On July 31, 2020, the House amended their climate bill (H.4912) onto the Senate’s climate bill (S.2500). The Senate took up their bill in January and it, too, focuses on 2050 emissions. Both bills have been sent to a temporary Conference Committee to reconcile the differences between them. The Conference Committee will create a compromise climate bill. The Senate President and Speaker of the House appoint the members to conference committee: three members from each branch, including the chair of the Committee who specializes in the bill’s core issues, a member of the minority party, and a member of leadership. These members include: Representatives Golden, Haddad, and Jones; and Senators Barrett, Creem and O’Connor. 

When the consensus bill goes to the House and then the Senate the only option for legislators is to vote yea or nay—there is no more amending at that point. 

Conference Committees hold their deliberations in private. However, you can still write to these
legislators now asking them to keep the EJ Amendment.

MCAN is working with our partners and coalitions on:

• Ensuring the EJ amendment #52 passed in the House is part of the consensus bill
• Drafting an amendment that changes the definition pf MLP greenhouse gas emission standard
  definition of eligible sources from “non-carbon emitting” sources to “non-carbon emitting or
  renewable energy” (Section 15 of the House 2050 Roadmap Bill).

Stay tuned for updates about the timeline of the Conference Committee, an amendment number for the
MLP Renewables amendment, and phone/email scripts.

2019—2020 MCAN Legislative Priorities

The Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that fights the climate crisis by building on the energy and enthusiasm of local MCAN chapters. At the state level, we provide a unified voice for our chapters and members on state policies and programs that impact municipal climate action.

MCAN understands that empowering local residents to take action will lead to state-wide change. Our work focuses on clean energy, community choice aggregation, municipal light plant performance, and zero emissions building codes.  

MCAN supports our local chapters by:

• Providing technical assistance and guidance; educational trainings; and expert testimony to municipal committees and elected boards

• Coordinating chapters to advocate for policies and programs at the state and regional level 

• Facilitating peer-to-peer learning and tool-sharing

Roadmap to 2050: The science (2018 IPCC report) is clear: to avoid climate catastrophe we have a new target – net zero emissions by 2050. This legislation re-sets the state’s 2050 target to net zero and commits state agencies to making a comprehensive and detailed plan for how we can build a clean economy by 2050. The bill prioritizes local jobs and protections for low and moderate income families and those already subject to disproportionate environmental burden. It ensures the entire state is working together cost-effectively and includes Municipal Light Plants in the Global Warming Solutions Act regulatory process. H.3983 An Act To Create A 2050 Roadmap To A Clean and Thriving Commonwealth. Sponsor: Rep. Meschino

100% Clean Energy for All: A future powered by 100 percent clean, renewable energy is within reach. Massachusetts should lead the way to 100 percent renewable energy to clean up our air, protect public health, and help ensure a safe climate for our children. A recent review of seven detailed studies concluded that there are no insurmountable technological or economic barriers to achieving 100 percent renewable energy. We need more efficient buildings, a completely renewable electric grid, and we need to convert other uses of fossil fuels, such as heating and transportation, to clean electricity. H.2836/S.1958 An Act Repowering Massachusetts With 100 Percent Renewable Energy. Sponsors: Rep. Decker & Rep. Garballey and Sen. Eldridge

Environmental Justice: All people have a right to be protected from environmental pollution and to live in and enjoy a clean and healthful environment––but low-income communities and communities of color are most likely to be in the shadows of a dirty power plant or next to a busy polluting highway. This bill codifies environmental justice into law and works to secure strong enforcement of Executive Order 552, issued under Gov. Patrick and the state’s EJ policy, issued in 2002 and updated in 2017. It provides protection of and meaningful involvement for all people in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws. H.826/S.453 and H.761/S.464 An Act Relative To Environmental Justice. Sponsors: Rep. Madaro  and Sen. DiDomenico, and Rep. Dubois & Rep. Miranda and Sen. Eldridge

Investing in Communities and Cleaning up our Transportation: As a Commonwealth, we have placed a significant focus on cutting our climate change-causing pollution from electricity, but we now need to have a comprehensive approach to other areas of our lives. Transportation and heating now represent of disproportionate share of our emissions as a state, in addition to being an increasing strain on the wallets of working people. We need solutions that provide better opportunities for our communities and working families. These bills provide ways of generating revenue to invest in making our communities more livable and climate friendly. H.3008/S.2106, An Act To Advance Modern and Sustainable Solutions For Transportation (aka TCI). Sponsors: Rep. Ehrlich and Sen. Lesser. H.2810 An Act To Promote Green Infrastructure and Reduce Carbon Emissions. Sponsor: Rep. Benson

Better buildings: Net zero buildings are better for our health, our communities, and our climate. 10 years ago, Massachusetts became the first state to adopt a stretch code, an amendment to the base building code that allows municipalities to build more energy-efficient buildings community-wide. While the base code has continued to improve, the stretch code has not, meaning it is no longer a significant improvement. This bill directs the Board of Building Regulation and Standards (BBRS), the body responsible for developing building codes in MA, to develop a net zero stretch code. A net zero stretch code would allow the towns and cities that want to be climate leaders to do net zero planning now. Encouraging net zero development and construction will be a huge step towards meeting our climate goals as a state. H.2865/S.1935 An Act To Establish a Net Zero Stretch Energy Code. Sponsors: Rep. Gouviea and Sen. Comerford