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Showing posts from June, 2022

The Climate Minute Podcast: Assembling the puzzle pieces for green and reliable electricity

  Melissa Birchard, Senior Regulatory Attorney with Acadia Center participates in The Climate Minute podcast for Mass Climate Action Network.  Listen to the episode  here .

What’s the state of climate change legislation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?

Where we are now Massachusetts has long positioned itself as a leader in the fight against climate change, with country-leading programs in energy efficiency and ambitious net-zero greenhouse gas reduction targets set in landmark legislation that passed in 2021. But with the climate crisis accelerating, Massachusetts can’t just rest on its laurels. The Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives have each passed climate bills with differing proposals to tackle the crisis, ranging from large investments in offshore wind to enhanced rebates for electric vehicles. This blog will highlight what was in both packages and what steps need to happen before July 31 st , the end of formal sessions for the legislature. The House climate package largely focused broadly on offshore wind. The bill did not increase procurement authorization for the Commonwealth, instead aiming to develop the industry. This legislation: Creates the Massachusetts Offshore Wind Industry Investment Trust Fund Requir