UPDATE JULY 31 (there is still time):
7/31 Amendment work on the climate bill is ongoing today. You can send you rep an email during the procedings to ask to co-sponsor and some of them will respond…that’s how quickly this is changing. For updates please see the Mass Power Forward LIVE document
IN A NUTSHELL: 7/30 4 pm deadline to recruit your MA State representative to sign onto important climate amendments. Sample emails, calls, social media go HERE
Mass Power Forward ACTION GUIDE: Recruit your legislator to co-sponsor late-breaking amendments. We only have to around Thursday Afternoon – GO GO GO
For Environmental Justice, 100% Renewable Energy and more
RAPID ACTION GOAL: Get your legislator to co-sponsor important amendments to the climate bill.
Urgency: Wednesday July 29th, the House released a climate bill. We will only have one day to gather co-sponsors for our amendments. The timing is hard because once the climate bill is released we have to 1) read it and see what is missing 2) activate sponsors for amendments 3) gather co-sponsors for those amendments.
Outcomes we prioritize
- Environmental Justice – Include communities impacted by climate change and fossil fuel pollution as participants in crafting new, equitable policy
- 100% Renewable Energy – Set an ambitious goal to equitably reach 100% renewable electricity by 2035 and 100% renewable energy for heating and transportation by 2045
- Equitable Investment in Green Infrastructure – Use mechanisms such as equitable carbon pricing or the transportation climate initiative to invest today to create the future we want
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Bill Summary
- How to contact your Rep
- The Amendment List with Numbers
- Sample Email
- Sample Call Script
- Sample Online Action Post
- Tracking- see if your legislator has co-sponsored yet
- What to do after you contact your Representative
- Background Context
- Live updates from Tim Cronin if you want the blow by blow
- Link to the Bill Language
- FAQ and Help
- Who is Mass Power Forward?
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Bill Summary
On Wednesday, July 29, the Massachusetts House of Representatives released their version of the MA Senate’s Next Generation Climate bill that passed earlier this year. However, this bill is significantly different from the original Senate version. This new bill, H.4912, most closely resembles Rep. Meschino’s roadmap bill, but there are some substantial changes worth noting.
What’s included in this bill:
- Emissions targets for 2030 and 2040, which require the state to reduce emissions by 50% and 75% below 1990 levels respectively.
- A commitment to a statewide net zero emission target by 2050.
- Establishes a “clean energy equity workforce and market development program” within the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).
- Creates a low-income home retrofit task force to make recommendations to the energy efficiency advisory council to increase access to energy efficiency and electrician programs for low income residents.
- Establishes a greenhouse gas reporting standard for Municipal Light Plants (MLPs) that requires 50% non-emitting energy by 2030, 75% non-emitting energy by 2040, and net zero emissions by 2050. “Non-emitting” is broadly defined.
- Various improvements around net metering and the SMART solar incentive program
- Establishes a future utility grid commissions to make recommendations to better connect renewable energy and storage to the grid.
What’s missing:
- No commitment to 100% renewable energy or changes to the RPS.
- No inclusion of environmental justice language.
- No commitment than monies raised by a market-based compliance mechanism (e.g. carbon pricing or TCI) will be prioritized for low income or EJ communities.
Other proposed changes:
- Take Action Faster: This bill gives the DPU until the end of 2023 to issue regulations around the 2030 and 2040 emissions targets. We propose that this deadline be pushed up until no later than June 2022.
