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Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed a major climate and clean energy bill Thursday that contains sweeping policies targeting renewables, transportation and fossil fuels, a move lawmakers and advocates say is critical to supporting the state’s goal of reaching zero. emissions by 2050.
Baker’s decision to sign the bill, which was approved by the state legislature on July 31, comes as Congress prepares to pass its most important climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act.
Described as a “landmark bill,” the Massachusetts climate legislation notably includes a provision, the first of its kind for the state, that would allow 10 municipalities to legally ban fossil fuel infrastructure in new construction projects and big. With this policy, some Massachusetts cities and towns could soon join others across the country that have taken similar steps to change local building codes to block the use of fossil fuels, such as natural gas, is in other words, many people who want gas stoves or ovens are probably lucky in these places.
The bill also includes a number of other climate-friendly policies, including: funding for offshore wind energy and power grid improvements, a ban on car dealers selling new vehicles that run on gas or diesel after 2035, incentives for electric vehicles and appliances, and additional provisions focused on natural gas.
“Addressing climate change requires bold and urgent action,” Baker tweeted Thursday after signing the bill into law. “I am proud to have supported the Commonwealth’s leadership on these critical issues to preserve our climate and our communities for future generations.”
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But the road to Thursday’s signing has not been entirely easy.
Although Baker left the legislation largely untouched after state lawmakers first sent the bill to his desk in July, he responded with a 19-page document outlining preferred amendments, WBUR reported. An amended version of the bill that included some of Baker’s suggestions was sent to him on July 31. However, it still contained the provision to allow 10 towns and cities to ban fossil fuel hookups, as long as they meet Massachusetts’ 10 percent affordable rate. housing goal — a major source of concern for Baker, who said he viewed the policy as a kind of “exclusionary zoning,” CommonWealth magazine reported.
“This part of the bill gives me goosebumps,” the governor said during a news conference Tuesday, according to CommonWealth. “One of the big decisions we have to make is whether my concerns about this particular piece, which cuts something that I think anyone would agree is a very important problem in Massachusetts, overwhelms the rest of the good that the bill”.
In an interview with the Boston Globe on Thursday, Baker said he decided to sign on in large part because of other aspects of the bill, including details on offshore wind policies and his efforts to advance energy clean
“Since taking over in 2015, we have worked hard to ensure this [Massachusetts] is a national leader in the fight against climate change,” Baker tweeted. “Today, I signed a climate bill that will support our administration’s broad efforts.”
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Supporters of the legislation applauded Thursday’s development.
“It’s a great day for Massachusetts,” tweeted state Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy (D), who, along with state Sen. Mike Barrett (D) and others, helped move the bill through the Legislature.
Ben Hellerstein, state director of Environment Massachusetts, called the bill a “great deal.”
“With this bill becoming law, Massachusetts leaders of all political stripes are demonstrating that states can take meaningful climate action,” Hellerstein said in a statement. “This bill gives me hope that we can work together to build a future where we can all thrive. I am delighted that our Commonwealth is playing a key role in building a world powered by 100% clean energy.”
Amid the celebratory statements, some advocates also made a clear case for the inclusion of fossil fuel supply.
“Contrary to the governor’s misrepresentation, the ten-city provision is a pro-housing provision: the construction and operating costs of all-electric buildings are equal to or less than the costs of fossil fuel buildings,” Lisa Cunningham, architect and co-founder of ZeroCarbonMA, a local group that has been advocating a policy to ban fossil fuels for several years, said in a statement. “This bill ensures that multifamily housing is fossil fuel-free and that healthy and safe buildings are accessible to ALL residents of our communities, not just wealthy residents.”