2021-12-14 00:00:00 - Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
2021-12-14 00:00:00 - Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Yeah,
introduce any Senate colleagues. So I'm going to pass the baton to you so that perhaps you can introduce any House members who are joining us for today's proceeding.
Well, thank thank you so much. I'm looking forward to the testimony today. I can't see these folks, but I am told that the vice chair, Paul Mark, is present. Jones representative Joan Meschino from Hull representative Jim Hawkins from Attleboro,
Lipper-Garabedian. From Melrose so that perhaps you can incentive Richard had introduced any House members. Representative Stephen Owens from Watertown and representative Lenny Mirra from West Newbury are all hear, and we're happy to be here and look forward to today's great discussion. Yeah, well, I want to. First of all, thank members of the House that that's a terrific attendance roster, so I just want to express appreciation from the other branch chair. And with that, we can begin this hearing, which has to do with the general topics generally touching on decarbonization
of different sectors of the Massachusetts economy. Although there are some telecommunications bills before us, a handful as87 well, I thought we would begin with our hearing from elected officials93 out of turn. That's that's the95 drill here, and We would appreciate. Since we have a very long hearing, we have over 70. Witnesses were going to be reasonably adherent, reasonably strict with respect to the three minute
limit so that we can hear from everyone. And I would ask our elected officials to be cognizant of the significant number of folks as well. And with that, if Representative Driscoll is here, he's first going to sign up120 list.
Yeah,
uh, represented Driscoll will be joining us. I'm130 sure soon if he's not here already. Uh, and we'll go back to him. Is representative, uh, somebody's got there. Might Khan, by the way, and shuffling a lot of papers. Uh, is representative Gouveia here? Yeah,
representative Gouveia perhaps, is not quite with us yet, So we will go on to Representative Rogers.
And
perhaps representative Dave Rogers isn't quite with us yet. We will go on, Chairman. I was informed by Representative Rogers that170 he would likely not be able to make it to today's hearings.
Thank you. Good. Good to know. Uh, next on my list is Senator Eldridge.
He better be here or he'll hear from me. But he is not here now. Okay. Do we have representative uyterhoeven here?
I'm President Chair. Can you hear me? All197 right. Yes. Loud and clear. All right. Great. Wonderful. I should go ahead and testify for my bill. Yes. Why don't you We can't see you quite.
And do speak loudly, unfortunately.
Okay. Great. Yeah, I apologize. I'm having some technical difficulties, and we'll have to style. And, um hi.
[REP UYTERHOEVEN:] [HB3372] [SB2170] Thank you. Chair Barrett, Chair Roy. Esteemed members of the committee for the opportunity to testify and for taking me out of turn. Um, Senator Eldridge. Sorry. Senator Eldridge and I, in partnership with activists from the Sunrise Movement, filed H. 3372 and S. 2170 an act investing in a prosperous, clean commonwealth by 2030 or IPCC. By 2030 with the explicit purpose of ensuring our state policies reflect the urgency, the pressing timeline, the science and the bold action that a majority of Massachusetts voters are urging and expecting us to take so that we, as a state can lead the nation and the world in preventing the catastrophic consequences of the impending climate crisis. Uh, just to try a little context of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, finds that we must have have emissions globally under a decade. This implies that wealthy, technologically advanced regions like ourselves must be carbonized more rapidly. And even then, we expect that the impacts of climate change will become substantially worse than those that we are facing today, particularly and disproportionately impacting frontline communities.
So to provide just some key highlights of of our bill Um, you know, this bill intends to Set net mission targets to zero for 2030 and negative after that, as301 well as ensure that we transition the electricity systems to 100% renewable generation by generation. By 2030, um, and mandates. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
We've lost you, Representative. So mhm. You're breaking up, Erica at the moment. Yeah, Cameron of need. You're,329 uh, offshore wind. Solar capacity will make representative you're you're you're in and out, at least for me. I thought I called. I think I'm losing connections and having some technical issues. Would you like? Would you like to check in with us later? Sure. That will be great. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. We'll hear from you soon. Thank you. Representative. I want to just before we begin the hearing proper. I want to see if Representative Driscoll, representative Gouveia are here. I also want to reckon. Well. Our representative Ciccolo represented Gouveia with us yet. Why don't we hear from an eminent member of the Cambridge City Council? Quinton Zander Van who I hope is with us. Thank you so much, Mr Chair. Glad to join you today. There he is. Hi. How are you, sir? Well, thanks. How are you? Very good. Good to see you. Good to see you too. Can you hear me? Okay. Yeah, you're You're breaking up a little, but I think we can hear you speak up, though, if you have a mind to thank you.
[QUINTON ZONDERVAN (CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCILOR):][HB3372][SB2170] I'm really glad to be here with you all today and to testify in favor of this bill and any other428 bills that would help, um, us move forward on on taking action on climate change. As you know, the City of Cambridge has been a leader on this front for many years. And back in 2015, we adopted the Net zero action plan that lays out a timetable for the451 city to begin requiring net zero construction for different types of buildings, starting with small residential buildings Next year in 2022. Now,461 unfortunately, we have been told that state regulations preempt our ability to impose these requirements. And so, in fact, the City Council voted last night to send a home rule petition to the Legislature requesting permission for the City of Cambridge to implement in that zero energy standard for new construction beginning next year.
So I hope that the Legislature will look favorably upon that home repetition and and will grant us that permission. In addition to that, we are at the moment considering amendments to our building energy use disclosure ordinance. And this is similar to the burden ordinance in Boston, Where we would be amending it to require, uh, net zero emissions over time from our existing building stock, achieving net zero by 2050 in line with the state and and our city goals. And you know that legislation that those amendments are now before us that that would charge $234 a ton For emissions in excess of that pathway to zero538 by 2050 for existing buildings542 over 10,000 square feet so we're looking to pass that legislation and put ourselves on the path Towards Net zero.
But again, we require support from the state in particular, uh, making sure that the electric grid rapidly goes to 100% renewable energy. And to that point, the council also voted last night on a resolution that I introduced, Reaffirming our goal to have the entire city of Cambridge running on 100% renewable energy by 2035. That is the council goal. It was first adopted in 2017 and reaffirmed again last night in the city council. And we obviously need, uh, the help of the state Legislature and regulators to make that happen. And then, finally, I've introduced a green new deal for Cambridge, which would require new, large new commercial buildings that would be constructed starting next year to pay for all their emissions.
So whereas the real amendments would only require payments for emissions in excess of a pathway to zero, the green New Deal provisions would require new newly constructed buildings to pay for all their emissions, and the idea is to create an economic incentive for new construction To be as energy efficient as possible to be all electric to be net zero ready so that as soon as possible they would convert to 100% net zero through renewable electricity. So those are some of the efforts that are underway in the city of Cambridge. And I hope that that's helpful to you in your efforts. And I hope that you will support us by adopting these bills658 before you. That would help661 us achieve those goals as well. So thank you again, Mr Chair, for the opportunity to speak. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
you very much, Mr Counselor. Are there questions of Mr Sander Van? We want hearing? None. We want to thank you very much and encourage you and all your good work. Thank you so much. And likewise, I believe, Senator Eldridge, maybe with us lurking in the other, we would love to welcome him.
[SEN ELDRIDGE:][HB3372][SB2170] Thank you, Mr Chairman. And so sorry to get on a few minutes late. Currently co sharing or was co chairing the Judiciary Committee hearing. Um, but thank you so much. Chairman Barrett and Chairman Roy and the members of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. And I know that my house counterpart on the bill an act investing in a prosperous between commonwealth by 2030. The so called IPCC 2030 bill Representative Uyterhoeven has already spoken, So I just wanted to speak on the bill. Senate 2170 House 3372. Um, I don't have to tell anyone here about the urgency of continuing to take bold climate action. Uh, in Massachusetts, I'm very proud of next generation road map law.
And like many bills before your committee want to keep moving forward to tackle climate change in Massachusetts. And so the bill that I have filed with Representative Uyterhoeven uh, sense of framework around the need for the Commonwealth to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Specifically, it would set a 2030 target of net zero emissions and negative emissions beyond And 100% renewable energy generation in the electricity system. The bill would mandate the procurement of new offshore wind and solar capacity while increasing the accessibility of solar to low income environmental justice communities, something that I know that the next generation roadmap law begins to do. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
I'm sorry, Senator. Somebody's somebody's not on you and wants to accompany you musically. Very inspiring music to accompany my testimony. So thank you. You must be building to811 a crescendo right now. I am getting close within my three minute time. Led, of course.
Um, but yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The bill also requires increased investment in renewable transportation, electric vehicle charging infrastructure transitions, new vehicle sales to electric vehicles and invest in electrifying MBTA RTAs in fleets used for public purposes establishes a net zero building code, uh, and protects workers from fossil fuel industries and guarantees that jobs created as a result of the energy transition are union jobs with good pay and good benefits. So I would just say that again. I think we all know the urgency to take further action. I am very proud. Uh, since this legislature really started taking bold action in 2008 on combating climate change almost every session, uh, we have taken action to reduce carbon emissions. Thank you, Senator Barrett. Thank you, Chairman Roy, for your leadership on that.872 And I look forward to continuing to work with the committee to take bold climate action this session as well. Thank you so much.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. senator. Are there questions of Senator Eldridge? Thank you, sir. Thank you. I believe that Representative Driscoll has arrived.
[REP896 DRISCOLL:] [HB3292] Yes. Thank you. Chair Barrett. Thank you. Sorry. I'm having some tech issues as well This morning or this afternoon, Um, appreciate the opportunity to, uh, to appear before the hearing and the908 committee. Thank you to chair Roy and, uh, fellow committee members. I'm here on the bill that we're calling the Green the Green Future Act H 3292. and I hope that the committee will reported favorably. Um, today, I won't be the only person. As you can imagine, that will be appearing to testify. You're going to hear from a number of speakers today. And also, um, I anticipate a lot of written testimony in support of the bill from across Massachusetts and from many different interest groups and stakeholders, like the faith community, economists, climate activists, environmental or organizations, youth organizations of business, community, justice advocates and and many more.
Um, and, you know, we've had support from over 100 small business leaders in the Commonwealth and, uh, 200 faith leaders and over 100 municipal leaders. So, um, just a little bit about the bill. This is, um, you know, relates to setting a price on carbon. And, um, It's a reworking of a previous bill that was filed in previous sessions. And we're looking at this as a way to meet new climate goals with the 2050987 road map to create local jobs to invest in our environmental justice communities and directs resources, Um, through the money revenue, the revenue generated by the carbon price to cities and towns, um, to directly work on projects to reduce their carbon footprint and help with our climate resiliency. So the, uh this is a way, you know, we love to work with the committee as you chart a path forward for the remainder of this session and and working to meet those goals that are set forth, that we're all again, as the senator mentioned so proud to have voted on.
Um, and we see this, uh, this bill, this legislation as a way to help pay and pay for some of those to realize some of those goals by1036 creating a price on carbon, Um, and things like inside this legislation. We have a green infrastructure fund. We have a rebate program. We simplified the rebate program from past filings in terms of the money that would be rebated back. And it's a dividend to low income households to again bring them along as if we were able to implement this. And we know that carbon pricing can work. It's worked in other countries. Um, you know, we've had a version of it in place with the energy generating sector, and the Green Future Act looks to be applied to both the transportation sector as well as industry and home heating and cooling and building, home heating and cooling.
So, um, you know, again we could take those in pieces, as the governor's administration tried to do with the TCI. But all in, we tried to create a comprehensive piece of legislation for1095 the committee to to chew on and work through and again make myself available after today's hearing to help with that process in any way I can. So I'll stop there and look forward to hearing from the many advocates. And folks are excited about the potential to do this in Massachusetts as we work to decarbonizing and reach our goals. So thank you, chair Barrett.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, Representative. Are there questions of representative Driscoll? I have one. Sure. Give us. Oh, I'm sorry.
[REP ROY:] Uh, Mr Chairman, I just wanted to make a comment. I wanted just to, uh, thank representative Driscoll for his advocacy and, uh, educating me on this bill. And I appreciate his tenacity on it. That's all I have. Thank you. or comments from members of the committee?
[SEN BARRETT:] Uh, Representative? My question is, what percentage roughly goes back as rebates or refunds to the ratepayers, And what percentage represents new revenue to the state?
[DRISCOLL:] So I believe in terms of the spending The bill sends1178 around 24%, Um, of the funding goes back to the rebate checks. And that would affect the bottom 40% of households to cover any costs induced by this change. In places where1189 carbon price on fuel at the pump or home heating and cooling costs, for instance, Um, around 22% goes back to municipalities for local green infrastructure projects, And 52% of the money generated would go to the Green Infrastructure Fund that I mentioned. We, um I believe projected, and you'll hear from some of the economists later that help work on these projections. But It's about $9.6 billion dollars generated by 2030 is what the projection is,
[BARRETT:] But your position is that a mere 24% of the money is collected will suffice to protect the lowest 40% of Massachusetts from having to pay out on net. It seems, uh, that seems1236 like an aggressive number are an optimistic one, I should say,
[DRISCOLL:] Yeah, that's where we're starting. You know, of course, you're welcome to, um, you know would welcome conversation about how best to do this in terms of the various places that we're trying to spend money and and work towards the climate goals. But it's, um, you know, it's billions of dollars. And so while 24% may sound like a small number, um, you know, we would hope that we can help bring people along as we, uh, we're going to try and move away from reliance on fossil fuels. That's that's the goal. You know, we're that Falls to 24% or a different number, certainly willing to work with the committee on that.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, sir. Additional questions or representative Driscoll. Uh, much appreciate your testimony. Thank you. Thank you for having joined us. I want to see if Representative Oyster Haven is with us. She was trying to testify earlier. Carey? Mhm. How about Representative Gouveia? Uh, what will now do is begin to work down our list of witnesses and we've organized testimony by legislative, by Bill. So please bear with us. The three minute mark will be very firmly adhere to because we have so many folks we want to hear from. We're going to begin with s 2133 also H 3292. Uh, this is, in fact, Representative Driscoll's bill, actually. And it's and it's my bill. Come to think of it, um, as well. So there's a panel, I think to testify. Tim Cronin. Cindy Luppi. Jonah Kerman. Faber, uh, is our panel our Panelists with us? Yes. Can1353 you hear me? We can. Okay. Mr Cronin, how are you? That's the first step. Hi. Thank
[TIM CRONIN (CXC):] [SB2133] [H3292] Thank you very much. Chair Barrett. Thank you. As well Chair Roy and the rest of the committee for having us here today to testify. My name is Tim Cronin. I'm the state director. for climate exchange and a co facilitator of the1379 green future. Now campaign. Uh, for those who may not know this, this coalition is made up about 45 organizations representing community, faith, youth, justice, business economists, environmentalists1391 and local government interests. And we're very proud to have the support to well over 80 of your colleagues in the Legislature on both sides of the aisle. Uh, you know, for for these associated legislation and building off of chair Driscoll remarks, I'm glad that we've had a chance to celebrate the achievement that was the next generation roadmap law and thank all of you on the committee and every other member for making that possible. And now, you know, necessarily, our1417 focus is shifting on the question of implementing it. Um, and to do1420 that right, we really do need to sustainably and equitably raise some amount of funds over the coming decade for local green investments and also make sure that those funds are coordinated with other policies that help to transition us away from fossil fuels.
And that's really where the Green Future Act, another carbon pricing legislation before this committee comes in as you'll hear from speakers today. This approach raises funds by establishing an equitable economy wide carbon price in1446 Massachusetts and also leveraging some optional bonding to pay for key infrastructure. And you have to a very community led framework. It helps to direct this funding to a number of key areas, um, local communities through a new green aid formula helping to invest in climate friendly projects like green like offshore wind, clean heat, public transit. And as um, your question alluded to Chair Barrett and as a chair, Driscoll mentioned, um, this also provides direct cash. Report. Vulnerable residents, including E J Community, is a kind of fun for displaced fossil fuel workers and helping1478 to make sure the most seniors on fixed incomes, for example, are, you know, protected through that rebate as well. Um, all these things that will be, of course, explored. There's a It's a big bill.
You can learn more about all this at Green Future now and dot org last. I just want to say that I'll attached to my written testimony some of our letters of support for the committee, including one with over 100 mayors and local councilors,1503 another with about 100 small businesses as, uh, Driscoll chair Driscoll mentioned, in other words, the faith leaders. So thank you again1510 for your time. Happy to take questions after the panel. I think they'll enlighten us on other points here And do ask the support of H 3292 on behalf of the future. Now, campaign on behalf of climate exchange. Also for consideration of S 2133 as well. So thank you very much.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, sir. Uh, why don't1527 we hear from your co Panelists here? Yeah, it's just a passage of Cindy formally, so Okay, great. Uh, Cindy Luppi. They're sorry about that. My butte was stubborn. Can you hear me now? We can. How are you? Thank you. Thank you.