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How to Contact your Representatives: phone numbers, emails, social media handles
Go to the CAN page How To Contact Your Representatives for many Western MA addresses if you know the name of your representative. For the complete list, check https://malegislature.gov/search/findmylegislator
The Amendment List with Numbers – FINALIZED 5:26pm on Wednesday
| For our core outcomes | Amendment # | Lead Sponsor |
| Environmental Justice | #52 | Rep. Madaro |
| 100% Renewable Energy 1 : Clean Electricity Implementation | #31 | Rep. Decker |
| 100% Renewable Energy 2: Heating and Transportation Clean Energy Transition | $46 | Rep. Decker |
| Equitable Investment 1: Investing in Working & Environmental Justice Communities | #56 | Rep. Robinson |
| Equitable Investment 2: Prioritizing Rebates to Massachusetts low- and moderate- income Families | #6 | Rep. Driscoll |
| For Cleaning Up the Bill as it relates to our Vision | ||
| Accelerating Emission Target Deadlines | #62 | Rep. Sabadosa |
| Clarification of Indirect Emissions (landfill emissions, gas leaks, agricultural sector) | #17 | Rep. Rogers |
| Indirect Emissions Analysis | #81 | Rep. Rogers |
| Definition of Non-Carbon Emitting | #21 | Rep. Erhlich |
Sample Email
| Sample Email Dear Rep. ___________ As your constituent, I want to thank you for your leadership on supporting aggressive climate legislation. I am emailing with the Mass Power Forward coalition which has 3 priorities: environmental justice, 100% clean and renewable energy for all, and equitable investments through carbon pricing. We urge you to co-sponsor the following amendments to H.4912 An Act setting next-generation climate policy #52 Environmental Justice (Madaro) #31 Clean Electricity Implementation (Decker) #46 Heating and Transportation Clean Energy Transition (Decker) #56 Investing in Working & Environmental Justice Communities (Robinson) #6 Prioritizing Rebates to Massachusetts low- and moderate- income Families (Driscoll ) #62 Accelerating Emission Target Deadlines (Sabadosa) #17 Clarification of Indirect Emissions (Rogers) #81 Indirect Emissions Analysis (Rogers) #21 Definition of Non-Carbon Emitting (Ehrlich) Sincerely, [Name] |
Sample Call Script
| Sample Call Script Hi,My name is [ first name], and I live in [town/city]. I am with a broad coalition of environmental groups called Mass Power Forward and we’re calling about climate legislation, specifically, H.4912 An Act setting next-generation climate policy and amendments that have been filed to that bill. I sent an email to your office with the amendment numbers that achieve our goals of Environmental Justice, 100% clean and renewable energy for all, and creating equitable investments through carbon pricing. ***If you are talking to staff: If there is a staff email that I can CC, please let me know what it is so I can forward the list.*** As a constituent, I ask that you co-sponsor these important climate justice amendments. Have a nice day/night! |
Sample Social Media Post
| Sample Social Media Post Twitter and facebook are excellent alternative ways to get your Representative’s attention! Especially if their voicemail is full. First, Find your legislator’s social media accounts here: https://www.progressivemass.com/ma_legislators_contact Second, using the sample email/call script- write a short post from the heart and tag your legislator. Dear @ legislator Please co-sponsor amendments to the climate bill for Environmental Justice, 100% renewable energy and equitable investment. These amendments are core to the future we need now. |
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What to do after you contact your Representative
- Feel free to tell someone on the Planning Team if something notable happened
- Claire Miller – Claire@communityactionworks.org
- Jacob Stern – jacob.stern@sierraclub.org
- Laura Wagner – lwagner@uumassaction.org
- Cabell Eames – cabell@betterfutureproject.org
- Follow up!!! We have so little time.
- Check back to see if they do it, and if they do- THANK THEM
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TRACKER
As we get confirmation of co-sponsorship, we will update here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17I0gsacafFTxYXYmU3cScAoPzsO7jMuHq9lpbqqfT6w/edit#gid=365374171
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Context: We live in a stark climate reality that threatens us with unprecedented weather events like flooding and droughts. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change latest report indicates we have only 12 years to drastically upgrade our energy policies if we wish to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Many of our communities, especially those with a majority of people of color and low incomes, have had to bear the brunt of decades of fossil fuel pollution and are most at risk from climate change. We call upon you to prevent unnecessary pollution-related illness and death in these communities and to endorse just and equitable solutions to fix our dirty energy system. NOW is the time for bold, decisive action from our state legislature!
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Live updates from Tim Cronin if you want the blow by blow
Click here to follow live updates with ClimateXChange’s Tim Cronin
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CfQsZpEacoMASYjmm0L9YlelHrvLBOX5YQQ8–2nphE/edit
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Link to the bill language (that we are trying to amend!)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JbFnwh2Qt8BLKgjAfUWFPckHOYYmfgxlTINTC0SWZbE/edit
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FAQ and HELP
If you need help, feel free to email Claire Miller at claire@communityactionworks.org or text at 781-775-1429
Q: I heard they extended the session, will they still vote on this right now?
A: Yes.
Q: What do I do if their voicemail is full?
A: Get creative! Tweet at them. Facebook messege them!
Q: What happens after this?
A: it will go into a conference committee with the Senate version where they reconcile the two versions. THIS version, the House one, will be the “floor”- so we want to raise it as to be as good as possible. After that it will almost 99% likely pass, and go to Baker’s desk. These short hours are THE last real moment grassroots can change the outcome.
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Who is Mass Power Forward?
Mass Power Forward is a coalition of environmental leaders, community development organizations, clean energy businesses, faith groups, neighborhood health and safety advocates, and Massachusetts families fighting for clean, affordable, reliable energy and a thriving economy.
