Who We Are: Mass Power Forward is a coalition of over 200 environmental leaders, community development organizations, clean energy businesses, faith groups, neighborhood health and safety advocates and Massachusetts families fighting for our future. We believe our state and region can power forward with healthy, clean, affordable, reliable energy and a thriving economy. In this legislative session we’ve been supporting three priorities:
- Environmental Justice
- 100% Clean Renewable Energy
- Equitable Investment in Green Infrastructure
Day of Action Context:
It’s that time of year again! We’re nearing the end of the 2019-2020 session and two of our priority climate bills are subject to a June 4th deadline. If they don’t receive a positive vote in committee by the 4th, they will be considered ‘dead’ for the remainder of the session. The purpose of this day of action is to call/email/tweet at legislators and ask them to move these bills forward to the next step in the legislative process. In particular, we still have two priority bills that still need a favorable report by June 4th from the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee:
- S.1958/H.2836 – An Act Re-powering Massachusetts with 100% Renewable Energy
- H.2810 – An Act to Promote Green Infrastructure and Reduce Carbon Emissions
** SIGN UP HERE TO TAKE ACTION**
Note: we are highlighting June 3rd as a day of action, but in reality June 3rd is just the LAST day to influence this process.
Three Actions for June 3rd:
Action 1: Call your State Representative
Most State House offices have redirected their phones to the cell phone of the least senior staffer, so phone calls may be less effective than normal. We don’t want to cause too much strife for these junior staffers, but it’s also their job to receive constituent phone calls. Please call your legislators and House TUE staff to ask about the status of the above bills. Click here to find your Rep’s contact information.
Call Script
| Hi, can I please speak to someone in Rep. __________’s office? My name is __________ and I’m a constituent of Rep. __________ from _________ (town). I’m calling about H.2836, the Decker/Garballey 100% Renewable Energy Act, and H.2810, the carbon pricing bill. I’m asking your Rep. __________ to do everything they can to make sure these bills get out of the TUE committee before the June 4 deadline. Can we count on their support? Will they talk to Chairman Golden and urge him to report favorably on these bills? |
Action 2: Email your State Representative and the TUE Committee
Legislators are getting record-breaking numbers of emails from constituents these days. We want to be respectful of constituents who are reaching out with urgent questions relating to health and safety, while still trying to break through the noise. We’re asking folks to send two emails: one to their legislator and one to the TUE.
Sample Email to your Rep
| To: your State RepresentativeCc: Hi, my name is ________. I’m a constituent and resident of _________ (town). I’m reaching out about important climate legislation that is sitting before the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee: H.2836, the Decker/Garballey 100% Renewable Energy Act, and H.2810, the carbon pricing bill. The deadline for TUE to act on these bills is next Thursday, June 4. Can you please talk to Chairman Golden and urge him to give a favorable report to these bills? There’s a lot going on in the world right now, but the problems posed by our dependence on dirty energy are still urgent. I am writing to you today to ask that you tell House leadership including Chairman Golden to not let climate legislation wait another 2 years, possibly more. COVID-19 is showing us that when a crisis hits, there are deadly consequences, especially for our most vulnerable populations. Our climate can’t wait, we must address dangerous carbon pollution in Massachusetts . Thank you for your work. Please do everything you can to pass H.2836 and H.2810 this session. Sincerely,______________ |
Sample Email to House TUE
| To: House TUE members (ideally sent separately — see email list below)Cc: Dear Representative _________, “Hi, my name is ________. I’m writing to you because of your position on the House Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee. I’m reaching out about important climate legislation that is sitting before the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee: H.2836, the Decker/Garballey 100% Renewable Energy Act, and H.2810, the carbon pricing bill. I understand that right now is a stressful time and you are dealing with a lot. I am writing to you today to ask that you tell House leadership including Chairman Golden to not let climate legislation wait another 2 years, possibly more. COVID-19 is showing us that when a crisis hits, there are deadly consequences, especially for our most vulnerable populations. Our climate can’t wait, we must address dangerous carbon pollution in Massachusetts . Thank you for your work. Please do everything you can to pass H.2836 and H.2810 this session. I look forward to seeing ambitious climate action from the House of Representatives this session. Sincerely,______________ |
Legislator Emails
Tom Golden <Thomas.Golden@mahouse.gov>, Carolyn Dykema <Carolyn.Dykema@mahouse.gov>, Josh Cutler <Josh.Cutler@mahouse.gov>, Daniel Cullinane <Daniel.Cullinane@mahouse.gov>, Daniel Cahill <Daniel.Cahill@mahouse.gov>, Dylan Fernandes <Dylan.Fernandes@mahouse.gov>, Joan Meschino <Joan.Meschino@mahouse.gov>, James Hawkins <james.hawkins@mahouse.gov>, David Allen Robertson <david.robertson@mahouse.gov>, Lenny Mirra <Leonard.Mirra@mahouse.gov>, Shawn Dooley <Shawn.Dooley@mahouse.gov>
BONUS: If you want to follow up your email with a phone call the number for House TUE is: (617) 722-2263, either leave a message for Chairman Golden or Caleb Oakes, Committee Director.