[CINDY LUPPI (CLEAN WATER ACTION):][HB3292] Well, thank you, everyone. And good afternoon. And thanks particularly to chair Barrett Roy committee members for the opportunity to provide comments. My name is Cindy Luppi, and I'm the New England Director for Clean Water Action. So on behalf of Clean Water Action's 35,000 members, we are here to support H 3292 an act achieving a green feature with infrastructure and workforce investments. And, um, I know the committee is uh, you know, has held this hearing before on similar bills. So, um, I just one of the things I really want to emphasize today, I think may be the single most important point is that we need sustained funding to allow us to transition in equitable ways to a zero carbon economy. It's vital. And I feel like it might be tempting to look at federal infrastructure dollars coming our way at this moment in time and think that it will be sufficient to advance our needed changes. But another inconvenient truth is that we have decades of work ahead of us, and one time funding parts will unfortunately not get the job done. So, um, you know, the bottom line here is that we need to be thinking about funding streams that are consistent with the scope of the transition that are Massachusetts climate policies now mandate.
And I particularly want to thank this committee for the work they did, establishing those mandates and strengthening those mandates. The Green1666 Future Now Coalition has spent a lot of time in particular in listening sessions with the public and with justice groups and anti poverty groups, and there are some key themes that have emerged and that are reflected in in this bill before us that I just wanted to emphasize briefly. Mhm, um, particularly a lot of support for a large chunk of the funds spent by the Green Infrastructure Fund going to provide meaningful benefits for EJ communities. Um, this is consistent with the anti racist debate the country is having right now and efforts to attack systemic racism. It's also consistent with the state's1718 mandates now around reforming environmental justice policy. We've also heard from these populations that having direct community representation1730 and seats at the table in helping to advise how to allocate local government green funding is critical. So we're particularly1741 pleased with those provisions in the bill that provides some meaningful opportunities.
Um, The green dividend payments, as we've talked about, uh, the program sends direct support payments to the lowest 40% of the households by income, and I'll just wrap up there by saying thank1762 you all for considering these key issues around how we equitably address SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
pricing carbon. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Cindy will now hear from your last Panelist colleague. Yes, it's Jonah here. Can you hear me? we can. Awesome. Okay.
[JONAH KURMAN-FABER (CXC):][HB3292] Thank you. Chair Barrett in the members of the committee. My name is Jonah Kurman-Faber and I serve as research director of Climate Exchange. And I'm also presenting today in favor of House bill 3292 an act achieving a green future with infrastructure Workforce Investments, also known as the Green Future Act. So, In my role as research director, I have advised and written and analyzed major state climate policies across all 50 states for years, and part of this work has been offering carbon pricing bills and other types of climate and energy legislation. Um, and also part of this work has been me and my team, working with academic institutions to create new ways of analysing the fiscal, economic jobs and health implications of these bills in state. Now we have done this exercise for this bill. We rigorously model the economic outcomes using peer reviewed, academically published models, and we have found that it is one of the most effective policies under consideration, not only in Massachusetts, but across the United States in terms of new state revenue generated good job generation, economic growth, healthier communities and1860 improved quality of life.
In these models. We applied them to the bill in a white paper that I will share the summary findings of today and will include the link. In my written testimony, we find that the bill raises nearly $10 billion dollars in new revenue. It creates Over 80,000 good paying jobs between now and 2030 And generates more than $17.7 billion dollars in community benefits. These are monetized very important benefits to the community and the firms in the form of save lives through reduce air pollution through reduced traffic congestion, cheaper energy and public safety. These are all measurable benefits for the state of Massachusetts rather than predicating on necessarily the morality of solving the problem, which we all agrees is immense already. Now the bill also has very important leaps forward in E J provisions environmental justice provisions surrounding how the state achieves its climate goals in investing in infrastructure. Thus, we would expect more than 60% or roughly $10 billion or more in community benefits To flow to EJ communities in Massachusetts between now and 2030 now, an important clarification I'd like to add in response to the question around rebates during representative Driscoll's testimony is that this bill is very big on guard rails and outcomes rather than prescribing exactly1955 what percentages are required to achieve those outcomes.
So, yes, in our white paper, and we can submit all these numbers to you we do untested, anticipate around a quarter of revenue might be enough to protect low and moderate income households and1970 hold them harmless. However, much more revenue is on the table to use and required to be used if necessary to do so. So we're very confident about the outcomes being very equitable in this in this bill, regardless of the percentage is needed. Fundamentally, the state's 2030 goals requires substantial resources, and this is a very important tool in the toolbox for doing so. And so I thank the chair and the rest of the committee for holding this absolutely pivotal conversation on this bill and others. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much, sir, of our panel, I have a question, but I want to defer to other members of the committee who may have questions as well.
[BARRETT:] Uh, myself. I have done some research on carbon pricing ideas as well as as you all know. And, uh, we found that sending back Essentially 100% of the proceeds Will protect the lowest 60% of Massachusetts from having to pay net, Um, as a consequence of a carbon fee or a carbon tax. So we've got an interesting situation where protecting the lowest 40% is important but leaves the middle class exposed. Uh, and we have another option here which would protect poor folks, but also working class and middle class folks.2058 That's a few rebate, Much more than 24%, essentially 100%. So talk to us about the tradeoffs in which, on the one hand, the middle class might be exposed to a high hikes in their cost of living due to, uh, increases in the cost of a basic commodity versus protecting, uh, 40%. So 60% vs 40. How do you folks suss out the the politics of that and the equitable aspects of it as well?2093
[KURMAN-FABER:] Absolutely. I'm happy to take that question and thank you chair for all your work of yourself and your staff on These types of rebate mechanisms. For years, they have helped lay the groundwork for this type of work on your bill and others. And when it comes to low and moderate income protections, there are2114 a lot of options of how to do it. So we find that yes, 60% in some cases2120 may be what's needed. But it all depends on how you weight the algorithm. So the2125 more progressive you get with how that money is distributed, then the more targeted those funds can get. And you may be able to achieve the same protections, depending on what type of, um, income level you're prioritizing with less than 60%. So that is the big change made to the bill this year versus previous iterations of carbon pricing that we've had in Massachusetts is that rather than have every facet of the distribution formula laid out in the bill, it simply focuses on the outcome, and it allows the agencies in charge to do whatever formula is necessary and whatever percentage is necessary to achieve those outcomes.
So when we under when we go under the assumption that the agencies want to pursue the, Uh, the baseline protections with the least amount of revenue possible, so there's as much left to investment as possible. Then that's when our white paper starts to find that we can get to amounts that are less than 60%, possibly as low as 24%. But we don't prescribe that in the bill.
[BARRETT:] Thank you. My my only follow2199 up comment or and it's considered a question, please that I don't think the Legislature is going to want to delegate to the executive branch the determination of too many of these particulars. That's a prerogative protecting our constituents that we tend to jealously reserve for ourselves.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
But with that, I want to thank you all very much for testifying and that we'll move on to hear from others. Thank you very much. This is that there is no perfect answer here, so we're all doing the best we can. I want to2232 hear from Stephen2233 winner from 350 mess statewide steering team. If Stephen is with us, perhaps we'll hear from Stephen later is Sharon. I know Sharon Molten is here. Climate action now. hank you, Senator Barrett. And if you remember, two years ago, it was 6:45 p.m. When I had my turn. You're moving up in the world
[SHARON MOULTON (CLIMATE ACTION NOW):][HB3292] So I live in North Hampton and I'm testifying2273 in support of H 3292 the Green Future Act. I'm on the steering committee of Climate Action Now that's a grassroots off volunteer, very large organization out in Western. And we have a working group that's called the Green Future Now Working Group, and we are totally devoted to working with the Green Future. Now campaign. We see, um, The H 3292 an act of achieving a green future with infrastructure and workforce force investments as bold and innovative and that it will benefit all of the communities in Western Mass. Um, you probably have noticed that Western Mass has a2322 very large percentage of it's legislators, both from rural, urban and suburban communities that are all co sponsors. Climate Action Now has worked really hard on having that happen.
And not only will this act fund clean energy projects, but it will also protect low and moderate income households and provide job investments and infrastructure and climate justice communities. So, um, we urge you to pass this bill out of committee with a favorable report, and now I want to start of I want to speak personally that this is my fourth session, um, Testifying on similar legislation. Um, last session, it was H, 2810 in, um, I appreciate that I didn't have to drive to Boston to do this. And I hope that that this will be considered in the future that we're working for, um, lowering our carbon footprint. We shouldn't We should think about It's a good idea to have a virtual, um, opportunity. And, um, the other thing that I want to say personally is that never has a bill that I testified I'd moved out of committee, and it they've been postponed decisions right up till the end and then moved to study. And it hasn't been clear. Uh, the, um what the problems were. And I would just beg you this time that something different happens. Um and that if the decision on February two needs to be postponed, that it's clear why it's being postponed and what's going to be2446 done during the postponement. And thank you very much for hearing me.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
to see you. Are there questions of Sharon? Thank you for your persistence, John. On behalf of carbon pricing. Uh, we're going to hear if if John Kinsella is with us, we'd like to hear from John. How about Stephen Winner, whom we missed earlier From 3. 50 mass. We're going to move on to a panel in that event. Our climate and the Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition has a panel I believe to speak on behalf of a number of bills.
[EBEN BEIN (MYCC):][HB3292] Yes. Hello And thank you. Uh, chair Barrett for recognizing that organizing youth schedules and the inter sectional way that you've looked at climate issues to be speaking about three different bills right now and toggling back and forth, Those three2514 bills are the IPCC 2030 bill mentored by, Rep Uyterhoeven and Senator Eldridge earlier. The Green Future Act, which we're talking about now, um, and the 100% clean bill. Um, so thank you before being with us as we toggle back and forth and, uh, I want to first introduce, uh, Sue Cotton. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
I haven't run, Can you hear? Okay, So, highlight, can you commute? And then, uh, and then on mute again, because the sound was a little2546 funky. In this game, you sound a bit like a robot. Are other people able to hear I'm not too well? No. Maybe you so highly.2563 Do you want2564 to log out? Log back in and we'll have Alex go first. Or does this work now? Are okay. It is my your friends. Um, anyways, okay,
[SUHAILA COTTON:][HB3288] Hi everyone sorry for the technical difficulties, but, um, my name is Suhaila Cotton, and I'm a fielder2582 of prayer for2583 the youth organization. Our climate. Um, I'm a 16 year old constituent of representative Decker in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and I'm here to support the 100% clean Act H 3288, um, to transition MA to clean electricity, heating and transportation, which it says by 2035 100% of the electricity used in buildings like residential buildings and businesses would be clean energy, and2610 at least 80% of the total energy will be clean energy. Um, and we need this most because we can't just have, um, Massachusetts transition to clean energy, but also have it do so justly. Um, and one of the main reasons I support this bill is that one of the key parts is it creates a council to monitor clean energy transition. And it would consist of experts not only on the usual factors like renewable energy, storage and transportation and construction, but also affordable, affordable housing and, um, environmental justice.
And being a person who lives in a gated community, um, and depends on myself, my family and myself on affordable housing. I know, um, how needed it is and that there needs to be continuous effort in building affordable housing for families. Um, and the act would also have an office of clean Energy equity, which will oversee, um, and make sure that there is an equitable transition to clean energy and ensure that clean energy and transportation is in E j2677 communities and that there's energy programs and economic opportunities for people. And then another major part is that the act is working with clean energy companies to transition dislocated workers from the move to clean energy.
And this is also close to me and most people in Massachusetts since we all have families are either work in fossil fuel dependent jobs, and I know some of my family members, like my uncle and my grandfather, both work in public works, and they would be affected, um, by transition to clean energy. And so, by ditching fossil fuels, um, resources need to be available to those who have been displaced. Um, And so2718 coming from my background as an EJ member and youth, I think the 100% clean act will allow Massachusetts the best2726 possible strategy to become 100% clean. Um, 100 uses 100% clean energy, and it will start a chain reaction of climate action on a bigger scale statewide nationwide and eventually wore away. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Let's continue to hear from Panelists. Alexi, you good? We can't hear you yet. Can you hear me now? Yes. All right. Excellent.
[ALEXANDER2761 DAVIDSON:][HB3292] Hi, everyone. My name is Alexander Davidson Carroll and I'm an 18 year old climate activist and our climate field representative from Montague, Mass. Calling in on become homelands. I'm here today is to show my support for three bills the IPCC 2030, 100% clean and Green Future Act. But specifically I want to address the Green Future Act ability to equitably pay for the many emissions reduction and climate justice progress projects that we so desperately need. Along with other young leaders from the Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition. I gave feedback on drafts of this bill asking questions to ensure that holding corporate polluters accountable for their environmental degradation does not harm those most impacted by climate change. In the process. Environmental justice areas which are predominantly low income black and brown communities too often receive the worst effects of climate change and pollution yielding catastrophic health outcomes. Now, chair Roy and perhaps newer members of the committee may not know this, but back in the day when I was 13, I stood in front of this very same committee advocating for a very similar bill Gen. Benson's corporate polluter fee.
It was a warm June afternoon, and I remember how nervous I was standing facing the committee along with a group of young activists, the committee room was packed much like it is today, although virtually with scientists, activists, faith leaders and legislators from across the Commonwealth showing support from market based climate policy. I remember Senator Barrett thanking my friends and I for testifying and even tweeting a message praising us for our advocacy. In the many hours I spent in the hearing room that day waiting to speak, I heard committee members and leaders repeating the same message again and again. We need to act now on climate change, and yet here we are. It's four years later, and we still don't have a way of holding corporate polluters accountable. I commend all of the legislators who worked hard last spring to pass the S9 bill and I consider you all allies in this fight, but we're still far from finished in our work to stop climate change. In the past two sessions, myself2901 and hundreds of other youth leaders2903 have had so much hope for bills like the Green Future Act, only to be disappointed when they die in committee. And we don't know why they keep dying.
As legislators, you hold our futures in your hands, and we're counting on you to pass bold legislation such as the Green Future act. As much as I love coming and spending time with this committee, I really hope that I won't have to be back here in another two years because I don't think our planet's future can wait any longer. As a young leader, I don't need photo ops, praise or admiration. I need definitive action. Please show us that you're listening and report this bill2945 out of committee favorably and transparently. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, sir. Uh, good to have you back. Yes. It's good to see you again. Senator Barrett. Are there additional members of the panel? Yes. I'm channelling one of our youth leaders who is going to speak but can't make it. Um, uh, the Vin Santo Smith and2967 will instead step in2968 as the last speaker in this panel.
[BEIN:][HB3292] I'm Eben Bein. Many of you know me from, uh, my work with young people, Um, with the nonprofit, our climate and also, uh, in partnership with the Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition Or MYCC for short. This is a coalition, uh, that has over 20 youth organizations and hubs in it. Um, Anyway, I speak on behalf of these three bills, the IPC 2030 bill, which I believe is in the spirit of what real global climate leadership looks like on the part of Massachusetts. Um, also 100% clean bill, which, though less ambitious, would still put us on the stronger path to reducing climate pollution than any other state in the United States. Uh, and the Green Future Act to which I will speak now that tilts the economic playing field in the favor of these targets. Um uh, market based mechanisms are can drastically decarbonization our economy, and they hover on this precipice of reinforcing racial capitalism. Um, And to counteract that, my youth and3038 I facilitated meetings with eight3040 different environmental justice groups, including ones that do not support market based mechanisms to design the best possible protections we could for this bill.
Things like tying the price directly to local air pollution, not just global climate emissions, um, requiring the administration to check in with the Environmental Justice Council to make sure that what they say benefits environmental justice.3066 Communities actually benefits environmental justice communities requiring that extra funding to be allocated to municipalities proportional to how many EJ members they have in their population and ensuring that the EJ members of those municipalities are on the council's deciding how that money is spent. Um, so this is a bill, um, all of these bills, but particularly the Green Future Act, where we cannot have business as usual where the bill dies in committee and leadership rights, their own version of the bill with the nuances removed.
Um, please pass this bill quickly and transparently from committee. And if it cannot pass, at least publicly report all the committee votes so that we can learn and engage with those3112 who disagree with us and be part of the next iteration of the bill so that the wisdom we have so tenaciously collected is not lost. Thank you so much, Committee members. so much, Committee members. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, sir. Are there questions of our3126 panel?
[BARRETT:] I have a question. Um, I as I read, S 21, uh, 30. I'm sorry. S 3292 I represent Driscoll's carbon pricing bill. And as I scrutinized my own, I don't see any tax on polluters. I I don't see that these bills proposed a tax on corporate polluters at all. That's not their purpose. The only reason I bring this to your attention is because I don't want you to think that there is a tax on corporate polluters that the committee is overlooking because we don't have the guts to go after corporate polluters. There is no tax on corporate polluters in any of these carbon pricing bills. We are a knowledge based economy here in Massachusetts. The corporate polluters. You can really find in some smokestack economy. States don't exist here and are not in great numbers and are not a serious source of our emissions. Instead, the sources of our emissions are the cars that you drive and the buildings, uh, that you3196 live in, heated by natural gas and oil and and by the way, the cars that I drive to. So because the the necessary focus of a carbon pricing scheme in a knowledge based economy is a tax or fee levied on you and your neighbors and not, for the most part, on corporate polluters, we have to be very careful about the incidents of that tax, don't we?
