donation of Certain Land to Public or Private Conservation Agency and Income Tax Credits to from $2,000,000 to $5,000,000 over three consecutive tax years. The enhanced credit is to expire December 31, 2029. An Act relative to pipeline siting S2000 – Senator Marc Pacheco Prohibits the department of public utilities from approving pipeline capacity contracts or gas storage contracts that involve the installation of gas infrastructure on environmental conservation lands protected under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution; voids future approvals of contracts located on Article 97 protected lands. Mitigation 3 An Act to expand the green communities program to mitigate climate change H2841/S1987 – Representative Carolyn Dukema and Senator Jason Lewis Builds on the successful Green Communities program that more than half of MA municipalities have adopted by creating a new “Green Plus” designation that focuses local efforts on greenhouse gas emissions reduction. To qualify, municipalities first establish a community-wide GHG emissions baseline and then put in place a comprehensive program to reduce GHG emissions by at least 20% within 5 years. Participating municipalities then have access to funds to implement their plans. It also includes a provision to allow DOER to develop alternate regulations to allow those communities served by municipal light plants to participate in both Green Communities and the new Green Plus Communities programs. Recreation An Act establishing the Office of Outdoor Recreation S484 – Senator Adam Hinds Creates the Office of Outdoor Recreation to be housed within EEA with the purpose of promoting and marketing outdoor recreational activities of the commonwealth to the public, to support economic development in the commonwealth and to improve the quality of life, health and well-being of residents in the commonwealth. The secretary of energy and environmental affairs shall designate a competent and qualified person to be the director of the office of outdoor recreation. Resiliency An Act establishing the commission for a climate-ready Commonwealth H825/S433 – Representative Adrian Madaro and Senator William BrownSerger Establishes a thirteen member Commission for a climate-ready commonwealth to advise the legislature on how to fund, implement and prioritize climate resilience and climate adaptation infrastructure projects that will protect against and avoid risks posed and expenses incurred by climate change; articulates the qualifications of Commission members; identifies several specific areas of investigation for the Commission; provides that the Commission be supported by staff from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Environmental Protection; requires the Commission to submit