July 23, 2024

Leading Massachusetts Businesses and Institutions Urge Passage of 2024 Climate Omnibus Bill

BOSTON In a letter sent to Chair Jeffrey Roy, Chair Michael Barrett, and their fellow members of the climate omnibus bill conference committee, 28 leading Massachusetts businesses and institutions called on state lawmakers to finalize and pass an omnibus climate bill, which includes key provisions on siting and permitting reform, renewable deployment, decarbonization of transportation infrastructure, and planning for a net-zero built environment. 

“As businesses and institutions in Massachusetts committed to climate action,” write the letter’s signatories, “we urge you to act swiftly to produce a final bill that will enable communities across the Commonwealth to take action to meet our statutory clean energy and emission-reduction goals for 2025 and 2030.” 

Massachusetts passed major climate legislation in 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2022 that established critical and transformative statewide climate targets and catalyzed the growth of the Commonwealth’s renewable energy sector. As the end of the legislative session approaches on July 31, the legislation must move through a conference committee before it can be passed and sent to the Governor’s desk. With just one week left for lawmakers to finalize a bill that makes meaningful progress toward our clean energy goals, the letter urges state leadership to continue the state’s progress and pass a bill that will keep Massachusetts on track to build a healthier, more equitable clean energy future.

Specifically, the letter calls on lawmakers to craft a final climate package that includes: 

  • Ambitious, Equitable Siting and Permitting Reform: Creating a modern energy siting and permitting system that prioritizes meaningful community engagement, makes thoughtful and science-informed decisions about land use, and facilitates the growth and evolution of our power grid to meet our decarbonization needs. 
  • Renewable Energy Deployment: Supporting longer contract terms and creative new bid proposals for offshore wind, as well as expansion of the state’s energy storage resources. 
  • Decarbonization of Transportation Infrastructure: Facilitating the expansion of accessible, reliable electric vehicle infrastructure and setting deadlines to electrify the MBTA Commuter Rail system 
  • Planning for a Net-Zero Built Environment: Shifting incentives and utility planning processes away from improving legacy gas assets and toward planning for electric heating systems 

As the largest socially responsible bank in the US, Amalgamated Bank seeks opportunities to deploy our capital to provide returns that are financial, social, and environmental,” said Mark Walsh, New England Regional Director at Amalgamated Bank. “As Massachusetts moves toward a net-zero future, we have the opportunity to invest in our clean energy future. With this legislation, our state can improve local engagement, increase community benefits, and reduce disparities in outcomes for residents.” 

“Children are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change” said Dr. Kevin B. Churchwell, MD, President and CEO of Boston Children’s Hospital. “Reducing carbon emissions is necessary for the health of our patients, particularly those in communities of color and low-income communities. We urge the Massachusetts Legislature to finalize a bill that expedites our transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, improving lives for generations to come, and reducing harmful effects on our environment.” 

“As long-term investors, we know that the health of people and planet is inextricably linked to the health of our economy,” said Matt Patsky, CEO of Trillium Asset Management.  “Our transition to a low-carbon future offers unprecedented opportunities to attract new business, further corporate sustainability, and advance equitable job growth.” 

 “Akamai has prioritized sustainability across our business operations and in the design of our facilities, including our Cambridge headquarters, not only to make progress toward our climate goals but also because it provides a financial advantage,” said Mike Mattera, Director of Corporate Sustainability and ESG Officer at Akamai Technologies. “We strongly support public policy in Massachusetts that helps companies across the economy realize these benefits while attracting more investment in the state from forward-looking businesses. Akamai urges state lawmakers to build on their past success by finalizing new climate legislation this summer.” 

“Building an equitable clean energy future requires dynamic legislation that fits our decarbonization needs,” said Miriam Posner Harris, Executive Vice President of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, who helped marshal support for the letter. “Our Commonwealth’s leaders must continually pass ambitious climate bills, enabling meaningful progress to create a net-zero Commonwealth where our residents, economy, and natural world all thrive.” 

 “The powerful combination of private sector ingenuity, a highly capable workforce, and supportive public policy have laid the groundwork for Massachusetts to become a national hub for clean energy,” said Rishi Reddi, Senior Advisor for Northeast State Policy at Ceres. “Now state lawmakers can build on that success with ambitious legislation that fully capitalizes on this massive economic opportunity. We urge the House and Senate to finalize legislation that bolsters the Commonwealth’s leadership with bold and equitable reforms to energy infrastructure permitting and siting processes, as well as policies that drive further investment in clean power, transportation, and buildings.” 

Several environmental and clean energy organizations worked collaboratively to convene this group of businesses and institutions, including the Environmental League of Massachusetts, Ceres, and NECEC. 

 

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