Massachusetts’ Climate Law Will Limit Gas Pipeline Expansion, Ease Siting For Renewables

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Globally, October 2024 was nominally the second warmest October since instantly measured instrumental information started in 1850. Some US states are in a state of denial in regards to the local weather disaster and its results on on a regular basis residents. Others are charging head-on into establishing insurance policies and laws that can deal with the shift from burning fossil fuels to embracing renewables and decarbonization at a number of ranges. Massachusetts is among the latter states — and its new climate law is far-reaching.

Massachusetts has a objective of manufacturing 40% of its electrical energy from renewable vitality sources by 2030. As of 2023, the state was getting 12% of its electrical energy from these sources. Massachusetts has the technical potential to satisfy all its vitality wants by way of maximizing effectivity and alongside the sunthe windand other renewables — and the state is formalizing that potential with the brand new local weather legislation.

MA Governor Maura Healey signed into law, “An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity, and protecting ratepayers.” (Sure, it’s a mouthful.) She famous that these reforms will finish what had been “years-long delays for solar, wind, and other critical electric infrastructure, which play a critical role in our ability to be a global leader in clean energy and climate tech.”

The invoice first handed the Senate over the summer season however stalled within the Home, the place representatives needed a extra slim focus that didn’t embody gas system reforms. The legislators managed to succeed in a compromise.

This laws is designed to assault a number of parts of the local weather disaster:

• speed up clear vitality growth;
• enhance vitality affordability;
• create an equitable infrastructure siting course of;
• enable for multistate clear vitality procurements;
• promote non-gas heating;
• increase entry to electrical automobiles; and,
• create jobs and help employees all through the vitality transition.

Any considered one of these initiatives throughout the local weather legislation would make progress towards a shift away from burning fossil fuels, however, collectively, the gestalt has potential to change the best way that Massachusetts does vitality at its most elementary degree.

Siting and Allowing Course of Reforms

On the core of the invoice are main reforms to the method by which wind, photo voltaic, storage, and different electrical infrastructure like substations and transmission are sited and permitted. The reforms to the siting and allowing processes had been based mostly on the suggestions of Governor Healey’s Fee on Power Infrastructure Siting and Allowing.

Primarily based on the suggestions of the Governor’s Fee, the brand new legislation establishes a 12-month deadline for municipal allowing and requires municipalities to problem a single allow on the finish of their course of. Equally, state permits can be issued after a 15-month interval. Appeals can be directed the state Supreme Judicial Courtroom, ending the years-long appeals course of that has delayed important infrastructure. The legislation additionally directs the Division of Power Sources to create web site suitability standards to make sure pure sources are protected within the siting course of.

The reforms embody environmental justice knowledgeable necessities for cumulative influence evaluation for clear vitality initiatives. This side of the local weather legislation establishes a fund for under-resourced organizations to have interaction within the siting course of and in proceedings earlier than the Division of Public Utilities (DPU).

“Accelerating clean energy development will create good jobs, lower costs, attract more businesses to Massachusetts, and grow our climatetech economy,” mentioned Governor Healey. “This legislation includes important provisions to lower energy costs for families and businesses, including expanding bill discounts to middle-class households and increasing access to clean energy measures that reduce customer expenses such as solar, heat pumps, and electric vehicles.”

Extra Reforms to Transfer Massachusetts to Clear Power

The siting and allowing course of reforms are substantial on this Act, however there are additionally different necessary reforms inbuilt to facilitate the transition to wash vitality.

Offshore wind tax credit are expanded, and the state can be licensed conduct a procurement course of for storage and to affix different states’ procurements of unpolluted vitality. The invoice units state targets for lengthy period vitality storage and permits contracts for offshore wind and battery storage for as much as 30 years as an alternative of the present 20 years.

One provision permits Massachusetts to obtain nuclear vitality from neighboring Connecticut; in trade, Connecticut is predicted to comply with take wind energy from MA’s 1,200 megawatt Winery Wind 2 mission. Reese Butcher, affiliate with Atmosphere Massachusetts, issued the next assertion in response to the nuclear vitality provision.

“Despite the promise to use more renewables, the bill dishearteningly redefines dirty and dangerous nuclear energy as ‘clean.’ Nuclear energy leaves behind radioactive waste that can be deadly for tens of thousands of years, and mining uranium desecrates landscapes. Given the Bay State’s and the region’s vast renewable potential, policy makers should steer clear of any actions that prolong our dependence on unnecessary and risky energy sources such as nuclear.”

The Charles River Watershed Affiliation (CRWA), nevertheless, endorsed the local weather legislation. Noting that it consists of a number of crucial clear vitality provisions, the Affiliation famous that “equally crucial is the bill’s requirement that the state provide communities with updated flood maps.” Presently, growth choices in Massachusetts are made based mostly on FEMA flood maps that are many years outdated and never being up to date. Too usually, the group argues, Massachusetts nonetheless permits constructing to “happen in flood zones, increasing personal and property damage risks. Instead, we should be following the science and letting floodplains do their work to absorb flood waters during storms.”

This invoice requires the Secretary of Power and Environmental Affairs to evaluation current flood danger maps and help extra mapping sources as needed inside six months of passage.  CRWA provides,

“The future is uncertain, but with proper planning, accurate data, and the political will to act, we can make our communities more resilient, safer, and better equipped to thrive despite the changing climate.”

Different parts of the Act embody:

• The legislation additionally authorizes the administration to review and suggest different reforms to the procurement course of.
• As clear vitality manufacturing ramps up, will probably be necessary that the prices burdens related to sustaining the fuel system can be minimized and employees are supported.
• The legislation authorizes the fuel utilities to promote geothermal warmth and consists of provisions that help vitality employees.
• The DPU is given clear authority to regulate to how fuel upkeep is financed and set up low cost charges for moderate-income clients.
• The legislation additionally updates the equipment requirements that apply to electrical automobile chargers and creates pathways for extra to be put in.

“This bill has several important facets for sustainability and meeting our state’s ambitious and legally enforceable goals to reduce carbon emissions,” mentioned Senate Minority Chief Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “It provides a framework to accelerate the production and storage of renewable energy and includes powerful language to expedite the restoration of our wetlands, which are incredibly effective at sequestering carbon and providing coastal storm defense.”