The Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind Needs Governor Approval
A wide-ranging climate and clean energy bill is sitting on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk after being passed by the Legislature. He will either sign it into law this weekend or not. Given the powerful special interests opposed to policies that will phase out fossil fuels for our buildings, now is the make or break moment for the climate action.
If signed into law, this landmark bill takes several important steps to reduce statewide emissions 50% below 1990 levels by 2030.
· Mandate all new passenger vehicle sales in the state to be zero-emission by 2035;
· Create a Charging Infrastructure Deployment Fund to promote EV charging infrastructure;
· Ensure off-peak rates for charging vehicles are available, requiring time-of-use rate proposals from distribution companies; and
· Provide up to $5,000 in rebates for electric vehicle purchases, with an additional $1,500 for low-income individuals, and additional rates for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
· Create a Charging Infrastructure Deployment Fund to promote EV charging infrastructure.
· Require the Department of Transportation to create a database detailing the number of registrations and total miles traveled for fossil fuel, electric and zero-emission vehicles in the state each year, sortable by municipality.
· Implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation network vehicles as well as a plan to transition the MBTA and regional transit authorities to zero-emissions vehicles.
· Create a clean energy equity workforce and market development program to provide workforce training, professional development, startup opportunities and grants to maximize energy efficiency and clean energy employment opportunities.
· Provide $3 million to help students gain academic and technical skills and prepare for careers in the offshore wind industry.
· Require the owners of large buildings — such as offices, apartment buildings, hospitals, and universities — to disclose their energy use each year, in order to help identify the biggest opportunities to improve energy efficiency.
· Allow up to 10 cities and towns to adopt local policies requiring new buildings to use fossil-fuel-free heating and appliances, an important step toward safer, healthier homes and businesses for everyone.
This last item raised concerns with the great need for more affordable housing. To be eligible, the municipality would need to either meet the 10% housing affordability threshold established by Chapter 40B, be granted “safe harbor” status through an approved Housing Production Plan, or have approved a zoning ordinance or bylaw that provides for at least one district with at least 15 units per acre in which multifamily housing is permitted by right (suitable for families with children and without age restriction).
Two ways to tell Gov. Baker to sign the climate bill into law:
2. Call the Governor’s office
Main number: (617) 725-4005
Alternative numbers (if the voicemail is full): (888) 870-7770, (413) 784-1200
When you call the Governor’s office, you might speak with a live person or you might be directed to voicemail. Either way, you should keep your message short and sweet. Here’s what you can say:
Hi, my name is _______ and I live in ______ (your town). I’m calling about the climate bill, House Bill 5060. I’m asking Governor Baker to sign this bill into law.
[You can add a sentence or two about why the bill matters to you.]
Thanks for taking action.
