Mass Power Forward and Carbon Pricing Bills

Representatives of the Massachusetts House

Climate change and the continued use of fossil fuels puts the lives and well-being of our citizens in danger. Failure to take urgent action diminishes our leadership, leaving communities and jobs at risk. We ask that our legislators act now to pass effective climate legislation, specifically the Mass Power Forward 5-point agenda (50% of our energy needs with clean energy by 2030, advance environmental justice, reform the Department of Public Utilities, ensure all communities can access solar energy and fully implement the Global Warming Solutions Act). In addition, we support the implementation of carbon pricing to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels.
We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge our leaders to act with urgency to mitigate the worst effects of climate change and dirty fossil fuel use in our state. We ask that our legislators speak with House Leadership in support of the following bills and carbon pricing.
  • At least 50% clean energy by 2030 - H2700 / S1876
  • Environmental Justice - H2913 / S426
  • Solar for All - H3396 / S1831
  • Reform the DPU and Prevent the Pipeline Tax - H3400 / S1847
  • Implementingthe Global Warming Solutions Act - H2149 / S479

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Background Information

CLEAN ENERGY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA below:


Accelerating Renewable Energy

Mass Power Forward supports achieving at least 50% clean energy by 2030. To do so, we must accelerate the Renewable Portfolio Standard by at least 3% each year, driving demand for renewable power and growing our local clean energy industries. Achieving at least 50% clean energy by 2030 will put us on a strong path toward 100% Renewable Energy, economy-wide.

We also support eliminating the solar net metering caps and incorporating municipal light plants into the state’s clean energy goals.

Solar Access for All: Mass Power Forward urges the legislature to ensure all communities can benefit from solar energy. This legislation ensures fair compensation to low-income solar and to community shared solar net metering with a minimum threshold of low-moderate income customers, incentivizes projects that expand access to communities facing barriers, and directs the Department of Energy Resources to address barriers like income, housing type and language in their program design.  

Environmental Justice (EJ): EJ is based on the principle that all people have a right to be protected from environmental pollution and to live in and enjoy a clean and healthful environment. EJ is the equal protection and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws. We support codifying environmental justice definitions and protections into law as this law would do, and altering the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act to incorporate environmental justice concerns into its reviews.

Reforming the Department of Public Utilities and Ramping Down on Fossil Fuels

We cheered the August ruling by the MA SJC that pipeline taxes are illegal, but we know the fight against new gas pipelines is not over. We support bills by Rep. Kulik and Senator Eldridge to ensure the public’s ability to intervene at the DPU and hold local distribution gas contracts to high standards regarding the capacity they are allowed to buy. We also support legislation filed by Sen. Jehlen and Rep. Gordon to ensure that electric and gas consumers can never be forced to subsidize new interstate gas pipelines.

Acting on Climate Change - and Planning For It

Massachusetts became a leader in climate action in 2008 when it set binding emissions reductions targeting 2020 and 2050. Yet our Commonwealth does not have – and desperately needs – a comprehensive and detailed plan to achieve the 2050 emissions reductions required by our nation-leading climate law, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008 (GWSA). Without such a plan, and supporting data and analysis, we cannot ensure that our actions today (currently aimed at 2020) are putting us on the most effective and lowest-cost path to achieving our 2050 goals. We are in – and need to break – a cycle of myopic, near-term planning lurching forward either under the threat of litigation or periodic legislative command. We do not have – and absolutely need – iterative, win-win regulatory and investment strategies for deeply decarbonizing our complete energy system (buildings, transportation, electricity, industry) by 2050 while simultaneously ensuring the health and vibrancy of the Commonwealth’s economy.

  • H2149/S479 - Global Warming Solutions Implementation Act - Rep. Smizik / Sen. Pacheco

To: Representatives of the Massachusetts House
From: [Your Name]

Climate change and the continued use of fossil fuels puts the lives and well-being of our citizens in danger. Failure to take urgent action diminishes our leadership, leaving communities and jobs at risk. We ask that our legislators act now to pass effective climate legislation, specifically the Mass Power Forward 5-point agenda (50% of our energy needs with clean energy by 2030, advance environmental justice, reform the Department of Public Utilities, ensure all communities can access solar energy and fully implement the Global Warming Solutions Act). In addition, we support the implementation of carbon pricing to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels.
We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge our leaders to act with urgency to mitigate the worst effects of climate change and dirty fossil fuel use in our state. We ask that our legislators speak with House Leadership in support of the following bills and carbon pricing.
*At least 50% clean energy by 2030 - H2700 / S1876

*Environmental Justice - H2913 / S426

*Solar for All - H3396 / S1831

*Reform the DPU and Prevent the Pipeline Tax - H3400 / S1847

*Implementing the Global Warming Solutions Act - H2149 / S479