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Two important actions coming right up to push for better climate legislation as this session of the Mass Legislature rapidly comes to a close.

July 7, 2022
— Call to keep biomass ban strong

July 11, 2022
— Pittsfield Rally: Wake Up Call! for Climate Justice Legislation

from Partnership for Policy Integrity (PFPI)

On Thursday, July 7th we need to flood the State House with calls to remove subsidies for burning woody biomass from all of Massachusetts’ renewable energy programs. Please save the date and spread the word!

Governor Baker is ending his term by finalizing rules that will force ratepayers to subsidize polluting wood-burning power plants across the Northeast. This parting gift to the biomass industry will direct millions of dollars to power plants that are more polluting than coal, instead of to clean renewables like offshore wind and solar.

Our best chance now to prevent ratepayers’ clean energy dollars from going up in smoke is in the climate and energy bill that is currently being negotiated by a House-Senate conference committee.

We are urging the conference committee to make a “clean sweep” and end all renewable energy subsidies for burning wood. Specifically, we want them to:

  1. Keep sections 22-30 of S.2842 in the final climate and energy bill. These provisions take woody biomass out of Massachusetts’ two main renewable energy programs, the Renewable Portfolio Standard and the Alternative Portfolio Standard
  2. In addition, remove woody biomass from the new Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standard for municipal light plants

On Thursday July 7th PLEASE MAKE THESE CALLS:

House TUE Chair Jeff Roy                (617) 722-2030
Senate TUE Chair Mike Barrett          (617) 722-1572
House Speaker Ron Mariano             (617) 722-2500
Senate President Karen Spilka          (617) 722-1500

Call Script:

My name is ________ and I am calling about the climate and energy bill (S.2842). I urge you to remove subsidies for burning woody biomass from all of Massachusetts’ renewable energy programs. We need to focus on clean renewable energy like offshore wind and solar, not burning trees. Only the legislature can prevent ratepayers’ clean energy dollars from going up in smoke!

You can also call your own legislators with this message:

My name is _________ and I live in your district. Please urge members of the climate and energy conference committee to remove subsidies for burning woody biomass from all of Massachusetts’ renewable energy programs. We need to focus on clean renewable energy like offshore wind and solar, not burning trees. Only the legislature can prevent ratepayers’ clean energy dollars from going up in smoke!

For more information and to take additional action go to www.notoxicbiomass.org

Thank you!
Laura Haight, PFPI, and the No Toxic Biomass Campaign
‌
MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 AT 11 AM – 12:30 PM
Wake Up Call! For Climate Justice Legislation
Park Square, Pittsfield, MA

Only 10 Days Left for Climate & Environmental Justice!
We are sounding the alarm! Wake up legislators!

- Bring your pots and pans, drums, noisemakers of all kinds!
- Bring signs if you like, or use one brought by BEAT!
- Tell your story of what climate and environmental justice mean to you

Join us, BEAT, NAACP-Berkshire Branch, 350MA-Berkshire Node and Mass Power Forward, in calling on our legislators to wake up and do more for environmental and climate justice!

This is just one of over 10 rallies happening simultaneously across the state. We’ll be sharing on social media to send to Legislators and members of the Conference Committee currently crafting climate legislation.

Main asks:
We are pushing for these items to be included in the energy / climate bill currently in the conference committee in the Mass State Legislature.

- Air Quality Bill - (S.1447/H.2230) & Amendment S.2842, Section 76
(only got half amended onto the Senate Package, we need them to include indoor air quality and other key items)
- Siting Reform - (S.2135/H.3336)
(extended but stuck in Committee)
- Building Justice with Jobs - (S.2226/H.3365)
(almost got amended into Senate, didn’t get out of committee)
- 100% Clean Electricity, Housing & Transportation - S.2136/H.3288

We also need to keep good biomass language in the bill (see above!), need to stop the “future of gas” (DPU20-80, utility controlled process in which they’re only proposing ways to extend use of combustible gases), and stronger provisions for a just transition, housing justice and indigenous justice.

Show up so our leaders know that we demand climate action now. The conference committee is deliberating this month and aim to have their mash-up bill out any day now. Now is the time to make noise, together in community.

ARE YOU ELSEWHERE IN MA?
Pittsfield is just one of 11 locations for rallies at the same date & hour!

»» See Mass Power Forward's Event for listings of rallies across the state. https://www.facebook.com/events/3014086168882975

» RSVP to the Day here: https://forms.gle/aDyQvGGmG7ME39cq7
Reminder: MEPA Comment Period for proposed Eversource Pipeline
is Open until July 28th

Eversource moves forward in permitting process for it’s Springfield / Longmeadow “Reliability Project” pipeline
and meter station

Comments may be submitted my email to alexander.strysky@mass.gov or via the MEPA Public Comments Portal.
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