An Act creating a climate bank in Massachusetts (S.786/H.3937) sponsored by Senator Paul Mark and Rep Joan Meschino establishes the Massachusetts Climate Bank as an independent public authority to finance and support climate and clean energy initiatives. Climate Action Now endorses this bill. Please send testimony supporting the inclusion of the Climate Bank bill in the Mass Ready Act (aka the Environmental Bond Bill).
The Climate Bank Coalition has created a template for testimony; be sure to personalize it by adding a short statement on why you are choosing to advocate for this particular bill. Written testimony may be submitted to the Committee via email at [email protected], or to [email protected], with the bill number and “Testimony” in the subject line of the email. When sending your emailed testimony, please also copy [email protected] to ensure that the Climate Bank Coalition can keep track of submissions.
Letter template
RE: Testimony in Support: Inclusion of S.786/H.3937 in S.2542, Mass Ready Act
Dear Chair Mark, Chair Finn, and Members of the Committee:
[Note: Please personalize this template by inserting, wherever you choose, a few sentences explaining why creating this climate bank matters to you.]
My name is [First Name Last Name], I live in [City/Town], Massachusetts. I write to urge the Committee to include S.786/H.3937, An Act creating a climate bank in Massachusetts, in Gov. Healey’s S.2542, An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities, known also as the Mass Ready Act. S.786/H.3937 is a bill sponsored by Senator Paul Mark and Representative Joan Meschino, and it establishes the Massachusetts Climate Bank as an independent public authority to finance and support climate and clean energy initiatives.
The goal of this bill is to foster financial innovation to accelerate the deployment of climate and clean energy projects. The Climate Bank would leverage public and private investments to provide low-interest loans, credit enhancements, and other financial products. Homeowners, small businesses, local banks, and other beneficiaries across Massachusetts could use this innovative financing to combat climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy, and facilitate climate resilience across the state.
The success of both the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank and green banks across the country have demonstrated that Massachusetts residents will avail themselves of this opportunity. This legislation proposes to take these lessons to scale by moving beyond affordable housing and creating a climate bank that funds projects across many sectors. As federal funding is clawed back, it is clear that the Commonwealth needs a self-sustaining, reliable mechanism to invest in mitigation and resilience projects across Massachusetts to meet the climate crisis.
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