Donato: House Passes Clean Emissions Bill

BEACON HILL, MA — State Rep. Paul Donato recently joined Speaker Robert DeLeo and their House colleagues to pass legislation building on the commitment to address the effects of climate change. The bill would require the state to achieve net-zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

An Act Creating a 2050 Roadmap to a Clean and Thriving Commonwealth establishes the criteria in statute that define environmental justice populations. The legislation also increases support for clean energy workforce development programs, improves access to renewable energy and energy efficiency programs for low-income communities, and requires the state to increase its use of renewable resources for its electricity needs.

"I am both proud and pleased to join my colleagues in supporting this far-reaching climate legislation," Donato said. "The Commonwealth is now on its way to being a cleaner and safer place for its residents."

The legislation builds on the House's long-standing commitment to effective and lasting climate change policy and fulfills Speaker DeLeo's and the House's January pledge to pass 2050 greenhouse gas emissions net zero limits during the 2019 – 2020 legislative session.

Some provisions in the legislation passed in the House include prioritizing incentives that benefit and increase equitable access to low-income and underserved populations in the state's solar and energy efficiency programs including weatherization and fuel assistance programs, incorporating higher energy efficiency standards for a variety of common appliances including plumbing, faucets, computers and commercial appliances and increasing the required minimum percentage of the state's renewable energy through updates to the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS).

The bill is now in conference committee.