Letter: Don’t Dial Back Climate Mandates in Massachusetts

H.7477,  “An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness,” is a terrible bill that was pushed out of committee earlier this week with no public hearing or chance for public input. It was promulgated by Mark Cusack and his buddies on the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (TUE) Committee, who are pushing this through in record time, trying to get a House vote before November 19 (next week!). Cusack is supported by the utility front group  Mass Coalition for Sustainable Energy, and reported $4100 in donations, mostly from energy lobbyists, days after news of his proposal to dial back climate mandates.

Sustainability activists across the commonwealth are urgently asking everyone to call their representative today, and let them know what a bad idea this bill is.

The legislative summary provided by Mark Cusack (Chair of TUE) is shocking. 

•  MA departments are forbidden from using the “Social cost of GHG emissions when calculating cost effectiveness.” In other words, a major tool for environmental and societal justice efforts would be gone from decision-making in the Commonwealth.
  
•  MassSave rebates, that many have worked hard on and that home energy transitions rely on, are being undermined. Among many things this bill would reinstate rebates for new gas heating systems. 
  
• The bill prevents municipalities that are participating in the fossil fuel-free demonstration program from receiving Mass Save incentives that support the construction of all electric homes.  These pilots were huge wins for the environment and we had expected many other towns to follow.
  
• The bill includes policies that will undermine the development of renewable energies in Massachusetts, using as an excuse the cuts in federal funding.

The overriding concern here, rather than keeping costs low for consumers, seems to be protecting the profitability of energy companies that do not need our protection and are already highly profitable.

This bill is a capitulation to Trumpian policies on the environment and society. It really is an insult and out of step with what we have stood for in the commonwealth. As a volunteer energy coach with the Heatsmart Alliance, this bill undermines my ability to help individuals affordably transition their homes away from fossil fuels and towards the use of heat pumps.

There are some positive things in this bill. But the overriding effect is to undermine the already difficult work of transitioning the grid to renewables and homes to electric. More than 100 Sustainability organizations and companies have signed on against this bill.  Please do the same: call your Massachusetts State Representative today and let them know you oppose this bill.

Note: The legislative summary that is linked bears the number H3469.  Apparently that bill was rewritten multiple times and finally renumbered H4744.  It is clear they are the same bill.

Lori Goldner

Lori Goldner is a resident of Amherst