By Representative Meschino of Hull, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 9) of Joan Meschino and others for legislation to create a climate bank to facilitate innovative financing solutions for climate and clean energy innovations in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Financial Services.
Report of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (pursuant to Section 86 of Chapter 179 of the Acts of 2022) submitting its Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Electric Vehicle Projection 2024 report
HD 1106 requires drivers parking non-compatible vehicles in publicly available electric vehicle (EV) charging spots to pay fines ($50 for first offense, $100 for repeat). It also grants the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT) authority to lease land near highways - including safety rest areas and inspection stations - for installing new EV charging stations. The bill directly affects EV drivers using public charging infrastructure and DOT in planning station locations. It takes effect immediately upon passage, creating concrete rules for station access and expansion.
HD 1901 creates a program allowing municipalities to finance specific residential property improvements through "betterment assessments." It directly affects homeowners in participating cities or towns who want to install qualifying upgrades like sewer system repairs, roof reinforcements, flood mitigation, energy-efficient systems, or renewable energy installations on properties with four or fewer dwelling units. Municipalities must opt-in via local vote to administer the program, and financing is repaid through liens on the property tied to the improvements, with assessments accruing interest as market rates (not capped). The bill defines "qualifying improvements" broadly to include both safety upgrades (e.g., flood barriers, hurricane-resistant windows) and efficiency measures (e.g., insulation, solar panels), but does not require homeowners to participate.
This bill transfers the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank's assets, staff, and projects to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center. The Center will now serve as the state's official Green Bank, directly managing climate finance for residential, municipal, and small business clean energy projects. Key provisions require the Center to provide grants, loans, loan guarantees, and investments focused on reducing emissions and advancing equity in clean energy access. The transfer centralizes climate funding under one agency to accelerate adoption of solar, building decarbonization, and other clean energy solutions across Massachusetts.
This bill creates a special commission to study how to make transportation corridors (like roads and highways) cleaner and greener. The commission, including state climate, transportation, and environmental officials plus community experts, will examine using corridor land for natural pollution reduction (noise, air, light), carbon sequestration, and low-carbon energy generation. It will analyze the costs of new natural solutions versus current practices and review agency maintenance and design methods. The commission must report findings and draft legislation by December 31, 2026, to the relevant legislative committees. This bill does not implement changes but mandates a study to inform future policy.
This bill (HD 1702) changes the governance structure of the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) Board of Directors. It requires the governor to appoint four directors with specific expertise (environmental justice, clean energy/climate policy, and from the Energy and Environmental Affairs office), while member cities and towns elect seven directors based on voting rules weighted by electricity sales. The board must now explicitly consider equity, greenhouse gas reductions, and local emissions limits when making decisions. These changes aim to align MMWEC's governance with Massachusetts climate goals and community priorities.
This bill (HD 2436) expands apprenticeship opportunities in Massachusetts' green energy, advanced manufacturing, hospitality, and green building industries. It requires the state Division of Apprenticeship to develop industry-specific training, create regional advisory boards, and prioritize underrepresented groups (women, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities) for apprenticeships. Employers participating in these programs receive tax credits ($5,000 per apprentice completing 1,000+ hours) and state subsidies for wages and training costs, provided they demonstrate diversity commitments. The bill also mandates a public awareness campaign promoting apprenticeships as debt-free career paths and annual reports tracking program participation, effectiveness, and regional impacts.
This bill requires Massachusetts' public pension funds to review and reduce investments in climate risk assets, including fossil fuels and certain biofuels, to protect beneficiaries and taxpayers. It establishes a 12-member Climate Risk Investment Review Committee within the state treasurer's office to study climate-related financial risks and develop a divestment plan. The committee must create a plan to sell or withdraw from all climate risk investments by January 1, 2026, and report annually to the governor and legislature. The law directly affects the state's pension reserves, which manage retirement funds for public employees.
SD 1493 reforms the governance of Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) by restructuring its 13-member board. The governor appoints four directors (including two with environmental justice/energy expertise and one from the Energy Office), while member cities and towns elect seven directors: three with equal votes and four whose votes are weighted by their electricity sales volume. The bill also requires MMWEC to consider equity, greenhouse gas reductions, and compliance with state emissions limits when making decisions. These changes directly affect MMWEC's operations and the cities/towns that own it, aiming to enhance environmental accountability and local representation on the board.
