House Passes $1.3 Billion For Community Climate Efforts

A release from the office of State Representative Michael Day:

Representative Michael S. Day (D-Stoneham) worked with his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass legislation investing $1.3 billion to help cities and towns across Massachusetts fund infrastructure projects aimed at fighting climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The legislation establishes a $1 billion, 10-year grant program – known as GreenWorks – to fund clean energy, energy efficiency, and climate change resiliency measures that cut greenhouse gas emissions, fortify infrastructure and reduce municipal costs. The legislation also invests $325 million in other municipal green projects.

“With this legislation, we continue our efforts to better prepare our communities undertake for climate resiliency work,” said Representative Day. “We must do much more to combat the climate change crisis we are facing, but this is a welcome and important step forward from the Speaker and the House.”

Modeled after the state’s MassWorks program, GreenWorks funds projects that improve climate preparedness and resiliency, promote or produce clean energy or energy efficiency, build energy storage facilities, implement measures included in Massachusetts’ statewide climate adaptation strategy, or otherwise help mitigate the impacts of climate change or reduce carbon emissions.

“Climate change is upon us, and is one of the most important issues facing us today,” continued Representative Day. “This GreenWorks bill will enable our community make substantial investments in climate resiliency projects it otherwise might not be able to afford to make and I am proud of the support we are sending home with this measure.”

Under the proposal, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will accept applications annually and administer the program, which will be funded through the issuance of state bonds. In addition, the legislation makes targeted investments of $325 million in energy infrastructure, including:

· $100 million for investments in municipal microgrid energy systems

· $125 million for electric vehicles in municipal or regional transit authority fleets

· $20 million for the hiring of sustainability coordinators to develop and manage municipal projects resulting for the GreenWorks program

· $50 million to establish the Green Resiliency Fund to offer low-interest loans for municipalities when pursuing GreenWorks projects

· $30 million for the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ MOR-EV electric vehicle rebate program

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.