MA's breakthrough climate law takes legal effect soon, on June 25, 90 days after its signing by Gov. Baker. It means new roles and new responsibilities, say the State Senate's two leads on climate policy, and a transformation of the fight against global warming. (1/27) #mapoli 
TY @cindycreem: "As an aid to grassroots citizen monitoring, legislative branch oversight, and executive branch implementation, the Senate has broken out the effective dates, duties and deadlines associated with the Climate Act... (2/27)
... The Legislature is asking the Executive branch to shoulder a lot of responsibility. We acknowledge this, and we want to be good-faith partners. This is why the Senate version of the state budget proposes additional staffing for the agencies involved." (3/27)
Among the changes:
Beginning on the 25th of this month, the Department of Public Utilities has to align its policymaking with the ambitious new mission given the agency. (4/27)
Beginning on the 25th of this month, the Department of Public Utilities has to align its policymaking with the ambitious new mission given the agency. (4/27)
The Climate Act directs the DPU to give equal weight to six factors as it decides electric power and natural gas rates, reviews contracts with electric and gas companies, and makes policy. (5/27)
System reliability and affordability, the DPU's two longstanding priorities, will remain crucial, but as of the 25th they're on a par with four new criteria -- safety, system security, equity, and, importantly, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. (6/27)
On or after the 25th, Gov. Baker has to appoint three new members of the Board of Building Regulations and Standards, an agency criticized for its reluctance to make emissions-related improvements to state building codes. (7/27)
One new member is to be an "expert in commercial building energy efficiency;" one, an "expert in residential building energy efficiency;" and one, an "expert in advanced building technology." The Governor's Commissioner of Energy Resources becomes a fourth new member. (8/27)
Beginning on the 25th, all the parties involved in running Mass Save, must factor a new element, the “social value of greenhouse gas emission reductions,” into the design, evaluation & approval of the program & its features. (9/27)
The mandate applies to the activities already underway with respect to formulating Mass Save plans and programs for the 3yr period 2022-2024. Agencies affected are the DPU, DOER, EEAC & the electric and natural gas companies regulated under state law as public utilities. (10/27)
By July 15, 2021, the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs has to set a goal for the contribution Mass Save's 2022-2024 program will make to the state's drive to meet its 2025 emissions limit and sublimits. (11/27)
This exercise in goalsetting is distinct from the actions the various participants must take to factor the “social value of greenhouse gas emissions reductions” into the design, evaluation, and operation of Mass Save plans and programs. (12/27)
Coming soon:
Effective January 1, 2022, the energy efficiency of new electrical appliances sold within Massachusetts must comply with California precedents and any federal standards adopted after January 2021. (13/27)
Effective January 1, 2022, the energy efficiency of new electrical appliances sold within Massachusetts must comply with California precedents and any federal standards adopted after January 2021. (13/27)
By July 1, 2022, the Secretary of EEA is to adopt emissions limits and sublimits for 2025 & 2030 and publish "comprehensive, clear and specific" plans to achieve them. Specifically with regard to 2030, the overall emissions limit must be at least 50% below the 1990 level. (14/27)
Also by July 1, 2022, the Secretary must issue a written statement indicating the state’s compliance or noncompliance with the emissions limit set for calendar year 2020. (15/27)
July 31, 2022, and every 5th yr thereafter, the state's new Environmental Justice Council must conduct a comprehensive analysis to ensure that "the definition of environmental justice population achieves the objectives of the environmental justice principles." (16/27)
No later than December 25, 2022 ("not later than 18 months after the effective date of this act"), DOER must promulgate a new "municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code" that includes “net-zero building performance standards” & a definition of a “net-zero building.”(17/27)
Before then, DOER must have held at least 5 public hearings in diverse locations, including at least one underserved or low-income community. Following promulgation of the new code, forward-looking cities and towns will, at their option, be free to implement it. (18/27)
No later than December 25, 2022, the DEP must "propose" regulations to "include cumulative impact analyses for defined categories of air quality permits…." (19/27)
Prior to doing this, the agency must "evaluate and seek public comment on the incorporation of cumulative impact analysis in the assessment and identification of certain categories of permits and approvals." (20/27)
No later than January 1, 2023, the EEA Secretary must publish "the 2050 sector-based emissions sublimits required by section 3A of chapter 21N of the General Laws and [an] emissions reduction plan … to realize the 2050 limit and sublimits." (21/27)
By the start of 2023, she must also have adopted an accompanying set of sublimits as well as a plan to realize both the limit and the sublimits. (22/27)
No later than June 25, 2023 ("within 2 years of the effective date of this act"), the Executive Office of EEA and its divisions and departments are to have conducted a study of emissions generated and projected to be generated by the combustion within. (23/27)
Massachusetts of biomass fuels, together with the public health consequences. "To inform the design and conduct" of the study, EOEEA is to hold three or more public hearings. (24/27)
Effective January 1, 2025, MA raises its Renewable Portfolio Standard: Each retail electricity supplier must increase the total percent of its customer sales derived from renewable energy by an additional 3% each year, and keep it there. (25/27)
March 31, 2026, the DPU must issue a "statement in writing" indicating "the degree to which the activities undertaken pursuant to the performance" of the 2022-2024 energy efficiency investment (Mass Save) plan met the emissions reduction goal set for it by the Secretary. (26/27)
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