BOSTON – The House of Representatives will consider legislation this week that will cap harmful greenhouse gas emissions and put in place a long-term plan to curb emissions in the Commonwealth.
Under the bill redrafted by House leaders and the Patrick administration, bold economy-wide emissions limits would be set – up to 25 percent of 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent those levels by 2050. The bill sets interim targets for 2030 and 2040 to facilitate hitting the 2050 level.
Tough new penalties will meet violators under the bill, with civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day for emission violations.
The redraft language, developed by House leaders with Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles, would charge the Secretary with mapping a plan to achieve the 2020 emissions limit by creating new regulations for electricity generation, fuel supplies, heating and cooling of buildings, and vehicle emissions. The Secretary would also be required to establish an emissions registry and reporting system to monitor emissions in the Commonwealth by 2014.
The bill also sets up a climate change adaptation advisory committee to examine how humans and plant and animal species will adapt to the reality of climate change.
“In order to stop carbon emissions from taking a toll on our environment, it is going to take bold initiatives from the states and the full cooperation and support of leadership in Washington,” said House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi. “With the adoption of this bill, Massachusetts will be setting an example for the nation to follow. I hope the House will approve this bill and make our state part of the global warming solution.”
“This bill will put Massachusetts in a national leadership role in confronting climate change by creating a stringent, yet market-based, emissions reduction mandate that will create clean energy jobs,” said Secretary Bowles. “Taken together with major new laws on oceans, energy reform and biofuels as well as pending bills on environmental bonding and the promotion of the clean energy sector, this legislation would cap a landmark legislative session. I commend Speaker DiMasi, Senate President Murray, Senator Pacheco, Chairman Smizik, and numerous environmental, business, and clean energy advocates for their work on this vitally important challenge.”
“This bill is a bold measure that will encourage the use of clean energy and address the problem of carbon pollution through market-based incentives,” said Representative Frank Smizik (D-Brookline), Environmental Committee Chairman. “We must pass this legislation in order to preserve the quality of life in Massachusetts and protect our ecosystem and public health for generations to come.”
“Combating global warming is as much about protecting Massachusetts as it is about protecting the planet. We need to do our part to limit the negative impacts of climate change so we can protect our beaches, improve people’s health and have a cleaner environment. Working with the governor, Massachusetts is now recognized as a national leader in the development of clean and renewable energy technology and the new jobs that sector will bring. Now, with this bill, we will also be a leader in taking immediate action to reduce harmful carbon emissions,” stated Representative Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways & Means.
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Thanks for posting this, David. There’s been some degree of panic from the marriage equality people, the environment people, the election reform people, etc., etc., that their particular piece of legislation isn’t going to be brought to a vote before the legislative session ends. It would be therefore helpful if someone could explain the process by which the schedule is set. Is it all up to DiMasi? Can he effectively kill a bill by never bring it to a vote? Or is there someway the House can force an issue to come up, if the Speaker’s office has been sitting on it for too long?
Hi Marcus
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p>The short answer is, no, the Speaker alone does not decide what bills do or do not come to the floor. He obviously has a significant voice in the process and is constantly talking to members about priorities for the House. But there is a system set up under the House rules by which bills are prioritized and brought to the floor.
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p>The long answer can be found in a reading of the House Rules, which are available online at this link – http://www.mass.gov/legis/ht02… Just scroll down to the fourth page, under the heading, “Scheduling.”
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p>Hope that helps.
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p>Best,
David Guarino
This is huge news. This bill, along with the Green Communities Act– which was recently signed into law– shows that Massachusetts is committed to making our state the hub of clean energy and global warming solutions. Today’s action comes not a moment too soon.
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p>With today’s news reporting another major ice sheet breaking off the arctic shelf and in the light of continued federal inaction on this critical issue, today’s action by the house sends a loud and clear message to the rest of the country, and the rest of the world, that Massachusetts will be part of the solution
Hopefully this will be done in time for the two houses to combine the bill and get it to Patrick’s desk. If we can get these caps in place, we really will be doing our part in tackling Global Warming. Any effort the Speaker’s office can do to get this done will be much appreciated.
The bill is being debated on the floor as we speak. Check out the debate live on the House webcast at http://masslegislature.tv/
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p>We hear good things from Senator Pacheco and the Senate so we are hopeful that we can quickly reach consensus on this bill and – like Green Communities and biofuels before it – get it to the Governor’s desk shortly.
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p>Also of note, the House just unanimously passed the Speaker’s Green Jobs bill — further good news for clean energy and the environment.
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p>Best to all
David Guarino
See: http://vps28478.inmotionhosting.com/~bluema24/s…
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p>Where fewer and fewer people hold a greater and greater percentage of wealth the Commonwealth and the country suffer.
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p>That does NOT lead to job growth, or economic development.
Again – THANK YOU for the over ride of the veto with regard to autism funding – that one over ride was #1 on my agenda. It was/is life and death to the most vulnerable of people. While the sum was not huge, it meant assistance for dozens of children and families.
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p>Still, however, a small fraction of the autistic children and their families who could benefit from front loaded, intensive educational and support services receive the assistance they need.
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p>We can do better. This is basic social justice – and may well qualify as “we can pay now or they – and we – will pay later.”