RE: [EXTERNAL] Re: [MEC] Climate conference committee reaches deal
Paine, Bob
WBUR had a nice piece on this bill this morning. They did have a discussion about reviewing biomass plants. Maybe they will post a transcript of this discussion on wbur.org.
Bob Paine
From: MEC <mec-b...@medfordenergy.org> On Behalf Of
Karen Buck
Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 7:00 AM
To: Barry Ingber <bin...@toast.net>
Cc: 350 Mass Mystic Valley Node <350ma-mys...@googlegroups.com>; Gabrielle Watson <watson.g...@gmail.com>; Medford Energy committee <m...@medfordenergy.org>; gogreen...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [MEC] Climate conference committee reaches deal
Got it! I read a tweet today that the bill does not address biomass plants (especially the one in Springfield). And biomass plants will be regarded as climate safe. Maybe I misread. But would you agree with that statement?
On Mon, Jan 4, 2021 at 10:11 PM Barry Ingber <bin...@toast.net> wrote:
Hi all,
If you haven’t written yet in support of the Climate Bill (S.2995), PLEASE DO SO NOW!
You’re busy. Your email doesn’t need to be a long. complex exhortation. You don’t need to read every bit of information you can find so you can convince Governor Baker about the details or why it’s important. He knows. You need to convince him that it’s something you care about, and that he needs to sign it.
Here’s what I wrote:
I'm writing to ask you to sign the Massachusetts Climate Bill (S.2995). You are probably getting a lot of emails about this, so I'm keeping it simple. This is a critical and forward-looking piece of legislation. Let's enact it!
Barry
From: 350ma-mys...@googlegroups.com [mailto:350ma-mys...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Gabrielle Watson
Sent: Monday, January 4, 2021 9:14 AM
To: 350 Mass Mystic Valley Node
Subject: Fwd: Climate conference committee reaches deal
Happy New Year!
The conference committee has released its climate bill, which now goes to Governor Baker for a signature. This is the bill we've been working the past two years to bring into being.
It has many things we fought for, though not all - carbon pricing, for instance. Importantly, it has strong environmental language, directs resources to environmental justice communities, sets a roadmap to net zero emissions by 2050, with 5-year way-points, and boost efficiencies in numerous sectors of the economy in a way that will generate good jobs in Massachusetts. It also requires the Department of Public Utilities, which regulates gas and electric utilities, to include the reduction of greenhouse gases in its mandate.
Here is Senator Barrett's summary of the bill, via tweet:
Because of the late hour, there is not time to revise the bill if it is vetoed. There is a risk that Baker with "pocket veto" the bill by simply doing nothing. I will pass on any specific suggestions from the State Legislative Team if that emerges, but immediate action should be to urge Governor Baker to sign this very strong bill.
Thanks for all the tweets, calls and emails you send to the Governor!
You can Quote Tweet Senator Barret's announcement tweet, asking @MassGovernor to sign in immediately.
Governor Baker Contact Information:
@MassGovernor
From: "Hobbs, Evie (SEN)" <Evie....@masenate.gov>
Date: January 3, 2021 at 3:50:16 PM EST
To: "Hobbs, Evie (SEN)" <Evie....@masenate.gov>
Subject: Climate conference committee reaches dealFor immediate release Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021
Evie Hobbs, Office of Sen. Barrett
Caleb Oakes, Office of Rep. Golden
Joint Statement of State Sen. Mike Barrett and Rep. Thomas A. Golden, Jr.,
Senate and House Chairs, respectively,
of the Conference Committee on Climate
of the Massachusetts General Court
On behalf of our legislative colleagues and the people of the Commonwealth, we are pleased to report that the branches we represent have reached agreement.
We are proud to release An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy (S.2995). Profound gratitude to the climate champions who served with us on the conference committee -- Senator Cindy Creem, Senator Patrick O'Connor, Representative Pat Haddad, and Representative Brad Jones. Our next step, collectively, is to submit the recommended compromise to our respective chambers for their consideration and approval.
This bill is a climate toolkit, assembled over the course of months, to protect our residents, and the beautiful place we call home, from the worsening of an existential crisis. Its particulars owe much to the advocacy of thousands of citizen activists in Massachusetts. To these activists, we say thank you. We heard you.
The NextGen Roadmap bill will step up the pace of our collective effort to slow climate change. This is the strongest effort of its kind in the country.