[BEIN:] Yes I3228 agree that we do. And we know that it is effectively a a price that hurts corporate polluter corporate polluters, bottom lines when we make the use of their products more expensive, Which is why corporate polluters, you know, for this of all bills have actually done vigorous disinformation campaigns. So, yes, I I agree. We, of course, need3252 to look at, uh, incidents. Um, and but I think we need to trust, uh, you know, people who are most likely to be affected by that raise in price directly and what we heard from our environmental justice groups is that we need to protect in the form of rebates people who are on the very bottom of the economic period pyramid. And for the rest, we need to start investing rigorously, uh, in infrastructure. And so I think that's3279 part part of the reason I think. I think that's part of the reason why we we speak in the3285 language of3286 corporate polluter fee, even though3288 effectively.
[BARRETT:] But it's misleading. It's misleading language, or it's, uh3293 and, uh, and one doesn't want to ever be misleading, does one? My second question is this. Um, actually, um, the folks who are required to represent poor people, working class and middle class people are the legislators you're3310 speaking to. We're elected by them. Almost none of us take corporate money from3317 PACs, where we represent the for folks working class people and middle facts folks overwhelmingly, um and And I, for one, am concerned about the impact on the middle class of our only rebating 24% of the money that we would levy on them because, remember, we're not collecting this even indirectly from corporations. We are collecting this or proposing to as a tax on the3344 gasoline that my constituents, buy and on the home heating oil that my constituents use. And I believe we need a court. I believe we need a carbon levy on fossil fuels. But isn't it wise to consider that perhaps having affected the behavior change that we need to effect, we then rebate all the money back to the middle class that we've taken it from?
[BEIN:] I think it's a compelling argument. And it's not the argument that we heard, particularly from the black and brown environmental justice leaders who we spoke to.
[BARRETT:] But you're hearing it.3385 But we want to hear from the black and brown community. Absolutely. We also want to hear from the middle class community, irrespective of race. We're interested in forming a multiracial coalition against climate change, and we also want to protect people of all races, even white folks, from unfair impacts. Uh, as we've as we move along, aren't we? Don't3409 we Mhm?
[BEIN:] Yes, Thank you. And I hope we can continue3414 this conversation with all representatives at all people. Represented at the table.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Looking forward to that as well. Why don't we move on to hear from Sandy Must Pratt. If Sandy is here, I know the Reverend Fred Small is with us. He is the only one amongst us legitimately wearing a collar today. And so we're pleased to see him. Thank you, Senator. Can you hear me? We can. Wonderful. We need to take down the slide. Evan needs to take down a slide or someone needs to. Sorry that I don't think it's on my end. I apologize. I don't know. It's not my screen share. I'll talk to figure it out. Why don't you go ahead, Reverend? Thank you. Why don't we go ahead, Reverend? Thank you so much. I'm setting my timer. Actually, I will not. I will just go3471 forward.
[FRED SMALL (MassIPL):][HB3292][HB3288][SB2136]3473 It's great to be here. Great to see you again. Honorable chairs. Senator Barrett, Representative Roy and members of the Committee. I am the Reverend Fred Small policy director of Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light. A religious voice for climate and environmental justice representing over 250 diverse faith communities across the Commonwealth. I'll be brief, even harder for a preacher than for a politician, and I will be3500 blunt. Continuing to rely upon fossil fuels is a sin. Every faith tradition forbids theft. Climate change is theft of a habitable planet from our own Children and their Children and their Children. Carbon pollution is theft of health and3519 life and livelihood from every child, every elder, every person who breathes the air. Every faith tradition commands us to protect the most vulnerable among us fossil fuel pollution. Preys upon the most vulnerable among us. Causing asthma, heart attack, premature birth, apparently even increased risk of death from3542 COVID-19.
These impacts disproportionately harm low income people and communities of color. This is why Pope Francis calls upon us to heed both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. And this is why we support 100% Clean Act H 32883560 S 2136 and the green Future Act H 3292 100% Clean Act will move Massachusetts to 100% clean electricity by 2035, and 100% clean heating and3573 transportation by 2045, while ensuring that workers and environmental justice communities are protected and included in the transition. These targets are reachable and necessary. The Green Future Act will provide sustainable and equitable funding crucial to meeting the climate goals this Legislature just enacted in the next generation roadmap. The Green Future Act requires that 60% of all green infrastructure spending benefit environmental justice neighborhoods.
329 years ago next month, the Reverend Francis Dane of Andover a courageous critic of the Salem witch trials wrote our sin of ignorance wherein we thought we did well. Will not excuse us when we know we did a miss In 2021. The time has long passed when we might have pleaded ignorance of the impacts of fossil fuels. Failure to respond today would be willful and immoral. We cannot hesitate. We must act. Let's get it done. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
you, sir. Thank you, Reverend. Do we have questions of Reverend Small? Thanks very much for joining us today. And for your words. Thank you. Senator Tony Rogers. Is Mr Rogers here? You're on mute there. You. Can you hear me? Yes. Oh, fantastic. I was having some issues earlier.3675
[TONY ROGERS:][HB3292] Um, yes, I'm Tony3680 Rogers. I'm a retired wind energy engineer. I was the lead technical author of the State's successful bid to get the wind blade test facility into Charlestown, Massachusetts. Um, I want to talk about 3292, and I urge you to pass it on with your support.3702 one of the things I wanted to focus on is the context in which you're looking. The committee is looking at bills. I wanna frankly congratulate the Legislature and the T we committee for passing S9, uh, for setting the state on a very clear path Towards addressing climate emissions. So we get to a net zero by 2050. But it's in that context that we're operating here. The administration is working to come up with policies. Um, but there's there's certain there's a number of guard rails that I think would be helpful from our point of view or my point of view, uh, with respect to the work that they're doing. Um, and they also need support, uh, to get the work done that they need to get done, such as funding.3752 Um, So, um, the other final point or the next point I have to say is that, um in this context, as many many people have mentioned, um were, uh this is going to be a huge transition we're going to move from, you know, our current economy to changing all the technology that we use and with which we generate electricity.
On top of that, though, this thing is going to impact every resident of the state. And that's3783 why every resident of the state has to be a willing participant and feel like they are benefiting from this transition that we're headed into converting from the current economy to a green economy. Um, so it's in that context also, that we need to address, um uh, the equity equity questions, uh, in in all the things that we do, Uh, with respect to that, I think my main comment comments are to say that in 3292, um, what 3292 does is it gives us the tools that we need to get the job done. It gives us the tools. It's to address the needs equitable and the needs of of environmental justice communities and to equitably distribute the money that would be generated by the market based mechanism in this bill. It3838 gives us the tools to equitably, uh, distribute that across the state and a lot of a fairly large amount of local control over what happens with some parts of that money. Um, it is primarily, uh it sets up a market based mechanism which whose primary purpose is raising funds to do the, uh, to get the work done that we need to get done to provide funds for the state so that it can We can all achieve the goals that we're getting to, Um, so the funding is going to be on the order of about $500 million dollars a year for context. The state.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Mr. Rogers, your time is up. I'm afraid the wow, I I'm surprised. I didn't realize it went so fast.
Okay, well, then my final statement is, Uh, Gives us the tools that we need to address climate change, uh, as we are trying to do.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr Rogers. And we3905 did hear you even though you ran as a little short on time towards the end, we did hear you. I want to call on Dr Golfer and Dr Trist, I believe are from Bentley and Northeastern, respectively. They constitute a3924 panel. Yeah. You know, which one of us would you like to go first? Why don't3928 we hear from Dr Google for your first alphabetically? So that seems like a good choice. All right, Thank you, Chair And everybody hear me. Okay. Yes. Great.
[S GELFER (BENTLEY UNIVERSITY):][HB3292] Well, thank you for having me here. And as mentioned, I'm an economist and assistant professor at Bentley University. And my research mainly focuses on economic forecasting and policy evaluation. And I want to just share some thoughts I had about H 3292 that, I'm in support for regarding the employment market and particularly wage growth. And I also hope to shed some light on some of the discussion. I've heard about this idea about rebates versus, um, infrastructure projects and things that we can think about. Um so green jobs have been associated with higher wages and particularly infrastructure projects otherwise known as shovel ready. Projects have shown to have higher wages about 25% in the national3981 median average. Uh, some of this to be suspected because these are in industries that are higher paying industries anyway. But even when you control for an industry level effects So called Green Jobs still show about 7% higher wage.
So these are very much higher middle class jobs that will help, um, the state's economy. Um in. Addition, carbon pricing, which again is market based pricing for carbon, um, will naturally raise energy costs. Um, as as it's designed to do, to try and transition into more sustainable energy usage. Now the important thing about infrastructure projects is it sets the groundwork for future energy to have cheaper prices and particularly sustainable energy markets. So rebating to the households which this bill does in the 40% its been mentioned, um is extremely important because we need to make sure that this transition isn't tax middle and lower-income households. Um, but the infrastructure work is extremely important because that's what really lays the groundwork for lower energy prices in the years to come so that those rebates can start, um, not necessarily needing to be necessary so that we can transition to the sustainable energy economy. Um, in addition, I've looked as white paper4059 and I am all in favor of it, and I do see that its4064 proposed to create over 80,000 jobs, and I think that that is an accurate estimate.
Um, mainly because of these higher wages that I've, uh, kind of addressed before. These infrastructure, um, jobs not only create jobs in that particular industry, but those higher paying jobs go to the rest of the commonwealth, Um, and the goods and services that the Commonwealth purchase, um, and help economies and industries all across the board.
Um, and one thing I also like to highlight about this bill, um is the workforce development So one of the major cost of a carbon pricing legislation is the transition that happens between industries. Um, it's inevitable that some industries will slow down while other industries will flourish. Um, that can cause some industries have slower job growth or even, um, some jobs being lost. And there is a workforce development initiative4111 in this bill to help train those workers that might see industries slowed down, and so that they can be transitioned into other industries where they will be higher demand and higher wages as an effect. Um, so kind In summary, I think Massachusetts, with a big, um, human capital pool, can really lead the way and lead to future decreases in energy prices for sustainable energy. Thank you.
sustainable energy. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Dr Triste. Uh, and I apologize if I mispronounced the name. No, you've got it4144 exactly correct.
[ROBERT TRISTE (NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY):][HB3292] Thanks very4147 much testifying today in strong support of H 3292 the Green Future Act. And I think it's imperative that the Commonwealth pass this and other measures will enable us to attain the goals in the next generation roadmap law on the recent breakdown of the transportation and climate initiative increases4163 the urgency a passing and implementing the Green Future Act. Although my4168 testimony expresses only my own views not to have my current or previous employers currently professor and chair, Department of Economics at Northeastern. And prior to that, I was vice president and director of the New England Public Policy Center at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Like nearly every professional economist, I view putting a price on carbon dioxide emissions as an essential step in mitigating in mitigating climate change.
For example, in 2019 as among over 3600 professional economists, including 284198 Nobel Prize winners four former chairs of the Federal Reserve Board and 15 former chairs of the Council of Economic Advisers from both Democratic and Republican administrations to sign a statement supporting the adoption of a carbon tax to reduce carbon emissions and lots of economic research. Supports the fact that increase in the price of carbon emissions changes the behavior of households and businesses and reduces the quality of emissions. By extending the Commonwealth market based carbon emissions pricing system to include the transportation, heating and4230 industrial sectors of the green future. The Green Future Act. It provides an incentive for households and businesses to reduce their use of fossil fuels and to invest in clean energy technology. That alone would be an important beneficial effect, but the expenditures is tied of the act. Provisions will also have beneficial effects.
The Household Green Dividend Fund will protect the bottom two quintiles of household income distribution from adverse financial consequences. The carbon pricing and the the other expenditure side will also4262 provide beneficial effects. The changes in behavior they are incentivized by increasing the price of carbon emissions will be enhanced by investment infrastructure needed to provide better and more economical low carbon choices to businesses. Consumers Infrastructure investment put in place today will last for decades. It's important that be compatible with the low carbon economy of the future, nor to not become prematurely obsolete. Finally, communities of color and other disadvantaged communities have suffered disproportionately from pollution, in many cases have less ability to undertake private investments that might enable them to respond to the price incentive to reduce carbon emissions.
The Green Future Act emphasis on projects that benefit residents of environmental justice. Communities Both address historical injustices inflicted in those communities, as well as to address the market failures that place impediments to provide green investments. So conclusion I urge you to support the Green Future Act and4316 thanks very much for your time.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
and I will note that I nailed it within a second of the time. That was a lot of thank you and a great job very well done. Are there questions of our panel?
[BARRET:] I have a4331 question to both of you, and I'm particularly with reference to you, Dr Triste. I'm familiar with that statement on the part of economists published as ads in places like The Wall Street Journal so that the statements publicly available. I just brought it up Using Google, and I want to cite the paragraph five of the statement from you and your colleagues that you all signed to maximize the fairness and political viability of a rising carbon tax. All the revenue should be returned directly to US citizens through equal lump sum rebates. The majority of American families, including the most vulnerable, will benefit financially by receiving more and Carbon dividends than they pay in increased prices. And that's the exact Lee, the point of my revenue neutral carbon fee, which is being heard today. Uh, the lowest 60% of Massachusetts families will receive more in rebate than they will have paid in the original fee if if all of it is rebated. So your fellow economists agree with me that we should rebate it all. What do you have to say to that?
[TRISTE:] Okay, so that's that's a really good point, and you're absolutely correct. That is what the statement says. There's something that, um, I think that here we're moving from, um so in terms of the economics, this union amenity, that there should be carbon pricing. That's something that all economists I know of agree on, and that's to provide the incentives to basic reduce our carbon emissions and dot Green Technology. You know, investments now in terms of what should be done with the revenue that becomes, you know, there's more of a split their so in. Economists generally view the most important parts provide that price signal and then the revenue score of a bonus. Now you can get any amenity like that statement. If you say you just rebate it all lump sum, everybody says, Well, that's going to result in that improvement Now, among economists, you know there were. You know, that's true if Republicans, Democrats, people of all political leanings, economists do have political leanings.
The progressives among us are very concerned about environmental justice and particularly in making those in4468 the lower half of the income distribution whole financially, as well as providing the choices in environmental justice communities so that those members of the communities can respond to the price signals in ways they couldn't with their own private means. Those who are somewhat more conservative generally would say, Well, um, that's a separate issue. Let's4490 just rebate the revenue lump sum. So So you're correct. There is a split there.
[BARRET:] Um really, you're you're not You're not suggesting that In fact, you4500 have a list of that a sub group of economists who signed that statement that you began your statement today with dividing neatly into conservative and progressive economists. That's not the way the roster of signees is organized. Isn't that right?
[TRISTE:] That is correct. The roster of signees...
[BARRET:] So you're just surmising that I know progressive economists. I represent a good number of them in my district who happen to think that it's politically wise as well as fair to cover the middle class As well as4533 the working class and the poor, and who advocate for a strictly revenue neutral tax, which still taxes on balance a fee. I should say it collects more from the top 40% than they we'll get back in rebates. But the middle class, according to these progressive economists who favor revenue neutral, would be protected by rebating all the money. So you're not you're not saying that you have dated to counter that you're just offering a kind of an off the top of your head sense of things, right?
[TRIEST:] Based on many conversations with my fellow economists, Yes, and I would say to the there is a separate issue. So if you divide into two bills, one that was carbon pricing, rebated lump sum and the other was funding for green infrastructure concentrate, environmental justice communities. I think both of those bills would attract a lot of support from economists.
[BARRET:] I agree with you. Absolutely. Thank you, sir. Are there additional questions of our panel?
4590 [GOLFER:] I'd like to chime in on the discussion if I could. I think it's just important to really kind of think of the short term long term trade offs economically. And then the political aspect of as well is that infrastructure projects4603 really do have the potential to lower those energy costs in the years to come that that initial investment that state and local agencies can do will really bring down those prices so that those rebates won't necessarily be needed to be needed in the in the years to come. And the only necessary temporary while disappear, rebate system doesn't necessarily put up the infrastructure that is needed to create long term productivity and efficiency growth in that energy sector.