Action 3: Tag your State Representative and Speaker DeLeo on Facebook/Twitter
Sample Tweets/Posts – Adapt one of these or write your own!
| Massachusetts has increased its solar capacity 170x in just the last 10 years. Think about the progress we could make in another 10 years! Let’s pass H.2836 and H.2810 and #Go100MA! #mapoli @mapowerforward @SpeakerDeLeo To avoid the worst effects of climate change we have to #ActOnClimate ASAP. That’s why MA needs to pass the Decker/Garballey 100% Renewable Energy Act this year. Our climate can’t wait any longer. #Go100MA #mapoli @marjoriedecker @seangarballeyMA I want Massachusetts to be powered by renewable energy because our kids deserve a healthy future free from pollution. That’s why I support H.2836, the 100% Renewable Energy Act, and H.2810, the carbon pricing bill #energyjusticenow #mapoli @SpeakerDeLeo New York, Maine, California and 4 other states have committed to 100% clean electricity. Massachusetts can be next if we pass the Decker/Garballey 100% Renewable Energy Act. #Go100MA #mapoli @MarjorieDecker @seangarballeyMA @mapowerforward |
Social media is a great way to get legislators’ attention.
- Hashtags: #EJ4MA, #energyjusticenow, #mapoli, #ActOnClimate, #Go100MA
- MPF Twitter Handle: @mapowerforward
- Speaker’s Twitter Handle: @SpeakerDeLeo
- Bill Sponsor Twitter Handles: @marjoriedecker @seangarballeyMA
- Click here to look up your legislator’s social media handles
MA Power Forward Bill Status Table
| Bill | Lead Sponsors | Status |
| Environmental Justice | ||
| H.4264 – An Act relative to environmental justice in the commonwealth(redraft of H761, H826 and H3922) | Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture | New draft referred to House Ways and Means Committee on Dec 26th, 2019 |
| S.453 – An Act relative to environmental justice in the Commonwealth | Sen. DiDomenico | Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means on Dec. 30, 2019 |
| S.464 – An Act relative to environmental justice and toxics reduction in the Commonwealth | Sen. Eldridge | |
| S.915/H.3374 – An Act to restore enforcement of civil rights | Sen. DiDomenico / Rep. Madaro | Senate version sent to study Feb 3, 2020 |
| H.1512 – An Act to eliminate disparate impact | Rep. Meschino | Sent to study, pending at House Clerk |
| 100% Renewable Energy | ||
| S.1958/H.2836 – An Act Re-powering Massachusetts with 100% Renewable Energy | Sen. Eldridge / Rep. Decker & Rep. Garballey | June 4th reporting deadline |
| Equitable Investment in Renewable Infrastructure | ||
| H.2810 – An Act to Promote Green Infrastructure and Reduce Carbon Emissions | Rep. Benson resigned — now championed by Rep. Driscoll | June 4th reporting deadline |
| S.2106/H.3008 – An Act to Advance Modern and Sustainable Solutions for Transportation | Sen. Lesser/Rep. Ehrlich | Sent to study on Feb 24th, 2020 |