According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world must reach net zero emissions by 2050 in order to contain runaway climate change. The Next-Generation Roadmap bill passed earlier this year committed Massachusetts to the goal of net zero by 2050. But here’s the catch: if we are to reach that goal, we must do far more than we are currently doing, and as one of the most affluent states in the most affluent country in the world, we have a moral obligation (and existential necessity) to set higher goals than those for the world as a whole.

Urge the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy to give a favorable report to S.2170/H.3372: An act investing in a prosperous, clean commonwealth by 2030 (IPCC by 2030 bill) and S.2136/H.3288 An Act transitioning Massachusetts to clean electricity, heating and transportation (The 100% Clean Act).

What the "IPCC by 2030" Bill Does

• Sets net emissions targets to zero for 2030 and negative after that

• Transitions the electricity system to 100% renewable generation by 2030
  

• Mandates the procurement of new offshore wind and solar capacity, while increasing the accessibility of solar to low-income and environmental justice communities
  

• Requires electric vehicle charging infrastructure for new residential and commercial construction and transitions new vehicle sales to EVs

• Sets strong goals for the electrification of the MBTA, RTAs, and fleets used for a public purpose

• Establishes a mandatory net zero building code for new construction while harmonizing building efficiency standards across the commonwealth, and retrofits all publicly assisted housing by 2030

• Protects 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.

What the 100% Clean Act Does

• Requires utilities to have 100% clean electricity by 2035
• Requires new houses and small commercial buildings to be highly energy efficient and use clean heating by 2025, and requires that for all new buildings after 2030
• Requires state agencies and local utilities to retrofit 1 million homes and 300 million square feet of commercial space by 2030
• Sets strong goals for the electrification of the MBTA, RTAs, and fleets used for a public purpose
• Creates a Just Transition Office to assist workers that are displaced in the transition off of fossil fuels and a Clean Energy Equity Office to ensure that environmental justice (EJ) communities benefit from clean energy incentive programs.