[BARRET:] Good point, but we're not talking about, are we? We're not talking about the funding of infrastructure, all of us in this4637 hearing, including every member of the House and the Senate agree that we need to fund more climate infrastructure. The question then becomes the wise and fair way to bankroll it. So this is not a hearing. Is it? about whether we'll get infrastructure jobs. Uh, that's been the subject of almost every other hearing before T We all year, and I think there's unanimity in favor of Are Doing So. This is a more focused question on whether we should, uh, tax the middle class in the state to create those jobs and whether the middle class will tolerate it very well.
[GOLFER:]I think the Green Future Act lays out a lot of different legislations and an act, Uh, all of it on the table.
[BARRET:] I agree with you. Everything is on the table, thank you both very much and will proceed.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
I really appreciate your you're coming. I want to introduce you doctor treats to my economist friends who would, uh, beg to differ. They would feel themselves as progressive as you, but favor revenue neutral. Why don't we go on to hear about s actually, let's hear from representative Gouveia. If she's if she cares to testify, I4715 notice she's joined us.
[REP GOUVEIA:][HB3850] Well, thank you so much, Mr Chair. Um, both of both chairs here really appreciate it. Members of the committee, um, I'm here to testify in support of H 3850. An act establishing a pathway to net zero buildings. You know, I just want to say again, you know, so incredibly grateful for the work on the climate road map bill, which included, um, a lot of attention and focus on the climate road map bill, which included, um, a lot of attention and focus on net zero building codes. Um, I know it wasn't the easiest lift to get done. I know that you all worked incredibly hard, um, in negotiating the final pieces of that, especially given the vested interests of certain industries. However, if we are truly to plan for the future of what buildings ought to look like in the future, if4756 we're to achieve our state's climate goals and climate justice along with energy justice, then we are really going to have to accelerate our work in establishing a pathway to building and retrofitting for net4769 zero buildings.
This means the movement moving towards adopting a net zero building code even faster, and one that has even greater clarity than what we've already been able to achieve so gratefully. Uh, so this bill will require the Board of Regulations and Standards to further define Net zero buildings as those that are highly efficient. Allow fossil fuel applications in very, very limited circumstances because the technology has not kept pace yet with what some of our needs are and also rely on renewable sources of energy and to adopt that code statewide by 2028. So not leaving any municipality out there floating on their own if they have chosen not to opt into the Net. Zero Such energy4813 code. Um, the bill also allows for the adoption of new technologies and new innovations for safety and reduced construction costs by regularly updating the code every three years in alignment the international energy conservation code.
Um, so how this bill will help us achieve climate, justice and energy justice is by eliminating the impact that poor indoor air quality, higher energy costs and low resilience to climate change has an overburdening our working and low income families. And just, you know, some studies have shown that disadvantaged groups low income groups are much more likely to suffer from higher degrees of adverse health effects from poor indoor air quality, and that increases the rates that low income families get sick, which contributes to the widening gap in health equity. Another study found that low income residents whose apartments had been updated for energy efficiency, saved hundreds of dollars per year in health care costs as well as energy costs, and had 12% fewer asthma related emergency room visits, A 48% decline in poor health And a 23% reduction in poorly controlled asthma for Children.
Again, this has to do with how do we heat and how do we keep our Homes cold cool in the hot summer months, especially in the face of climate change? And we do know that extreme weather conditions really caused by climate change are exacerbating some of4900 these health inequities and some of the challenges that many of our families face across the Commonwealth. So if we stop what we got to with the climate road map bill and take no other action, then what it means is that we're just going to be waiting for municipalities to opt into the Net zero code, resulting in a patchwork of some residents benefiting by living in safer more efficient homes while others are not. And unfortunately, those living in communities that have not opt into4927 the bill are those that are more likely to experience heat or electricity loss in extreme weather such as hurricane, ice4935 or snow. They simply cannot afford a generator and more likely to live in the communities that are less likely to adopt the Net zero code on their own.
Um, and that means they're like, quite literally and figuratively left out in the cold. So by adopting a Net zero stretch energy code requiring the BBRS4953 to adopt this and put this forth by 2028 for all municipalities means that all residents over time will benefit from this approach to climate, justice, energy, justice and4964 also a form of climate resiliency. So asking for a favorable report, looking forward to working with the committee and with the chairs on, you know, further refining this and working with the advocates who brought this bill forward. Um, appreciate the time and attention here today. Thank you so much.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Representative. Are there questions of representative Gouveia hearing? None will. Thank you very much. I know you've got a busy schedule so be well, Thank you. Happy holidays. We're going to hear testimony now. I believe we're concluding testimony on S 2133 and H 3292. And if that's the case, we're going5008 to move on to hearing testimony and s 21 31 legislation calling for a climate policy commission. Is Professor Williams Muma with us? Yes, I am Good to have there. You are. Good to have you with us. How are you? I'm fine.
[BILL MOOMAW:][SB2131] Thank you very much. Senator Barrett. And thank you. Thank you for sending me your report on your foray into international diplomacy on climate in Glasgow. I'd love to have a follow up conversation with you. Uh, anyway, I would like to, uh, first of all congratulate you and thank you for introducing this, um, legislation. I think it's essential to have an independent. Maybe you should call it an independent, Uh uh, climate policy commission In order to accelerate our transformation with good policies, effective policies and avoid5071 some of the mistakes we made in the past. Um, it's I've been a lead author of five IPCC reports. I've been a technical member of the U.S. Congress that passed the amendments to the Clean Air Act to phase out ozone depleting CFCs. And I've worked with the Office of Technology Assessment in Congress before it got deep six because its objective information was not useful to some members of Congress.5097
Uh, so but this is really5101 important. Let me first. So I don't have the time to suggest to a couple of very small but important amendments. Um, it's essential, uh, that we have the full range of technical expertise, uh, both on the council and on the the advisory group. And so, uh, I happen to be on the board of the Wood Wall Climate Research Center for four years in a row was judged5131 the most effective research center in the world, and they're not a PhD granting institution. So if you can find some way and there may be other institutions like that, that could be, you know, who really know what they're doing, who could be included. Uh, secondly, um, I think we need to have a somewhat broader range of expertise. Nowhere in the suggestion of the fields of study is ecological science. And I would just urge you to do that. I'm a physical scientist myself. I have had a real education the last dozen years by working with my ecological colleagues of the things that we as physical scientists, have missed and the IPCC and everywhere else.
And, uh so that5178 would be for both, Both in the5180 on the council, uh, both, uh, on the council and on the advisory group. Um, let me just provide some examples of why this is so important. The convoluted rules of smart solar regulations for installing solar panels set arbitrary limits on how much solar panels you can put on your roof. I have half a roof that's empty now, and I have zero that5205 energy house because I built efficient House and I have operated, grid connected and so forth. So the rules that are in place increase the cost to the point. The so called soft costs exceed installation and panel costs. In Massachusetts.
There are twice as much as the costs in Germany, for example, for the same panels installed in the same way. So, you know, if we have a council that could really look at this, we probably would get rid of the rules like that. The rules governing how deeply the Department of Public Utilities is operating is one of many examples like this that I'll have in my written testimony. Um, and in closing, I'd just like to say, In addition, I5251 would urge that there's some great bills. H 3288 to S 2136 S 2170. All of which we're talking about, really. Zero emission transportation, buildings, electricity, that's what we need. And so take the better parts of all those bills and blend them together into a really useful final piece of legislation. Thank you again for introducing the legislation Senator. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much, Professor. Mom, A good to have you with us. Are there questions of Professor Mama hearing? None. We want to thank you very much for joining us, sir. Thank you very much for having me. Is Michael Kellett of restore the North Woods with us? How about Janet Sinclair? We're going to move on to a consideration of another piece of legislation now H- 38-88. An act relative to the purchase of new and pre-owned electric vehicles. I know Mark Diane is with us, uh, to testify on H 3, 8, 8, 8. Or is that correct? Mark, I'm talking5333 about that one and another at the same time. If you'd let me, You get 13 minute thing. But you got it. Yeah, by all means. Address both. Okay.
[MARK DYEN (350 MASSACHUSETTS):][HB3888][HB4082] Thank you very much. Senator Barret Uh, chairman Ryan, uh, for the opportunity to speak. I'm talking on behalf of 350 Massachusetts, a grassroots organization with members all across the state and concentrated in 17 nodes. Um, we support a lot of the bills before you today. I'm only going to talk about two, 3888 Representative Golden and many other people's legislation on setting up a new and enhanced incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and Senator and House 4082 which is, uh, put forward by Representative Rogers and is titled an act relative to the early retirement of high emissions vehicles. I guess my actual suggestion for today I've got to provide some longer testimony is that these two concepts be combined that obviously we need to incentivize the purchase of new and used battery electric powered vehicles to meet the Commonwealth Goals uh, For reducing emissions and representative Golden and many other sponsors.
But representative Golden bill 3888 does that very well, I'd like to introduce. We'd like to introduce another concept to this, which is that the, um And for a way to does this, which is it concentrates the incentives on the retirement of existing gas guzzling vehicles rather than on the purchase of new E. V s. Uh, its called. We're calling it coupons for clunkers. The popular name5448 and the concept is drawn from programs that are in place in New York and California. And our own experience in appliance rebates says that what with cars, what happens is you get your incentive. If you're buying an electric vehicle for buying the new electric5469 vehicle and you use it, that's great. I've done it three times, and then I turn in5474 my old gas guzzling vehicle and they sell it as a used car. And that car is back on the road in four or five weeks, burning gasoline and releasing emissions into the air of the Commonwealth or into the air of some other state or into the air of some other country, depending on where they used vehicle ends up.
And with the way they're making cars now, the average car stays on the road 16 years And get sold in seven or eight. So the concept that we would advocate for, in addition to general support for the purchase of E. V s, is the concept that says we set up a system where it is the a significant incentive is triggered by the return of existing older high emission vehicle. And we have to define what that is and for a way to make definitions of it. Um, and that rebate incentive is in the form of a coupon that is valuable for is valued for the purchase of a new E V or a new electric bicycle or5538 a lifetime T pass. Given the amounts that we're talking about, Um, and the vehicle that's turned in is decommissioned. Taken out of the market, the engine destroyed.
Uh, how is that? So I Anyway, my our recommendation is that the5559 two concepts be combined, that the5562 incentives that are being put forward for the purchase of electric vehicles be triggered by, in large part, not exclusively, but in large part by the5572 retirement of existing gas guzzling vehicles, and I'd be happy to talk with committee. We'd be happy to talk with the committee further about the details, both of our proposal and of the comparable programs now underway in California and New York. And thank you very much for the extra time.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, Mark. Thanks very much for your presence here, Larry Christian? Yes, Thank you, Consumers Alliance.
[LARRY CHRETIEN (GREEN ENERGY CONSUMERS ALLIANCE):][HB3888] Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Chairman Roy and members of the committee. I'm Larry Chretien, the executive director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance, which is based in Boston. One of our programs is called Drive Green, which helps consumers learn about TVs and to actually access E.Vs at a dealership at a good price. We have a lot of experience with this. We've been running the program for five years. We support 3888 an act relative to the purchase of new and pre owned EVs. Um,5625 if Massachusetts is going to reduce emissions 50 By 2030, we need to electrify about a million vehicles of all sizes. And now that TCI is on ice, we need a very specific plan B what we like about this bill. It establishes a structure for electrifying public transportation with all regional transit authorities. I would add that the state needs to assign at least one person who is responsible every day for electrifying transit buses and school buses. Otherwise, it's just not going to get done. Um,5658 On time.
Uh, the bill establishes a rebate of up to $5,000 for new and used cars selling for less than $40,000 And requires a study on how to make that a point of sale rebate. An idea we would suggest would be offering a sales tax exemption for cars meeting that criteria. And at 6.25%, that would be an immediate savings of $2,480. Now, if there was funding from Reggie or some other source, you could re replenish the general fund by that amount. But that would be a point of sale rebate. The bill also looks into public procurement, and that makes perfect sense that the state and local levels we would ask you to take it a step further and set a date certain by which new vehicles must be Electric. This week, the Biden administration issued such a plan that where all new federal light duty vehicles Would be electric by 2027. Why not tack that onto the bill?
The bill would also have the Department of Transportation develop a statewide plan for building out EV charging infrastructure. The utilities have programs right now, but there's simply not enough planning and5729 coordination, and we need that on a statewide basis. And finally, we encourage the committee to add5734 a section requiring the utilities to offer a rebate to consumers who charge their EVs off. Peak. That is not a cross subsidy from non EV drivers to eV drivers. That's reflecting the the lower cost of providing electricity service to a5751 customer during off peak periods. And so we want to offer that it's a twofold issue. It provides an incentive to own EV because you're going to reduce the cost of charging it up. But it's also going to help manage the grid better so that we all win by by by having cars charge off. Peak, Thank you for your time. We will send you written comments about this. We have an interest in a lot of other bills before you. Committee will send that in via A written testimony, but thank you for your time.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Larry. Are there questions of Larry or Mark? I'm not sure if I invited questions from Mark. Well, thank you both very much. We now want to hear from Robert. Oh, can you ski the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association that? Please help me with the pronunciation there. Robert Close. Okay, Linsky.
[ROBERT O'KONIEWSKI (MSADA):][HB3888] Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you for the time. For the committee and through you to the committee members. Uh, Chairman Roy as well. The good to see5817 you again. Bob O'Koniewski, the executive vice president of the5820 Massachusetts State Auto Dealers Association with the actual retailers of new franchise vehicles in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We represent the 427 franchised dealers. Uh, we represent about 20% of the retail economy. Overall, Massachusetts and we have over 25,000 employees at our dealerships collectively, um, you know, we we always speak in favor of5845 of legislation that can help promote the sale of electric vehicles. We very aggressively market and retail the vehicles that we do have from the manufacturers. But as we stated in July and testifying on similar bills, you know there's a number of things that get5862 short shrift in all this discussion.
You know, for example, you know, we've always talked about how there's a certain price factor that goes with the E.Vs versus your traditional ice vehicles.5874 That makes price affordability sometimes an issue Vehicle choice has been a struggle over the last several years. But as the manufacturers commit to a larger menu of available E.Vs for the product for purchased by consumers, that will improve over5891 time. We've talked about the charging infrastructure needs that are going to have to be built out across the Commonwealth and elsewhere, especially when you're dealing with a multi unit housing. Um, when you're talking about, um, future building codes incorporating some infrastructure build out as well the battery life, the charging times have been issues. Hopefully, as the manufacturers uh, commit to a more EV product, those things will improve, Um, as well as the simple mathematics, though you have to keep in mind, we sell on average, about 300,000 new vehicles a year.
Um, at that rate, it's going to take 20 years to, uh, replace the six million vehicles that are on the road in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts alone. So there's factors like that that have to be kept in mind here. We've also talked about some of the bigger picture matters that kind of gets short shrift. Um, road infrastructure funding is going to be an issue moving forward. Unless you do something about filling the gap of as you get away from ice and you lose gas tax revenues. What are you going to do to supplement the funding of5962 the highway trust fund to to still meet the road needs the bridge needs that we're going to have out there. Um, increased electricity generation is going to be needed. Um, you know, we just went through the whole main situation5975 where they shut down the the transmission lines coming down from hydro Quebec. Um, you know, that's not an isolated incident.
There's a lot of this anti, uh, transmission line build out other types of issues related to, um expanding the need for electricity coming into the Commonwealth. Those things are going to have to be looked at the charging infrastructure control matter, Um, is going to have to be hashed out. You know, no one in government participated in the build out of millions of gas stations around the country. We do have a commitment from legislation coming out from Washington on infrastructure build out. But who is really going to control those facilities? How is the price is going to be dealt with and and lastly, as I've harped on for years, At which point do we get into a full discussion of the environmental degradation that's going on as companies are chasing minerals and exploring further whether it's the ocean bottoms, whether it's strip mining, the whole countrysides to get at the minerals needed for battery production? We saw an article in The Wall Street Journal today about balancing the needs of the environment6051 versus the chase for lithium around the world.
So there's a number of factors I will send, You know, I've submitted testimony on this previously. I will do so again. Um, but I just want to point out that we are supportive of an effort on EVs, but there's really got to be a fuller discussion on a lot of these other issues as well. And I appreciate your time today. time today.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, sir. Are there questions of Mr Konarski? Thank you very much for for returning to us and offering your views and reminding us of them again. I appreciate the time. Thank you. We're going to move on to H4081 and Act concerning the expansion of renewable heating fuels and renewable thermal heating is Kevin O'Shea from National Grid? Here I am, Mr Chairman. Thank you. Terrific. Why don't we hear from you now? Great. Thank6103 you.
[KEVIN O'SHEA (GOVERNMENT6104 AFFAIRS AND NATIONAL GRID):][HB3888][HB4081][HB4134] Thank you, Chairman Barrett. Thank you, Chairman Roy. Members of the committee. Thank you for your time today. It's my pleasure to testify before you again. Uh, my name is, as you said, is Kevin O'Shea and I'm director of Government Affairs and National Grid, and I'm here to respectfully6118 submit testimony on behalf of my company on legislation currently being considered before your committee. First, I'd like to express National Grids Overarching support for the Commonwealth effort to accelerate economy wide deep. Decarbonization national grid, like Massachusetts, is committed to achieving net zero by 2550 not only in our own operations, but including the energy we sell to our customers.
