Clean Energy & Climate Change

193rd General Court (2023-2024)

S.1293
An Act providing for the establishment of sustainable water resource funds

Water banking at the local level has proven to be an effective tool for mitigating the impacts of water withdrawals on both the natural environment and local and regional water infrastructure systems. This bill would give political subdivisions the authority to collect a reasonable fee to be used to offset the impacts of water withdrawals and discharges on the natural environment.

S. 475
An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management

This bill would codify the Drought Management Task Force, allow the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to establish outdoor watering restrictions during droughts and give municipalities the power to enforce these restrictions.

S. 2116
An Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by permitting local option all-electric buildings and homes ordinances

This bill would allow municipalities to vote on a ban on new fossil fuel infrastructure within their city or town. It was filed in response to a ruling which made it so that municipalities do not have the legal authority to prohibit new fossil fuel infrastructure.

S. 477
An Act relative to plastic bag reduction

This bill bans single-use plastic carryout bags at point of sale. Establishments will be able to provide recycled paper bags, compostable plastic bags, or durable, reusable bags for customers at the point of sale for $0.10 or more. It passed the Senate in 2019.

S. 1294
An Act encouraging municipal recycling and composting

This bill will require that all cities and towns establish recycling programs for any type of solid waste and require that residents separate their recyclable and compostable waste from their solid waste for the recycling program established by their city or town.

S. 2117
An Act advancing clean energy, equity, and innovation within Municipal Utilities

This bill addresses the equitable distribution of benefits and burdens of the clean energy transition by requiring municipal utilities (also known as Municipal Light Plants or MLPs) to adhere to the same clean energy goals and requirements as Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs).

S. 1799
An Act providing for climate change adaptation infrastructure and affordable housing investments in the commonwealth (HERO Act)

An Act providing for climate change adaptation infrastructure and affordable housing investments in the Commonwealth, also known as HERO - Housing and Environmental Revenue Opportunities - would secure new revenue for investment in climate and housing by doubling the current deeds excise fee.

S. 2119
An Act to Promote Solar Energy Development Consistent with the Commonwealth's 2050 Next Generation Roadmap

S. 2120
An Act increasing solar rooftop energy

This bill requires new residential and commercial buildings to be built ready to accommodate rooftop solar and sets specific energy requirements for each type of building. This bill allows for some exemptions or reductions for buildings that may have equivalent substitute renewable energy systems.

S. 2121
An Act investing in a prosperous clean Commonwealth by 2030 (IPCC-2030)

This bill sets a frame around the need for the Commonwealth to reach emission targets according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, by 2030. It would (i) Set net emissions targets to zero for 2030 and negative after that; (ii) Mandate the procurement of new offshore wind and solar capacity, while increasing the accessibility of solar to low-income and environmental justice communities (iii) Increase investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and transitions new vehicle sales to Evs (iv)Invest in and electrify the MBTA, RTA, and fleets used for a public purpose (v) Establish a net zero building code while harmonizing building efficiency standards across the commonwealth, and retrofits all publicly assisted housing by 2030 and (vi) Protect workers from fossil fuel industries, allowing them to choose to retrain or to collect a pension early while guaranteeing that jobs created as a result of the energy transition are union jobs with wage and benefit parity.

S. 481
An Act establishing a climate change superfund and promoting polluter responsibility

This legislation creates a Climate Adaptation Superfund to finance climate adaptation projects across the commonwealth by recovering funds from large fossil fuel companies that are responsible for over one billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions released between 2000 and 2018.

S. 482
An Act promoting drinking water quality for all

This act authorizes MassDEP to develop health-based regulations to ensure private well water is safe to drink. The bill is a first step in achieving uniform statewide private well regulations to protect health.