Massachusetts climate bills

With the federal government backing down from its climate pledges, attention is turning to the states. In Massachusetts, there are a number of bills being debated.

Today, I wrote to the House Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, which are considering two particular bills:

• H2700, which would double the rate of increase for the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard – the percentage of electricity that utilities are required to provide from renewable energy. Granted, it would just change from 1% per year to 2% per year. But it’s something.
• H1726, which would implement a statewide carbon price, arguably the only way to truly transform into a low-carbon economy.

I asked the Joint Committee to push the bills along, after giving them due consideration. Hopefully, they’ll listen to the voice of the people.