THE FIGHT CONTINUES: Tell the MA House: Don’t Do Trump’s Dirty Work

On Wednesday, the MA House’s Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (TUE) advanced a bill that would gut the state’s commitment to clean energy.

WHAT’S IN THE BILL?

Here’s what the bill does:

  • Rolls back 2030 climate goals rollback
  • Guts Mass Save, removing decarbonization and electrification from its directive, reducing its budget, and adding incentives for gas furnaces back into the bill
  • Reduces the Renewable Portfolio Standard (clean energy requirement) from 3% to 1% growth each year
  • Removes a moderate-income discount electric rate that would save people money
  • Adds ‘cost effectiveness” tests to everything, and removes the social cost of carbon from calculations, putting a finger on the scale against climate solutions
  • Prevents pollution reduction payments (alternative compliance payments) from going to clean energy projects
  • Creates a “pipeline tax” – charging electric customers for gas pipeline supply
  • Repeals a landmark protection from new nuclear power facilities

Despite all of that, the vote was 7-0.

HOW DID THE COMMITTEE VOTE?

The 7 Democrats who voted to roll back our clean energy and energy efficiency commitments were House TUE Chair Mark Cusack (D-Braintree), Vice Chair Michael Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg), Bill MacGregor (D-West Roxbury), Jeff Turco (D-Winthrop), Dave Robertson (D-Tewksbury), Chynah Tyler (D-Roxbury), and Sean Reid (D-Lynn). If your state rep is on that list, make sure they hear your disappointment.

Two Democrats on the committee–Rep. Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) and Rep. Margaret Scarsdale (D-Pepperell)–refused to join the bad policy bandwagon. In State House jargon, they “reserved their rights.” In plain language, they sent a clear message of “I’m not willing to support this bill as written.” If you are in their districts, make sure to thank them.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

We need to redouble our commitment to climate action, not walk it back. And the State House needs to hear that.

Can you let your state rep know it’s time to strengthen, not weaken, our climate commitments?