The landmark landmark legislation passed by this committee in March will help with the state on the path forward to the shared goal Justifying today in support of House Bill 4081 and acting certainly expansion of renewable heating fuels and renewable thermal heating filed by Representative Golden as you're aware that the Northeast is some of the largest heating related energy demands in the country. So while some of the highest GHG emissions associated6162 with meeting that demand Our regions energy demand and winter peak heating day is two to time 2-4 times that of the summer peak cooling days. In other words, it takes proportionately less energy to cool our homes. In the summer one solar and wind6175 produced the most compared to how much energy it takes to heat our homes in darker, colder winter days.
This is an important challenge to address in order to achieve advanced towards climate goals of being net zero by 2050 policy actions to data but focused on reducing emissions in the electric power sector through scaling renewable generation with limited focus on decarbonization, our current6198 heating energy supply, sources and customer system support is now needed to develop and scale of low carbon heating options by growing supplies of renewable heating fuels and expanding investment into renewable thermal energy systems. This legislation mirrors the successful approach and used by used to bring renewable generating sources like wind and solar to scale. By creating a renewable portfolio slash energy standards, States created markets to6222 support the investment and what we're new and more costly resources. We believe the renewable and low carbon hydrogen development could could6230 be a powerful complement to wind and solar development by providing reliable year round sources of heating energy when solar and wind production are low and providing seasonal storage to shift energy consumption of our long durations as required in high renewable generation scenarios. H 4081 is an important step towards advancing both renewable heating fuels and renewable thermal systems to maximize the probability of reaching our climate goals without compromising the safe, reliable and affordability of our energy system.
Complementary to H 4081 National Grid supports H 3087 which would direct the committee to undertake a review to determine the opportunities for sustainable and cost effective, effective deployment of our energy and low carbon fuels to reduce emissions associated with the supply of natural gas heating in Massachusetts. Finally, National Grid supports a deep decarbonization of the transportation sector as well and supports major components of H6285 4082 H 3888 and H 4134 their intentions of expanding rebates with emphasis on low income customer rebates, news vehicle rebates and higher vehicle purchase6296 price caps. Thank you again for your time today.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
All right. Thank you very much. Mr. O'Shea. Are there questions of Mr O'Shea?
[BARRET:] I have one very brief one. for the sake of6310 clarifying the matter to the committee members, are we talking primarily about primarily about hydrogen. With respect to the 4081?
[FENT:] It would be6321 both renewable natural gas, R and D as well as hydrogen. Um, and also there are aspects of this bill, Mr Chairman, that support the development and deployment of geothermal energy as well. So it's really ...
[BARRET:] Could you define...give us a working definition of renewable renewable natural gas. What? What? What percentage? Methane. What percentage? Something else.
[FENT:] I don't have an exact definition on me. right now, Senator. But I'm happy to to supply what we use internally as as that definition. Um, following the hearing.
[BARRET:] You don't You don't know what it is, Fent.
[FENT:] Uh, you know, I know the generation sources. I don't know the exact blending percentages. Offhand.
[BARRET:] Is it fair to say that the bill would promote so called dirty hydrogen as well as green hydrogen produced by hydrologists?
[FENT:] The focus of our intention in the focus of this bill is for the green hydrogen promoted from, uh, electrolysis from offshore wind and solar.
[BARRET:]But it's not limited to that, or it is?
[FENT:] I believe it is not explicitly limited to that. But we are happy to work with the committee to refine6395 as necessary. is not explicitly limited to that. But we are happy to work with the committee to refine6395 as necessary.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
All right, Thank you. Are there additional questions of Mr O'Shea? Why don't we move on to, uh, H 3887. It's an order relative to a legislative review of renewable heating fuels. We have a panel, I believe, consisting of a representative of the gas leaks allies.6419 The Greater Boston6420 Physicians for Social Responsibility are Sarah Griffith, Andy Krasner and Martin Rotor. Here. I think they are. Yes, we are. Thank you. Yes, we are. Yes. All right. Why don't we commence? Uh, Sarah Griffith. Great.
[SARAH GRIFFITH (GAS LEAK ALLIES):][HB3887] Thank you. Chair Barrett, Chair Roy and members of the committee for the opportunity to speak and qualified support of House Order or Bill 3887. My name is Sarah Griffith. I facilitate the hydrogen working group for Gas Leaks Allies, and6453 I live in Cambridge. Gas Leaks Allies strongly supports research in fact finding. So we support H 3887. But when necessary amendments to make the results pertinent to the problem we face, we will submit recommended amendments to the bill to include a range of reasonable solutions for your consideration. The facts are well known to you. Combusting fossil fuels and buildings is responsible for 27% of total6479 greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating fossil fuels as the most expeditious6483 way to reduce emissions.
We agree with the University of Massachusetts Lowell that additional solutions beyond the methane hydrogen blend must be considered. And we welcome the opportunity to publicly fund a study free of industry influence. Last year, this committee in its wisdom expanded the guiding values DPU uses when considering proposals. I'll mention data points for three of these affordability, reliability and emissions reduction. My colleague Andy Krasner will speak to safety, security and Equity. And Martin6516 Rudder will, um, talk about a variety of solutions that could be added to this bill. Okay, Affordability. Hydrogen does not exist in nature must be manufactured, so it always costs more than the fuel it is made. From today, natural6530 gas is about 23 cents per kilogram. Fossil hydrogen is eight times that, and the projected price Of Green Hydrogen is predicted to be 12 times the cost of what methane is today.
None of these prices include compression, transmission delivery or the tens of billions to replace a significant portion of the gas distribution system. Customers are expected to switch to cheaper, efficient heat pumps, stranding the gas infrastructure, paying off the stranded assets as a cost burden, multiplier on low income communities. We'll spend billions no matter which solution we decide on, but which one will slow flooding, lower extreme precipitation and reduce the number of 90 degree plus days? An investment that avoids the costs associated with climate catastrophe is more attractive than one that doesn't reliability. To avoid black swan events and cascading outages, solutions should include include the ability to island. Secondly, commercially available green hydrogen is not expected until the 2030s, but we need to cut building emissions 50% before then.
Given great competition for green energy, this study should should honestly assess consistent availability of green hydrogen. And for geothermal solutions, there must be a plan for moderating subsurface temperatures over the long term Emissions reduction. Hydrogen itself is an indirect greenhouse gas that makes methane leaks more damaging. Hydrogen combustion can produce nitrous oxide, the third most damaging greenhouse gas. Steam. Methane reforming produces 9-11 times the amount of carbon inflation at the volume of hydrogen. One more sentence. Finding one6639 or more safe, secure, reliable, affordable and equitable solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions deserves
our utmost care, transparency and forthrightness. Thank6649 you. our utmost care, transparency and forthrightness. Thank you. Should we just go straight to A and E or Yeah, why don't we move on to the other members of the panel?
[ANDEE KRASNER (GPBSR):]H[HB3887] Hi, Thank you.6660 Chair Barrett. Chair Roy, Members of the committee for the opportunity to speak in support of H 3887. My name is Andy Krasner. I'm the manager of climate and health for Greater Boston physicians for social responsibility. GPBSR are is a group of nationally recognized experts in public health and medicine whose goal is to raise public awareness about the health impacts of climate change and burning fossil fuels. We support a study to determine the best source6686 of non emitting energy to heat our homes and businesses, including heat pumps, so that the Legislature is6693 fully informed as to the pros and cons of different kinds of energy. Our request to this committee is that you expand the scope of this study to include health and safety metrics.
The committee was very forward thinking and including requirements in section 10 of the Climate Policy Road map that plans for a low-carbon future addressed the societal impacts of air quality and diversification of energy sources. Expanding the study would be in line with climate roadmap based on our literature review of the health impacts of hydrogen. We are particularly concerned with how blending hydrogen with natural gas will affect people's health and safety if it is piped into our homes for heating and cooking. We are also6735 concerned that piped hydrogen will likely harm low income and environmental justice communities the most then health and safety implications of piped hydrogen for heating and cooking have not yet been examined for Massachusetts households To give you some background, about 50% of households in the Commonwealth Cook on natural gas stoves and low-income households are less likely to have ventilation over those stoves to exhaust air pollution and more likely to rent, limiting their control over the type of stove and ventilation they have.
Low income households are also more likely to cook on older stoves, which have pilot lights when burned. Hydrogen emits much more nitrogen dioxide than natural gas alone. We are concerned that this will harm the one in eight Children with an existing asthma diagnosis and other vulnerable populations. Over the last decade, the medical community has come to better understand the health impacts of exposure to6792 nitrogen dioxide. For example, just this year the World Health Organization reduced by 75% its recommendations for annual exposure to outdoor nitrogen dioxide. Hydrogen ignites more easily than natural gas and can be ignited with a single spark. We would also like to better understand the safety of piping hydrogen6812 into homes that cook with gas, um, with pilot lights will these stoves be more likely to have unintended fires? To date, there are no studies of hydrogen on gas stoves6823 with pilot lights.
Lastly, we ask that the study consider emerging health harms like heatwaves as Massachusetts warm air conditioning will be an increasingly important mechanism to protect people's health. Will our energy solutions6836 address this important need for cooling? Thank you for considering our request to expand the scope of this study.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
I think. Thank you. And do we have Martin writer or reader as well?
[MARTYN ROETTER:][HB3887] Thank you, Chairman Barrett and Chairman Roy and members of the of the committee. The basic message of this panel is, I think has two major paths to it. We certainly recognize the value of the work that's already been done, but we wish to expand its scope. We think it needs to be. So far, the work has been focused on hydrogen and low carbon fuel based technologies to reduce and hopefully eventually eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of methane in buildings for heating, cooking and other purposes, we seek expansion6884 that we reckon expansion along two dimensions. First of all, what I will spend some time on is considering the addition of other technologies, are the non emitting technologies to the emitting ones and secondly, to make all evaluations whether of emitting or non emitting technologies, much more thorough and comprehensive than they have been up to now. I've been particularly struck by the areas that my colleague Andy, as mentioned regarding6913 health and safety, which often in many of the financial and economic analysis I've seen of alternatives, are relegated6920 to footnotes or caveats or the small print. And that is really rather insane.
When you think about without the concerns about health and safety, we wouldn't even be bothering to try and change the way in which we generate and consume energy. They are the reasons they are the threats to our human habitat. Now I don't have. I don't claim to develop a comprehensive list, but I would like to draw your attention, in particular to a number of heat pump technologies and configurations that can be non6955 emitting technologies for meeting this goal. Why these technologies were first of all, they enable in principle all electric combustion fee buildings. Secondly, they are more efficient, energy efficient than emitting technologies because heat pumps do not themselves generate heat, they transfer heat, and therefore the demand that we placed upon our total requirements for electric power will likely be limited compared to the potential use, for example, of green hydrogen, the production of which will itself consume a significant proportion of renewable energy sources.
And it's important to limit electric power demand as well as reduce emissions both for financial reasons and because, as we pointed out7002 by the representative of the Massachusetts Car Dealers Association, the demand for energy is faced with a problem that many major energy projects take a long time to get approval and are often refused. So I would note, in connection with the kind of expansion that we're recommending, that there are several7022 studies available from foreign sources that do specifically compare hydrogen with heat pumps, and they can be adapted to the particular circumstances of Massachusetts. I'd like to conclude with a philosophical comment or one actually related to a statement by the the Reverend Thomas Small, and that is that the use of heat pumps offers an ability, offers a way for us to make use of what the Earth can do for us in a transfer and recycling mode, in contrast to consuming finite resources to provide us with comfortable indoor environments in ways, however, that are harmful to our planetary environment. Thank you for the opportunity to give testimony.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Uh, thank you, sir. Are there questions of Sarah Griffith and Krasner or Martin Reader hearing None. We want to thank all three of you for your input as we consider the overall bill and potential changes to it. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. I think we'll go on to age 30 to 88 s 21. 36 acts transitioning Massachusetts to clean energy, heating and transportation. Uh, first up, we have Cabral Dreams of 3. 50 Massachusetts. Mhm, you guys? Yes, Cabral, You can. All right. Hello. Hello? All right, let me get my camera on.
[CABELL EAMES (350 MASSACHUSETTS):][HB4082][3888] So I'm actually here today to testify on several bills. Um, and so I'm going to just try to keep it brief. Um, but in particular, I just wanted to highlight. Well, first thank you. Chairman Barrett and Chairman Roy and all of the members of the committee. Um, I wanted to just lend my support to the 100% clean act, um, and as well as the IPCC by 2030 Bill because we at 350 Massachusetts, you know, believe that the climate crisis calls for swift action while centering equity and its mission. And so I plan to submit my testimony after this hearing, and I'll make the additions at that time that speak in greater detail to7163 these bills and others. Um, because I know I need to keep it7166 brief. But, um, just to state the obvious after the passage of next Gen Road map bill earlier this year, this legislative session will either make or break7175 the goals state put out. And I wanted to speak to specifically H 4082 act relative to early retirement of high emission vehicles.
Um, that was filed by Rep Rogers because 350 Massachusetts, This is the first legislation that we have filed is an organization, So we7193 are very excited about it. Um, and I was actually pleased to see and as was the organization pleased to see the next road map Law had a provision that requires the governor to set benchmarks for the number of electric vehicles needed to reach the state's climate goals and to set incentives to meet those goals. So7214 by enabling a rapid transition to electric vehicles in an equitable fashion that will unlock what feels out of reach for so many by addressing the issue of affordable affordability first and foremost. And I know that my colleague Mark Dyen give some excellent details on the bill. Um, and I think that you'll find that the infrastructure funds and hopefully with the passage of the bill that Better Act in addition to the August 2021 executive order out of the Biden administration that we're really setting ourselves up here for success in the area of both getting gas cars off the roads and7249 putting electric vehicles or getting other forms of mobility.
That don't further add to the carbon budget out in the numbers necessary to reach our climate goals. And so, according to Senator Markey's website website, it is projected7263 that the rapid electrification of vehicles, along with a clean grid, would prevent 150,000 premature deaths from pollution and save consumers 2.7 trillion by 2050 so proactively planning for and building out infrastructure now and and equitable, equitable way that would be essential to avoiding future electrical vehicle deserts and ensuring that all community these have access to health benefits and cost savings. Um, that's what the clean vehicles will provide. So we at 350 Mass will hardly agree that a cost savings approach equity measures taken is the step forward out of what we will know will be a terrible catastrophe that the humans will face. Should we, you know, miss this chance to implement the solutions that other states and countries are now benefiting from. So we urge you to build 40 82 out favorably and IPCC Bill, um, 100% Clean act and others. And so that's my testimony for today. I thank you all,
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Campbell. Are there questions of Cabral and 350 mass?
[ROY:] Mr. Chair, I don't have a question, but I just had one comment. I want to thank Cabbell for the great testimony, but I also want to acknowledge the great work of this. The filers of the Bill Chair Decker and7346 Chair Garballey. I know that in deference to the many people who are testifying today, they're not going to give oral testimony. But I do want to recognize their engagement, advocacy and education on this bill. So thank you for that chair chair, Barrett. chair, Barrett. And thank you again, Cabral, for your testimony. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very, very much, representative. That's that's a very useful, uh, footnote to this. Thank you, Campbell. Much appreciated. We're7377 going7377 to hear from James McCaffrey, the Partnership for Policy Integrity we can hear from. Maybe Paula Garcia of the Union of Concerned Scientists is ready to testify. Yes, I'm here. How are you? I'm doing great. All7404 right.
[PAULA GARCIA (UCS):][HB3887] So7407 thank you so much. Chairman7409 Roy, Chairman Barrett and committee members. My name is Paula Garcia,7414 and I am a senior energy analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists a Nonprofit that puts rigorous independent science toward to solve our planet's most pressing problems. UCS is deeply7426 appreciated for your leadership in making a reality our recent climate law7432 with its valuable components for addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice. And, um, as with any new law, there is still much more work ahead of us as we focus on how to achieve the lost emission reduction targets for every sector in our economy. And there are bills under consideration by this community today that will be important for getting right to this. We want to express UCS's strong support, in particular for the 100% clean Act7466 H 3288 and S 2136 and our thanks to the sponsors Rep, Decker, Rep, Garballey and Senator Boncore.