The tools we’ve selected integrate seamlessly with the state's Global Warming Solutions Act, which receives its first major update since its enactment in 2008. One significant change: We give the force and durability of law to a greenhouse gas limit for 2050 of "net zero" emissions.
Three other changes: We set statewide emissions limits every five years instead of every ten, require a "comprehensive, clear, and specific" plan for reaching each limit, and commission regular reports on what each plan is actually accomplishing.
To accelerate the switch to green electricity, we double down on offshore wind, remove roadblocks standing in the way of solar for low-income populations and businesses, ratchet up the renewable portfolio standard, revive the Commonwealth's foundering effort to lead the nation in clean and innovative R & D; promote equity in developing the clean energy workforce; and require municipal lighting plants to achieve a "net zero" electricity portfolio by 2050.
We codify environmental justice, providing new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods, and make sure we have a future that is job-positive for everyone in Massachusetts.
Some tools go to the state, some to the private sector, and some to cities and towns. The projects and buildings municipalities approve for construction this year will still be up and going strong in 2050, when the entire economy of Massachusetts, in all its aspects, must put out "net zero" emissions. So we give the force of law to the creation of a "net zero stretch energy code," with flexibility for communities to opt in when they're ready.
Other tools are for agencies and public-private partnerships that have had to operate without recent guidance from the Legislature on how we want them to revamp their missions.
We direct the Department of Public Utilities, regulator of our natural gas and electric power companies, to give equal weight to greenhouse gas reductions and system safety alongside the traditional -- and imperative -- attention to affordability and stability of supply.
We refocus the popular MassSave energy efficiency program, to ensure that the improvements made are ones that contribute more measurably to curbing the greenhouse gases that threaten us all.
We strengthen the gas safety laws of the Commonwealth and increase fines for violations.
We set Massachusetts appliance efficiency standards according to California precedents and future federal standards.
Reducing emissions to net zero is the contribution Massachusetts must make to the nation's, and the world's, larger climate effort. No question, doing our part is a big lift. With the tools the Legislature brings together here, we can construct the response we need and provide a blueprint to other states.
The toolkit approach is not a vision statement. It is not abstract or general. It is detailed. It is concerned with the practical. It focuses relentlessly on the work of reducing greenhouse gases, creating jobs, and protecting the vulnerable. It's about the "how'" of it, as in "Here’s how we get this done, one step at a time, starting now."
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Paine, Bob
Here’s the link to the WBUR radio item from this morning: https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2021/01/05/climate-bill-governor-wasser.
Bob Paine
From: Grover, Martha <mgr...@CityofMelrose.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 12:31 PM
To: Gabrielle Watson <watson.g...@gmail.com>; Paine, Bob <bob....@aecom.com>
Cc: Karen Buck <karen....@gmail.com>; Barry Ingber <bin...@toast.net>; 350 Mass Mystic Valley Node <350ma-mys...@googlegroups.com>; Medford Energy committee <m...@medfordenergy.org>; gogreen...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: Re: [MEC] Climate conference committee reaches deal
One of my news sources on state energy topics is Commonwealth Magazine. You can sign up for daily updates. Here’s an opinion article on the biomass issue from yesterday: https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/baker-is-wrong-to-subsidize-wood-burning/ with links to more content on their site.
From:
350ma-mys...@googlegroups.com <350ma-mys...@googlegroups.com>
On Behalf Of Gabrielle Watson
Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 11:34 AM
To: Paine, Bob <bob....@aecom.com>
Cc: Karen Buck <karen....@gmail.com>; Barry Ingber <bin...@toast.net>; 350 Mass Mystic Valley Node <350ma-mys...@googlegroups.com>;
Medford Energy committee <m...@medfordenergy.org>;
gogreen...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: [MEC] Climate conference committee reaches deal
Thanks Bob and Karen, I'll confess I'm not close to that issue and also found it confusing. If anyone else knows more, feel free to share.
Bottom line is this is a very strong bill, overall, and frankly more than most community and environmental groups were expecting. On all the issues we were tracking from the initial Senate and House bills, we got nearly every one and a more aggressive pace for decarbonization than the Baker Administration is currently pursuing. I wish it had carbon pricing, but will take the increase in the Renewable Portfolio Standard for clean electricity generation and investment in environmental communities.
Just going to reiterate what Barry said earlier - definitely worth sending a short email to Governor Baker - he needs to hear from us. Thank you for all you do!
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