MA Legislature passes sweeping climate legislation: Omnibus Bill and Climatetech Investments

Today, the Massachusetts Legislature responded to our collective call for climate action by passing both an expansive omnibus climate bill and substantial climatetech investments in the Economic Development Bill. After the legislation stalled at the end of the formal session in July, the House and Senate met the urgency of the moment and found common ground. 

The omnibus climate bill, S.2967, Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers, expedites our Commonwealth’s clean energy transition: 

• Ambitious, equitable clean energy siting and permitting reform  

• A first-of-its-kind state procurement for energy storage resources 

• Increasing access to reliable electric vehicle charging 

• Expanding offshore wind tax incentives and improving the procurement process 

• Guide utilities to move away from natural gas and toward electric heating alternatives 

The backbone of the bill, siting and permitting reform for clean energy infrastructure, works to modernize our electric grid by improving the state’s system to approve new energy projects and prioritizing meaningful community engagement. This monumental step makes it possible to accommodate rapid electrification of our homes, businesses, and transportation. The legislation reinforces the Commonwealth’s commitment to environmental justice by standardizing community benefits, front-loading engagement, and assessing cumulative impacts of proposed projects. 

“This legislation unlocks enormous potential to rapidly and responsibly build the modern, reliable electric grid we need to meet our climate goals. We cannot meet our emissions reduction targets with a slow, unresponsive, and inequitable energy siting system,” said David Melly, ELM’s Legislative Director. “The omnibus climate bill provides our state, communities, and developers with tools to deploy new renewable resources, shift buildings and transportation from fossil fuels to clean power, and plan for a net-zero future.” 

The legislature also took major strides to integrate climate priorities into the state’s economic development strategy. The transformative climatetech provisions within the Economic Development Bill (H.4804 An Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership) are an essential start to investing in this growing industry. Thanks to the Healey-Driscoll Administration which put forth the legislation, and the Legislature who finalized it, this ten-year initiative will expand our workforce, drive competitive growth, and catalyze the development of technology to address our climate crisis. 

With federal climate action unlikely in the coming years, the country and the world are looking to Massachusetts and other states for climate leadership. Together, we will make sure that the Commonwealth continues to rise to this challenge. Now is the time to work even harder to secure the health and wellbeing of the environment and of future generations.   

Thank you to the Legislature for your commitment to finalizing the climate bill and the economic development bill this fall. ELM looks forward to Governor Maura Healey signing both and to continuing our work across our state government to build an equitable clean energy future.