Here is why UCS support these bills as a fitting successor and complement to the 2021 climate law. So first we need to clean up our electricity grid, Given the adverse climate and health consequences from burning fossil fuels like gas to generate electricity and the projected increases in electricity demand7500 due to electrification of heating and transportation, ensuring that 100% Of our electricity comes from clean energy sources by 2035 is a cornerstone to increase in heat trapping emissions and air pollution at the pace that we need. Second, the move to the move 200% clean electricity is not only doable but attractive by virtually every metric. Early next year, UCS will be releasing an analysis that shows that7532 an equitable transition 200% clean electricity by 2035 for Massachusetts not only is feasible from a technical perspective, but also will bring benefits in terms of public health, net job creation and electricity affordability, all things that matter for every resident in the7550 Commonwealth and their this this needs to be a clean energy transition and can be.
These bills include important provisions7560 to ensure that environmental justice, communities and fossil fuel dependent workers will benefit from this transition via consultation and participation in decision making workforce, the element initiatives and direct access to clean energy programs. An equitable transition to clean energy will ensure that no one is left behind with a clear signals that will help provide. We can continue to turn from the Child reclining Health and economic Crisis to the promise of an equitable, clean energy economy. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Mom, uh, do questions of Ms Garcia hearing none. We want to thank you very much and thank the union of concerned scientists for joining us today. We now have a panel, um, Melissa Bouchard and Jeremy McDermott from the Acadia Centre7619 and the Northeast Clean Energy Council representing the Aces Coalition, I believe indeed.
[JEREMY MCDIARMID (NECEC):][HB3288][SB2136] Good afternoon,7632 chair Barrett. Uh, and chair Roy and members of the committee. I am Jeremy McDiarmid, vice president for policy at the Northeast Clean Energy Council, and I'm delighted to be joined here by my colleague Melissa Birchard from Acadia Center. And today I'm wearing two hats to support House Bill 3288 its Senate companion, Senate Bill 2136. And, like Chair Roy mentioned, we're deeply appreciative of the leadership of Rep Decker and Rep Garballey for for leading the charge on this important piece of legislation. I'm wearing two hats both, you know, as the vice president for NECEC, but also as the co chair of the ACEs Coalition. Uh, as you know, the ACEs coalition is a coalition of coalitions that is comprised of business groups, environmental groups, consumer organizations, um, that represent a wide swath of interested Constituents who are driving to advance clean energy in the Commonwealth. And quite frankly, um, it's time for Massachusetts to join the other leading states in setting a clear and enforceable set of 100% clean energy targets.
Um, as has been mentioned by by Paula and others, 100% clean energy is a necessary companion7705 to the greenhouse gas reductions mandate set out in the in the climate road map bill7710 that this committee so expertly championed earlier this year, we need both the GHD standards and the 100% energy standards in order to create that unmistakable signal, Uh, to the industry and to to the Commonwealth that there will be a7728 vibrant set of clean energy markets over the long term. Massachusetts is not alone in pursuit of 100% clean energy. At least seven states, including Maine and New York, have laws on the books, and several others, including Connecticut and Rhode Island, are pursuing them. Uh, in this legislative session. And so while this bill is necessary to create the big picture of framework, it's not sufficient alone. It needs the companion greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and also the specific clean energy programs that this committee so expertly champions things like offshore wind procurement, smart for solar, the three year energy efficiency plans and other specific programs that help specific, specific segments of the market growth.
The clean energy is that the bottom line is that we need more carbon-free electricity across the Commonwealth. We need to incentivize and create pathways to 100% clean energy in the built environment and in the transportation segment. So we look forward to working with the committee on this, uh, and and want to make sure that this bill is harmonized with the road map bill passed earlier this year, Um, and that it works well with the existing framework around a clean energy standard that that's from by the Department of Environmental Protection. Again, thank you for the opportunity to testify here today. And now I'd like to turn over to my colleague Melissa.
[MELISSA BIRCHARD (ACADIA CENTER):][HB3288][SB2136] Thank you. Chair Barrett, Chair Roy and Honorable members of the Committee for the opportunity to speak. My name is Melissa Birchard, and I am senior regulatory attorney for Acadia center. Acadia Center is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization that advances bold, effective and equitable clean energy solutions. As Jeremy mentioned, we serve as co leads for the of the Alliance for Clean Energy or ACEs, and I speak on behalf of both Arcadia Center and ACEs in support of H 32887844 and S 2136. We believe it is necessary to set ambitious renewable energy targets that match the state strong net zero standard. By acting on these bills, the Legislature can7855 advance innovation, lower ratepayer costs, support local jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions7860 and, importantly, improve public health outcomes. Massachusetts set bold greenhouse gas targets in the Climate Act. Thanks to the leadership of this body7868 and to you chair Barrett, However, we have only scratched the surface of the work that needs to be done.
Buildings consume over 50% of energy used annually in Massachusetts and account for nearly a third of GHG emissions. 64% of emissions from buildings come from natural gas, and within a quarter of Homes accounts, a half, of residential emissions. Massachusetts has made strong strides with renewable electricity, but fossil fuels still dominate. Today in 2020, about two thirds of in State generation came from natural gas, so offshore wind procurement will7902 have a big impact. The state is still moving too slowly. Transportation accounts for nearly 40% of State GHG emissions, with electric vehicles7911 scarce on the road. These bills include measures to advance equity, including public hearings and environmental justice communities, and a just transition office to assist workers. These measures will help ensure all citizens can participate in the clean energy economy.
100% renewable goals are bold, but by no means unprecedented. Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey,7932 New York and Rhode Island already have either laws or executive orders that target 100% renewable energy. Massachusetts has been a Trailblazer leading on climate action, but by failing to act soon, it could risk losing its leading position without from targets. Massachusetts also risk losing the chance to be a hub for offshore wind and solar. Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Maryland are all racing to attract the offshore wind industry. Massachusetts cannot afford to be left behind. The increased adoption of clean energy solutions can also produce energy security during fossil fuel constraints. Period. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak in support of H 3288 S 2136. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Mhm. Thank you very much. Melissa, are there? Are there questions of the panel hearing? None. We want to thank both of you very much for testifying. Um, we thank you for your hard work. Both of your organizations. Ben Hellerstein, Environment. Massachusetts is up next.
[BEN HELLERSTEIN (ENVIROMENT MASSACHUSETTS):][HB3288][SB2136] Great. Well, thank you. So much to the chairs and members of the committee for the opportunity to offer our testimony today. My name is Ben Hellerstein and I'm the state director for Environment Massachusetts, the statewide environmental advocacy organization. Environment Massachusetts works to protect clean air, clean water and open spaces together with our thousands of citizen8022 members and supporters across the Commonwealth. And I'm here today to offer Environment Massachusetts' testimony in support of the8029 100% Clean Act. In March, thanks to the work of your committee, the Legislature passed the climate bill that included a number of important steps, such as setting energy efficiency standards for appliances, increasing the renewable portfolio standard and expanding our offshore wind procurements. The bill also set emissions goals and required the administration to come up with a plan to meet those goals. Goals and plans are good, but those goals and plans must lead to action.
And action is where the Baker administration is sometimes coming up short, dragging its feet on implementing the policies and programs that are needed to transition Massachusetts from fossil fuels to clean energy. So my core message today is this. We are supporting the 100%8071 clean act because this is an action bill. It's designed to help the Commonwealth meet and surpass the climate goals you said in March, ensuring a safer, healthier future for all of us 100%. Clean act commits Massachusetts to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035, clean heating and transportation by 2045. The bill is focused on these three sectors because they account for the vast majority of carbon emissions in Massachusetts, somewhere in the neighborhood of 85%. And because the technology is needed to power those sectors entirely with clean energy are on the market today or will be soon For each sector. The bill sets out specific policies to ensure these targets are met. For example, increasing the RPS, requiring new buildings to be built fossil-fuel free and requiring all new car sales after 2035 be electric vehicles. And while the bill includes strong mandates for renewable energy growth, it also provides some flexibility to incorporate nonpolluting sources of electricity that may not be classified as renewable under Massachusetts law.
As we've heard the bill, it's important language to ensure all communities, including environmental justice communities have a seat at the table and that workers in affected industries are included in the transition as well. So I encourage you to report favorably on the 100% Clean Act for three reasons. First of all, it is necessary and urgent. Every day we delay the transition to renewable energy is another day. We experience the health impacts of fossil fuels as well as the dangers of warming climate. Second, it is possible these goals are ambitious, but they are achievable. We've heard there are many other States that are moving in similar directions, and in fact, President Biden has declared a goal of 100% clean electricity nationally by 2035, so if we can do it nationally. We can surely do it in Massachusetts. And third, it is broadly supported by 88 of your colleagues in the House and Senate, as well as more than 60 environmental, civic and public health organizations. So to conclude a cleaner, healthier and safer future is within reach, this bill will help us get there. So please report favorably on the 100% clean act for clean electricity, heating and transportation. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Mr Hellerstein, are there? Questions8199 have been from the committee hearing None. We want to thank you very much for joining us today. Uh, Paul Dale from the Sierra Club. I know Paul's with us.
[PAUL DALE (SIERRA CLUB):][HB3288][SB2136] Yes, senator. Thank you very much. To to yourself and to chairman Roy. Um, like many on this call today, the Massachusetts Sierra Club supports a number of these bills, but I want to devote my attention and my time to the 100% Clean Act that Ben just spoke to. Um, it's really important. And I urge the T We to favorably report this bill out. The bill represents essential actions that are needed to achieve net zero by 2050. And it is the bold action type of bold action we need in the face of the climate crisis. I want to emphasize that constituents want this bill. They have wanted this level of action for a long time. Back in 2017, the Boston Globe poll showed that 100% renewable energy was chosen by a 10 to 1 margin. A WBUR poll found that 74% of voters would pay an extra8268 $10 per month on their electric bill if they thought they were making an impact on climate change.
Since then, the unprecedented tornadoes, floods, droughts, fires, hurricanes, warming oceans, youth angst and the human displacements due to climate change has significantly increased the demand for this action. Now this bill leads to a new, vibrant economy. We've heard that billions are being spent on offshore wind. This bill would cause billions more to be invested in a clean economy that's essential to a vibrant future for residents and businesses. This bill engages E J Communities in its implementation, ensures that EJ communities benefit and assist the workers that will be displaced as the transmission transition proceeds. And as Ben noted, we have the technologies and the ongoing innovation. We have large wind towers, low cost solar panels, cold weather, heat pumps and an ever expanding set of EV options. We have a stream of innovation such as form energy, which I8333 just learned about that's developing long duration batteries on iron air technology that's going to make renewable energy available even during multiple days of extreme weather, grid outages or periods of low renewable generation.8349
In shaping8350 the Cold War period, Churchill said. let no man underestimate our energies are our potentialities and our abiding power to do good. He could absolutely say that about the climate crisis today. Now fossil fuel companies answer to their shareholders, not to our voters. Well funded opposition is certain from the company's negatively affected vested interests will use every opportunity, delay the transition, offer false hopes for a future with fossil fuels and prevent the investments that we need. But this is not our way forward. Your actions today on this bill is part of your legacy. If passed, Massachusetts would be the first state in the nation to transition its entire grid to renewables. We can lead and must lead. But if you can't, if you have concerns, I call on you to be transparent and explain them so that there is an opportunity to address them and not let this bill die in the dark. And committee science and the ever worsening climate impacts make action now imperative. Thank you very much for your time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, Mr Dale. Are there questions of Paul from the committee hearing? None. Paul. Well, we'll go to your colleagues to Butler, Sierra Club Energy Committee member.
[SUE BUTLER (SIERRA CLUB):][SB2136][HB3288] Yes, Hello. It's Sue Butler here. I'm I serve on the committee, the Energy Committee of the Massachusetts Sierra Club with Paul Dale and I've served on many, many, um, Sierra Club committees. I also helped Ben Hellerstein and lots of other people. I speak very strongly in support of these bills. You got an amazing array of bills that need to be passed out of committee and implemented The 100% Renewable Energy S 2136 and H 3288. Must urgently be passed because we have been misinformed and we are behind in our accurate assessment of the climate catastrophe that's unfolding before us. So we must take immediate action on all fronts. Now, please pass the 100% clean energy bill now out of committee and into action. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Take my8508 Thank you. So thank you very much. Are there questions of Sue Butler Mhm hearing None. We want to thank you very much for joining us. Stephen Roundtree, Jr. Vote Solar. For the moment, we'll move on to Evan Dell'Olio, Chris Egan and Jonathan Perot of the Massachusetts Forest Alliance and Robertson Energy Renewables A panel. This is maybe we'll I'm sorry. Go on. This is Stephen. I am here if the next Panelist is not able to make it. But8555 well, thank you for joining us. And yes, Stephen. So you're with Vote Solar? Of course we hear from you now. Okay. Thank you.
[STEPHAN ROUNDTREE JR (VOTE SOLAR):][HB3288] So, first of all, thank you to the committee chairs and members of the committee as well as Bill sponsors for having us and for your work on furthering the Commonwealth Climate Goals. I'm Stephen8575 Roundtree the Northeast, director of Vote Solar nonprofit, working to create a socially just solar powered future. Vote Solar support several bills under consideration today, but wanted to8586 speak in particular 3288. Um, I want to speak to particularly two aspects of the bill decarbonization of the electric generation sector and on the equity and just transition provisions as well. Um, so 100% renewable power grid is a reasonable as others have mentioned a reasonable and cost effective goal from Massachusetts in pursuit of its necessary decarbonization goals. As stated before, some seven states have articulated 100% clean goals already either in statute or state policy. It's not a theoretical undertaking it can be done with today's technology and as both soldiers, Research continues to support transition and quickly to 100%. Clean energy saves all system users money over time and electric rates, not to mention providing sweeping benefits to health and local economies.
Um also note in support the provision that would require 50% of power generation in the Commonwealth to come from distributed resources. This acknowledges both the benefits of distributed resources like solar to home economics and local job creation, but also to the holistic, great efficiencies and scaling potential that flow from having significant electric generation where it's being used. I'm happy to share more in my written comments. It's also key to note that decarbonizing the electric grid is also a necessary condition of decarbonized both building and transport sectors. The clean electric grid is figuratively straw that stirs the clean economy drink, so we've got to make sure we get that right and lock in those outcomes. There are other sectors of the economy8672 that I think are tougher, tougher nuts and might necessitate alternative measures such as quantifiable carbon negative practices to contribute to an overall net zero state.
The Power Gen buildings and transport sectors don't have this problem per se. The solutions exist as Ben and others have noted, uh, getting less expensive all the time and offer new and creative ways to spur economic well being and liberate poor people and people of color. Um, So locking in 100% clean power sector buildings and transportation sector goal within the road map framework also allows for more precious certainty for stakeholders, you know, setting firm goals, uh, signals to clean energy businesses that they have assurances but willing partner in the Commonwealth. I'll just know that we know they might not. Vote Solar is also excited about the bill, and I'll wrap up because of the emphasis of places on achieving socially equitable outcomes. Establishing a dedicated Office of Energy equity would help evaluate and shape program designed to ensure programs like SMART serve, low income and minority communities fairly, that these communities are empowered procedurally to help with the transition.
Similarly, a just transition office would help ensure that we're keeping fossil energy workers employed and adding their skills to the fight for our climate. Legislative Excuse me. The legislature has done an admirable job in setting, uh, this legislation act proactively to solidify the goals, the road map bill and building the world we need. Thank you for your time and consideration. I will be supplying written comments as well.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank8760 you very much. Are there questions of Mr Roundtree? Thank you, sir. And thanks to vote Solar, it's I'll put out a call again to the panel that was to represent the Massachusetts Forest Alliance and Roberts Energy Renewables. Evan Dell'Olio. Yeah, I'll let I'll let Chris Go 1st. Actually, thank you.
[CHRIS EGAN (MASS FOREST ALLIANCE):][HB3288][HB3372] This is Chris Egan, executive director of the Massachusetts Forest Alliance and where a trade association that represents forest landowners, foresters, timber harvesters and forest products companies in Massachusetts. And we have some concerns about H 3288 and H 3372 and their companion Senate bills. Um, they focus on speeding the transition to renewable electricity and heating, but they contain language that removes modern wood heating and combined heat and power, or CHP from the RPS and APS. And this is a mistake. As the science is clear that modern wood heating and CHP8819 are beneficial in decarbonization. So many people are confused about what these systems are so clarification the CHP systems are steam heat systems in which the steam is run through a turbine before being used for heat. So it also generates a little bit of power. So they're essentially heating systems that make 100% of the facilities heat and have a bonus of maybe 10 to 15% of the power. And there's two of those in Massachusetts at a hospital and a paper company.
As for the modern wood heating systems, these are not wood stoves. We're talking about their furnace replacements that go in your basement. They're automatically fed and that run on wood pellets or dried wood chips. There's widespread misunderstanding about the carbon impact of wood because opponents deliberately conflate studies of low efficiency, utility scale biomass power with high efficiency, modern wood heating and CHP. Um, and if you doubt me on this, you can review the state's own research and the management study, which came down heavily in favor and the follow on peer reviewed research that amplified it further. Or perhaps most simply, you could just look at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is Go Clean website at go clean dot mass CDC dot com. You click on benefits and Savings scroll down to see the carbon impact of hitting a 2000 square foot home with various fuels, and you might be surprised to see what the science actually says.
The other attack on these systems is air pollution. Lately, people have been deceptively using the national Emissions inventory, which is a guesstimate based on census data, and it includes hundreds of thousands of fireplaces and wood stoves in Massachusetts. And they've been using that to attack the tiny number of modern wood heating systems, which are massively cleaner, emitting more than 99% less particular matter per unit of heat generated than older wood stove. These would systems require no grid upgrades to install their ongoing fuel. Costs are very low, and since the fuel is produced locally, it provides a beneficial effect to the local economy,8931 particularly in struggling rural towns in Massachusetts. So in the climate emergency, particularly if we want to speed the transition to renewable energy, we must have an all of the above approach and not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. So we urge the committee to amend these bills to remove the anti wood language as the science simply doesn't support it, and I'll turn8950 things over to Evan.
[EVAN DELL'OLIO (MASS FOREST ALLIANCE)][HB3372][HB3288][SB2170][SB2136][HB4081] Thank you, Chris8955 Evan Dell'Olio involved with the Mass Forest Alliance to the policy committee and board of directors. I'm also vice president with Roberts Energy Renewables Clean Energy Company, based in western Massachusetts. And I have similar sentiments with on bills that Chris just mentioned. House Bill 3372 along with its companion seven Excuse me, Senate Bill 2170 as well as House Bill 3288 and Senate Bill 2136. I think in some of the earlier conversation today pertaining to other bills about essentially creating a statewide framework that mirrors the goals of the IPCC, it's important to recognize, I think, what the IPCC says as well on clean energy being a diverse sector that also does incorporate some of the areas of organics to energy in environmentally responsible manners. So, yes, as Chris said, this does include modern wood, combined heat and power as part of the RPS and also modern wood heating as part of the APS. And9011 it also touches on some other organics to energy pieces such as anaerobic digestion.
I think it's important to understand that these systems can have an important role in helping us to mitigate our climate goals, especially, especially, were using waste. Wood otherwise would be sent out of state to be landfills as being purposed um from manufacturing facilities from tree clearing on rights away and being able to essentially provide a carbon neutral system that assists businesses and homeowners in being able to heat their own homes efficiently. I do not agree that we should redefine what renewable energy is at this point. I think we have a system that works a system that has environmental safeguards for air emissions, particularly particulates, and I think we need to continue on the path that we're on. I think that we need a very strong and broad approach to this issue because being able to meet net zero by 2030, that requires a great deal of focus. um, personally, on behalf of RER, I also wanted to say that in regards to House Bill 4081 the renewable fuel, um, review, I think that there's a role to look at R and G and hydrogen again.
This is not an MFA position, but a business position that we have. Um, I really would like to allow this committee to study9086 this. Um, I think that organic materials again, whether it be wood waste or food waste, can have a role in that area. And I think it's a very important thing to study and is certainly in line with the road map studies that were released last December. So I thank you for your time members of the committee and I will go ahead and cede my time to Jon Barrett.
[JONATHAN PARROTT:] Yeah. Good afternoon. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Chairman's and thank you to the committee members. My name is Jonathan Parrott. I am a farmer a Father and I live in Western Massachusetts. So forgive me for the9120 science lesson here. I'm a bit of a wood nerd, and I think it's important to recognize that wood is stored solar power. And if you think back to your high school photosynthesis lab, a photon impacts a leaf, which is just9134 a little solar panel a natural one. And in doing so, it provides the tree the energy to pop off those two oxygen molecules and leave the C behind. That is what a tree is made of. A tree is made out of a string of Cs, and9149 it is the sunlight that allows that to happen. However, because it's biological, all things biological. You, me, the trees we all will emit carbon eventually we're part of the biogenic carbon cycle, so that tree that that string of carbon will be broken down through decomposition, whether it's biological or thermal, it's an oxidative reaction where the Os are reintroduced and the9173 covalent bonds are broken. Releasing energy. Why I'm saying this is if you have two piles of wood chips, one is allowed to rot and one is allowed to burn. You will have exactly the same carbon emissions9185 because it's the same Cs.
However, many people may not realize you will also have the same energy release. Its just a matter of time. The Delta T is different, so That is why the EPA and the EU reflect wood energy as carbon neutral. It's equally important to recognize that within the Commonwealth we produced between one and 3.7 million tons of wood chips from the urban environment. That's important because all of that carbon is released anyway. Those are trees growing too close to our power lines too close to our roads or providing, providing a danger to a swing set. Those trees are all cut and they release all their carbon and squander their heat 100% of the wood within the APS comes from that source, so it is genuinely carbon neutral. It's ready. Wood if you will, it's already been cut wood. And so why at this time are we picking favorites? Why at this time are we challenging the APS and the RPS and redefining things?
Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Let's get this out of committee And let's get something good for the Commonwealth. I ask the committee to please reconsider this particular element. It's with a heavy heart that I come in in opposition to the 100% Clean Act, because I think we really do need to do something. But I think it's punitive. And I think it's misunderstanding of the wood energy marketplace. Thank you so much. I appreciate your time.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, sir. are9277 there questions of our panel?
[BARRET:] Okay, I have one. As I listened to Chris Egan, the first Panelist, I thought I heard him draw a distinction between, let's say, the Palmer Renewable Energy Facility that became so controversial in Springfield9296 that would have burned about 1200 tons of wood a Day, uh, to generate electricity. I thought Chris was drawing a distinction between that and the use of a wood burning stove in an individual home are the other two members of9315 our panel agreed that that is a distinction that this9319 committee might engage with, Barring one but conceivably retaining, uh, the individual wood burning stove. Or do you disagree with Mr Egan?
[PARROTT:] I can speak in on this. I think that the changes to the RPS, as crafted by the DOER, where I used to work, have made it impossible for a proposed system like the Palmer renewable with good sense. I don't think that facility should have been built, and now within the RPS, it can't be. It cannot earn those wrecks, and therefore it's financially infeasible to construct. However, the RPS does allow for sensible electrical production like the Cooley Dickinson Hospital in North Hampton. They've been burning two tractor trailer loads of9367 wood chips every day since 1983. It's a hospital. My daughter was born there. That's important to recognize because we're done. Well, I think we should include it. Let's remember that tossing eligibility out of the APS and RPS doesn't make would illegal. It just means that the incentives aren't there. And so it drives, drives consumers because wood is very cheap. It drives the consumption.
[BARRET:] Jonathan, my question was, you seem to be agreeing then that it would be okay for this committee to codify the distinction. You just draw. Because, of course, if you supported in regulation, by definition, you would also support the drawing of the distinction in statute.
[PARROTT:] So I believe that wood has a place within the RPS and the APS. And I take umbrage9418 with the notion within these bills that it should be struck. So I support the regulations as written, and I don't believe that this is an appropriate mechanism to evict this reasonable wood energy from the regulations that are currently on.9434
[BARRET:] Well, I'll close. I would just say I'm just asking you whether you would support this9440 committee codifying in statute what the Baker Administration has written in regulation.
[PARROTT:] Mhm. I believe that is a reasonable action to embrace9457 the APS and the RPS within statute, thereby allowing the current protections in statute that will firm it as it were first.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
All right, Thank you very much, Mr.
[DELL'OLIO:] Thank you, Senator. I just wanted to say to Chris' point I do9477 agree that there is the possible, uh, there could be a good role for codifying um, the banning of utility scale where it's appropriate. Um, you know, obviously the current regulations do not allow for utility scale because there are no facilities where you can build the utility scale biomass plant and essentially use enough heat to be 60% efficient. That's just impossible. We don't have those large scale industrial facilities here. Um, so it's technically impossible. But it seems to me that there has been an issue in the public square of being able to explain that to people that there's still Doubters out there in the public that say, Well, maybe there is a way we'll the rules of thermodynamics, Um, the rules of science just just don't allow for it. But if there could be an agreement where potentially it could be codified and that could satisfy all parties and CHP is still protected. I'm open to looking at that. Thank you, sir.9533
[PARROTT:] Defining the scale is critical. What is utility scale? Is that hospital utility scale? I would say no. But is the Palmer renewable proposal? Yes. Absolutely.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Thank you for helping us think about these issues. We appreciate it very much. Are there additional questions of the panel hearing? None. Will. Will call upon Mr Charlie Carey if he is here. Yes,9561 I am here. Um, thank you very much, Carey. Follow up a lot. On what?
[CHARLIE CARY:][HB3372][HB3288] It was just said that I I too feel very badly about testifying against both H 3372, and 3288. But I really think that both bills don't recognize the inevitable generation of wood9584 residue or the need to find a beneficial use for the inevitable. A short term carbon emission from this residue since wood releases the same amount of carbon when it's burned. as when it's bio degrades. Um, before we remove the subsidies, life support subsidies for the heating and9606 wood heating industry. I beg you to consider what is the highest and best use for the millions of tons of wood residue produced annually. For 20 years. I ran a company that made wood burning furnaces and boilers for wood wood residue producing forest products industries across the country With my perspective that burning wood, um, keeps carbon fossil fuel. Carbon in the ground makes use of wood carbon, which is destined to return to the atmosphere quickly increases of business competitiveness by reducing heating costs and keeps dollars in local communities.
These forest products industry that I sold to are not the only ones producing clean wood residue. Municipalities, utilities and private industries all generate wood residue, and we'll continue to do so into the future. In most cases, what residue currently carries a negative financial value in the marketplace. So if wood residue is looked at objectively, it is currently a drain on our local economy and produces carbon mission without any public benefit. Today I ask those who favor this action. What is the alternative strategy for disposing of wood residue, which will produce as9690 much public benefit as heat, particularly at the local level. I find it nothing short of amazing how little focus has gone into this question of highest and best use. of the huge quantity of wood residue produced annually at the local level. Somehow, this ubiquitous resource is missing from the reduced recycle reuse discussion. Do any of you know how much of your electricity bill or municipal tax bill is going to removing wood residue to ensure our safety and dependable electric power? There is no question that wood burning has a polluting history.
Air quality permitting9732 was easy in 1985, when I started selling wood boilers and furnaces. Over the years, I've watched the emission regulations get harder and harder to meet without any public awareness of of these improvements. Oh, required. Oh, good public, really my waiting costs and benefits. And I just think at this point we haven't really looked at modern wood heating and the reductions in particular it's that have come with that. And I would hope that that would be looked at before we throw the baby out with the bathwater by reducing public subsidies. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Mr Carey, Are there questions of our witness hearing? None. I want to Thank you, sir, for appearing Michael. Thank you. Michael Rollins, Associate professor, Department of Geosciences, An associate director Climate System Research Center, U Mass Amherst.
[MICHAEL RAWLINS (U MASS AMHERST):][HB3288] Um, yes, thank you. Chair Barrett, Chair Roy, the committee and the presenters for the opportunity to speak in support of the 100% Clean Act Impacts of9806 climate change, once a distant threat are now are frequent occurrence globally. Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since 2005 and the five warmest years on record have all occurred since 2015 strikingly daily low temperatures for the summer fall period this year, our warmest ever recorded across Massachusetts and the entire Northeast9830 US. In Massachusetts, last year was the second warmest year on record, and four of the five warmest years have occurred in just the last 12. We're seeing increases in extreme heat. Events as well our warmer. Climate is causing more precipitation approximately 17% more each year across the Commonwealth. Compared to the early 1900s, The northeast us has experienced a 70% increase in annual days with extreme precipitation more than any other region of the country.
This has made our region more prone to flooding. Recent impacts include flooding of farm fields, basements and septic system failures. Tropical systems are known to impact our region. Ocean waters around the world have warmed by 1-3°F over the past century, including in regions where hurricanes develop, such as the Western Atlantic. The warming is causing hurricanes to intensify more quickly. Warming and losses of land ice are causing sea levels to rise along our coasts, posing threats to life and property. Additional warming warming is expected In the next 50 to 60 years, when global warming crosses 2°C threshold. Massachusetts average summer and winter temperatures are projected to increase by over 6°F. Relative to pre industrial levels, it is projected to be the fastest warming rate of any region of the U. S. Yeah. The United States is second leading emitter of CO2 emissions. Despite making up just 4% of the world's population. Our nature produce our nation produces 13 of all global CO2 Emissions.
Wind and solar power have become dramatically cheaper when the US government subsidies are included. The cost of building new onshore wind and utility scale. Solar is competitive with the marginal cost of coal and nuclear generation. I strongly support the bill. Thank you for allowing me to speak in support of it.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much, Professor. And thank you for your good work. Are there questions of Professor Rollins hearing? None. We will, uh, here from Adrian Allen of Climate Code Blue.
[ADRIENNE ALLEN (CLIMATE CODE BLUE):][HB3288] Uh, good afternoon, everyone. And thank you for having9980 me speak. My name is Dr Adrienne Allen, and I'm a member of Climate Code Blue, um, which is a group of physician, uh, and members who serve in internal medicine, psychiatry, infectious disease, pediatrics, air pollution and emergency medicine. I'm also the medical director of quality Safety and10001 Sustainability at Mass. General Brigham Salem, where I serve as a primary care10006 doctor in Lynn. And I should disclose that I am10008 on the Belmont Board10009 of Health, but10010 I'm speaking today for Climate10012 Code Blue as a physician and representing this group of physicians, we see10017 first hand10018 the severe mental10019 and physical harms10021 of fossil10022 fuels in no10024 uncertain terms. The burning of fossil fuels is killing people today and making our patients10032 sick today. Climate change is10033 only going to make10035 this worse. As the air heats, it holds more particulate matter, and our patients become sicker.
This summer, when the air came from the wildfires, I10045 had patients10046 with lung disease in Lynn10048 unable to breathe. Coming in for asthma treatments. There is a proposal for a power plant currently in10054 Peabody that serves to increase emissions that will harm our community.10057 So I'm here to10058 speak in10061 support of this bill. UM, Rapid transition off of fossil fuels to the use10066 of 100% renewable energy10068 is needed to avoid both the worst effects of climate change and to improve the health status10074 of the Commonwealth. We have suffered much10077 under COVID and right now our hospitals10080 are overburdened with COVID10081 patients and delayed care10083 from two years of illness.10087 Any additional illness from10088 pollution, well tax and already strained system. And a lot has been said about the burning of wood, and I just want to take10094 a moment that the burning of10096 any particulate matter the10097 burning of wood or fossil fuels harms10100 people.
If you go to the American Lung Association, they have much data about10106 the ill effects of particulate pollution10108 and ozone, which occur with the burning of fossil fuels and even short term exposures. Particulate matter has been associated with10118 infant mortality, death from heart10120 attack and stroke, and worse10122 outcomes from cardiovascular disease10123 and premature death for our seniors. So10127 today I10128 implore you all to move this bill out of committee10132 and to accept it unchanged because the health10134 of our commonwealth10135 depends on10136 it. Thank you so much.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Mhm. Thank you very much, Dr Alan. Are there10146 questions10146 of Dr Alan hearing? None. We want to thank you very much for joining with us today. And good luck in your continuing work. Uh, Kelly Sullivan, Tufts University School of Medicine.
[CALI SULLIVAN (MS4SF):][HB3288] Hi. Yes, I'm Cali. Sullivan. I'm a second year10162 medical student at10163 Tufts University School10164 of Medicine, Um, and10165 a member of the National Medical Students for a Sustainable10169 Future Organization, which is a coalition of over 500 medical students across the country. Concerned about climate change and its health impacts.10177 I'm here testifying for the 100% Clean Act around the world. Health professionals have10184 increasingly treated patients within climate related context, from infectious disease10189 and extreme heat to wildfires. and extreme weather.10192 A rapid transition off of fossil10194 fuels is to the use of 100%. Renewable energy10197 is needed to avoid the worst health outcomes of climate change and to reduce levels10202 of their air pollution. I'm here advocating for 100% clean act because the transition10207 is both necessary and feasible, and moving away from fossil fuels will have10211 a great impact for patients. As a medical student and10214 future health professional, I'm concerned for the health of my future patients and the disproportionate health impacts that climate change has on our most vulnerable patients and communities.
Effects of10224 climate change are already harming the health of10227 residents, um, of the Commonwealth and um, this is from heat. As I mentioned earlier, pollution was also mentioned. Um,10238 New England10239 is the fastest warming region, and Massachusetts, many coastal communities are especially10244 at risk of rising water. As a medical student, I'm concerned about the health impacts that medical professionals are seeing10251 already and that they will continue to see um as patients come with heat related illnesses, increased cardiovascular disease exacerbated respiratory10262 disease, allergies, vector borne infectious disease and the list goes10266 on. I'm concerned about the10267 health and justice is10268 that will continue to occur again. Um, as stated10273 earlier these health harms disproportionately10275 affect low income communities and communities10277 of color. And the move to clean energy is an important10280 issue to medical students across the country and10283 especially in Massachusetts, as we10284 expect the health burden of climate10286 change to be increasingly evident in the patients we care for. Um, so that's I urge you to support 100%10293 Clean10293 Act, and I thank10294 you for allowing me to testify here.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much for testifying. Are there questions of Miss Sullivan? Dr Sullivan? Well,10305 you will be soon. Uh, thank you very much for joining us. Francis Pollara of Renew Northeast.
[FRANCIS PULLARO (RENEW NORTHEAST):][HB3288][SB2136]10315 Good Afternoon, Chairman Barrett, Chairman Roy and members of the10319 committee. My name is Francis Pullaro I'm the executive10322 director of Renew Northeast. My association10326 unites environmental advocates and developers and operators of the region's10330 largest clean energy projects. We have the common goal of increasing10336 environmentally sustainable generation in10338 New England. I appear today to offer my support for the provisions10343 on renewable energy and the decarbonization proposals10346 that are presented by10348 Companion10349 Bills House10350 3288 and Senate, 2136. But first, I'd10353 like to10354 express my appreciation to this committee10356 and the entire General Court and Governor Baker for their bipartisan leadership earlier this year on the climate bill and over the last few years, prior to that10366 as well. And My group is particularly enthusiastic about the approval of the $90 million dollars and recovery funds that are going to be invested10375 in the port development to10377 help offshore wind. So thank10378 you for that.
But to ensure that I know Senator Barrett, you10384 are focusing a lot of your questions today on cost and particularly low in consumer. So I really want to focus my testimony on how adding renewable energy10397 to get10398 us a decarbonization economy can do so. We can do so with the least cost. Um, and here we'd really like to see the decarbonization bills augment support for least cost clean energy technologies, which today are large10414 size solar wind, both10416 land based and offshore and energy10419 storage, along with our existing small10422 hydropower in the10424 region. However, a lot of the procurement laws that we have in Massachusetts exclude large solar energy storage and land based wind from10433 consideration for10434 the contract. So we're10435 really leaving a lot of low cost renewables on the table. And also, as I mentioned, um, we have to look10442 out for10443 New England's first renewable energy resource,10445 and that's our small hydro. And10447 make sure it doesn't succumb10449 to the economic pressures that these aging10452 assets,10452 but non10453 emitting assets are providing.10457
Um, and as the economy sees increasing electrification of all these sectors heating, industry, transportation, keeping costs low is going to be important.10467 And I think Senator Barrett,10469 you are asking earlier today10471 about low income. I think it's when you have a disproportionate10475 amount of low10477 income spending,10478 uh, their income10479 on energy. We have10480 to keep rates low, and so10481 we have to use the lowest cost renewables as much as possible. And finally, I just want to mention that you've all I'm sure been10490 following what's been going on in Washington. There are a lot of additional10494 federal dollars10495 coming for energy, not just through the recovery10498 act, but particularly for transmission and any any10501 bills really10502 allow Massachusetts to work with the region10505 to capitalize on that. So10506 I thank you for your time today. for your time today.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, Mr Pollara. Are there questions of our witness hearing? None. We want to thank you. And thank you very much for being10518 a10518 part of this hearing today. Rob Moore, executive director of the Ocean River Institute. Hello. Thank10530 you. Thank you for the Rob. How are you? Hey,10533 good to see you.10534 Thank you for all of10535 this.
[ROB MOIR (OCEAN RIVER INSTITUTE):][SB1236][HB3288] Uh, thank you for the opportunity to10539 submit comments in favor of10542 S 2136 and H 3288, an10545 act transitioning Massachusetts to clean energy, heating and transportation. I'm10550 Rob Moir. I have10551 a PhD in environmental studies, and I serve as executive director10555 of the Ocean River Institute. The clean energy bill Is a transition to 100% clean energy for electricity by 2035 and 100% clean10567 energy For the building10568 sector and transportation sector by 2045. And this should10572 be an easy reach standard from Massachusetts utilities to move away10577 from fossil fuels for generating electricity from because 20% of 203510585 can still be the burning of natural gas. So this is a pretty low bar. We're going for here. It will be more challenging to give 100% clean energy for the building and transportation sectors, and it's only possible when there10598 are many departments and agencies dealing with buildings and transportation to come10604 together in the council of a clean energy transition. So this, to me, is the best part about this bill10611 is councils such as this. They mandate that the middle managers, uh, meet with their counter administrators and the other departments to come up with recommendations.
And so these10624 committees, perhaps ad hoc10626 committees within the council,10627 are10628 rewarding for the participants and make going to work more interesting10631 because you're learning10632 about how other people10634 are solving these situations and that can10636 be and often results in more10639 robust solutions. For example, the partnership governance of the10642 Boston Harbor Islands State and National Park, they took a while to learn how to work together, and now10649 and quickly they excelled10651 at reaching unanimous consensus10652 on the general management plan,10655 so creating the council is like10658 building a racetrack. If you build it well and once it's built, you10662 don't know how quickly the10663 racehorses are going to reach the finish line but run. They will. So don't bet on the10668 horses go with a well built racetrack for good returns. There are so many positive spin offs when getting to net zero carbon emissions as my neighbors in10679 Union Square, I live in Somerville and my neighbors in Union Square can attest, You know what10684 kind of new industries are popping up10688 this weekend there.
So I'm confident that once10691 the Council for clean Energy10693 transportation is engaged in their work That Massachusetts will be cleaner than10699 80% renewable electricity generation by 2035. So please report this bill out10705 favorably for10706 cleaner, less carbon polluted10708 Massachusetts. Thank you for your time and consideration. for your time and consideration. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, Rob. Are10712 there questions of10714 Gregoire hearing? None. We do. Thank you very10718 much for joining us today. And for all your good work, I get all10721 your stuff. So I know you're out there.10723 Mr. Chairman, um, I regret to10727 inform you I10728 have to leave at this point, but Representative Owens will stand10732 in for me if if necessary. And thank you for your continued persistence10737 and diligence and conducting a great hearing. Appreciate it. Thank you. Mr10742 Chairman will miss you have a good rest of your10745 day.10745 We're going to hear from10749 Greg's fury and, uh, and I apologize to Greg If I've got that last10755 name wrong. No, you have10756 it.
[GREGG FURIE (HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL):][HB3288][SB2136] Good afternoon, Chair Barrett and10761 members of the committee.10762 What a great last name. I appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony of the private citizen in support10769 of 100% Clean10770 Act H 3288 S 2136 I'm10773 Dr Greg Fury I'm the medical director for climate and Sustainability at Brigham Women's Hospital. Instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical10780 School, a primary care physician and an extremely concerned parents of two young Children facing a frightening future10786 on our rapidly warming planet. Over a decade, my work has focused10790 on understanding the10791 relationship between human health, energy, transportation and10794 climate change connections that regulatory manifest themselves in my day to day practice, caring for patients. But that perspective I want to emphasize10802 that legislation10803 like the 100% Clean Act is critical10805 to protecting the health of populations globally and right here in Massachusetts. fossil fuel combustion is responsible for two of the most significant preventable threats to public health air pollution and global climate change, both of which disproportionately affect low income communities, communities of color and other vulnerable populations.
Air pollution causes10825 over 100,000 deaths annually in the10827 U.S. and countless more exacerbation of respiratory disease, heart attacks, adverse pregnancy outcomes and10832 other negative health effects. There is no acceptably10835 safe level of air pollution.10837 Mortality has increased even10838 at particular matter concentrations below current national limits. Climate change, also due primarily to the fossil fuel combustion,10846 is the greatest public10847 health threat of our time, which is saying a lot in the10850 face of the pandemic that has killed millions, climate change is amplifying the frequency and severity of death and disease through hotter temperatures,10858 extreme weather events, wildfire,10860 spread of insects that transmit infectious diseases, effects on food supplies and nutrition, and damage to health care facilities and disruptions to their supply chains.
Well, we increasingly hear10871 about these events threatening10872 the health of populations in other parts of10874 the world. I can tell you that10875 the health effects of10876 climate10876 change are being felt10877 right here in Massachusetts I10879 care for in multiple climate refugees, including one who left10882 Puerto Rico who, when10883 prolonged power outages10884 after Hurricane Maria prevented him from receiving dialysis. This past March, I made my earliest diagnosis of Lyme disease, which has a longer active season due10892 to rising temperatures. My patients with allergies report symptoms earlier in10896 the10896 spring and later in the fall.10898 My elderly patients, fearful of the risk of extreme heat, are wisely but unfortunately, avoiding going10902 out on hot days that10903 are only increasing10905 in frequency. And I can't help but wonder how many of the10908 asthma10908 exacerbations I treat could be avoided if we collectively agreed that it's unacceptable and irrational to continue causing death and10915 disease by burning fossil fuels. When ample supplies10918 of clean10920 energy exists in health care,10921 we often say that prevention10922 is the best medicine.10924 Preventing death and disease from air pollution and climate change requires a policy solution, not a medical intervention.
The10930 members of this committee, by10932 advancing 100% Clean Act, can potentially save more10935 lives than I ever will. Now10937 is the time for ambitious energy policy that10940 protects health globally and locally. Thank you for your time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Dr Furey. Thank you10945 either. Questions mhm of our witness. Thank you very10949 much, sir. we now have10952 a panel consisting of our climate and mass youth climate Coalition. I I am I think we've10959 actually heard, uh, earlier from from the same organization, but, uh, I could10967 be wrong. In any event, we have a panel here. And so we would10972 love to. To hear from10974 Anna Loszek. They should Charles Schwab, Hogan ji and Howard to buy mhm.
[ANNA VLOSSAK (NATICK10984 HIGH SCHOOL):][HB3288]10985 Hello, I'm Anna Vlossak. I'm 14 years old and live in Natick Massachusetts. And I'm a 9 grader10990 at Natick High school. I'm a part10992 of four climate justice10993 groups, including our climate, this type of10996 site. This type of advocacy is very important to me because we, as youth are, the10999 people who will face the11000 effects of the climate crisis the most and are11005 the and youth voices are the11008 most important.11009 I'm testifying in favor of one bill that has11013 prioritized11014 by the11015 Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition. The 100% Clean Act. This bill is very important, is a very important step to the Massachusetts citizens11021 in11021 better safety and health11023 over the next decade11024 and help Massachusetts to be11025 a leader in America11026 when it comes to being energy efficient and creating climate conscious jobs. We also know how11031 important time is when it comes11033 to the climate crisis. This world needs us to set11037 an example with ambitious deadlines. Another reason I support this bill is it be it's because you can't. It's because11043 it keeps11044 in mind people who11045 are most affected by the climate crisis here in Massachusetts, such as low income households, minorities and people who are not11053 proficient English and more.
Not everyone is being affected the same by the climate crisis, and we11058 should allocate our resources11059 to the ones who are most affected11061 by11061 climate change and11063 who are paid the least attention as a person with family members who work with fossil fuels and electricity in Massachusetts. this bills important11070 to me11071 because it provides the necessary job transition for11074 people who come from working with fossil fuels to create clean energy by providing them the necessary training that is needed to transition them from their jobs. Now to clean energy and jobs that will Make this11087 goal11088 of 100% clean-energy clean electricity by 2035 happen, we can11091 create jobs and give workers the11093 necessary means to actually11094 do these jobs and reach the goal. I'm brand new to advocacy, but11098 even11098 I have heard that the state of Massachusetts has always been a leader in energy efficiency with this climate emergency and the state its currently and we need to continue in this title of being a11110 leader in clean energy because11111 we need leaders more than ever. Right now, please pass this bill to make sure that the people of Massachusetts, including my generation, have a stable planet and energy efficiency11121 and energy efficient jobs. Thank you for your time.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Thank you for yours. Why11126 don't we hear from11127 your next colleague?
[DAYSIA CHARLES:][HB3288]11132 Uh Um Hello, T. We11135 committee members. My name is Daysia. Charles and I am 18 year old years old. Currently in the11139 midst11139 of my first11141 year.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Yeah. Oops. We lost your data. Your your screen froze. Why don't we return to11157 text her and11158 a letter? No, to come on at the end of the panel again, if you want to move on. Senator Barrett. Yeah, that's11164 a good strategy. Why11165 don't we hear from, uh, Mr Ganji?
[SWAPNIL GANDHI (YOUTH CLIMATE COALITION):][HB3288][SB2136] Yeah. Hello. Hi, everyone. My name's Swapnil11174 Gandhi and I'm a 16 year old11176 high school student who, alongside11177 of our climate in the Massachusetts youth climate coalition, wants to speak to you all11182 in support of 100% Clean Act. Um, put simply this bill increases the pace for Massachusetts to become a clean energy state and pledges a clean Massachusetts by 2045. At the same time, this bill promises11194 to aid the environmental justice11195 communities that are being affected greatest by11199 energy related concerns. And there11200 are many other such provisions in the bill, such as offering11204 youth environmental organizations and environmental justice organizations all representation. It supports a just transition for11210 workers and allows the public to be privy to how this change is progressing11214 over time. Yeah, this will11215 take some very bold actions, and I ask that you see it as a step in the right direction, and11221 however I find myself asking why we can't do more, as I'm sure you're all aware there are other11226 bills that contribute even more to this effort, accelerate the change to11230 clean energy even faster, and that align with the science and the overall reality of the climate situation. Even better.
The IPCC 2030 bill pledges a clean energy by 2030. And of course11240 it does.11241 It was written by Sunrise11242 Boston, one of the11243 members of the Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition. Should I be supporting that11248 bill? Yes. The clean 100% Clean11250 Act is an amazing11251 progressive bill that will11252 improve many11253 lives.11253 But for me, it's a compromise. It's a compromise between my values. What the science tells11258 us is necessary and what is likely to pass through committee. As a young person,11262 I didn't think I needed to make a compromise on my future and11266 the future of my generation. But here I am11268 asking this committee to11270 at least past the 100% Clean Act because it's a compromise I'm willing to accept. I'd rather11275 take a step in the right direction than no step at all. Thank you all for your time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
11280 Thank11280 you, sir. We'll hear again from data. Charles, if if she can11286 join us there. Yeah. Sorry11288 about that. Had11289 to switch over an internet connection.
[CHARLES] Um, But yeah, as11294 I was saying, for the last two11296 years, I've worked with Reap in our climate and over this past summer, I've worked11300 with the U.S. Department11301 of11301 Energy's Justice40 team. If11303 there's anything that11304 this experience in my lived experience as a Bostonian has11307 taught me it is that none of our climate11309 issues will be remedied without holding corporate polluters accountable and gaining the invaluable voice of environmental justice communities.11316 Therefore, I11318 am speaking from the perspective of youth11320 growing up in E.J11321 communities. When I voice my support for the 100% Clean Act in11325 the Green Future Act, it11326 is no secret that corporations disproportionately Pollute underserved neighborhoods, making EJ11332 communities at higher risk of the negative effects. This means11336 that people in my11337 neighborhood at are at higher risk for respiratory11339 illnesses myself,11340 having lived in Roxbury and Dorchester with asthma included.
11344 In September, I11347 started my first year11348 at Dartmouth College to study environmental engineering, which was my11352 first time living away from a large city and away from an EJ community in the town of Hanover, New Hampshire,11358 right on the border of Vermont. The first thought that11361 came to me was the cool air crisp compared to Boston's, along11364 with the amount of solar11366 panel11366 used on on houses. This difference and the11370 meaning behind it is why we must11372 pass the 100% Clean11373 Act and Green Future Act, while11375 the Green Future Act will11377 serve as a necessary11378 measure to present to prevent corporate11380 pollution and roll helped fund projects that remedy the negative effects of corporations. The 100% Clean Act11387 will support the facilitation of11389 these projects, ensuring11390 that our communities will get11392 the sustainable energy needed11393 out of11394 this funding. We will be11396 able to retrofit homes,11397 create green buildings and fund clean energy sources11400 that support our present health and future sustainability.
But11403 more than this, we will also guarantee necessary representation for environmental justice and advocacy11410 groups across Massachusetts.11411 Reversing the damaging, multigenerational relationships between underserved communities and corporate11417 polluters. Thank you for your time.11420 SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much, Mr Charles. We're going11425 to hear from Hama11426 Amadou to body and I apologize if I11430 have must the pronunciation of your11432 name. It's cool.
[HAWA HAMIDOUTABAYI:][HB3292][HB3288][H3372] My name is Hawa HamidouTabayi and I'm 17 years11437 old. I'm calling in from non11439 Coughlin. Better known to you a Salem, Massachusetts, in the point neighborhood in support of H 3292 the11444 Green Future Act11445 H 3288 100% Clean11446 Act in H11447 3372 IPCC. 2030. I have spent all of high school advocating for11451 climate, justice, sacrificing attendance, grades and opportunities for this11454 fight. These are11455 not easy sacrifices11457 to make, especially as a black, low income person. But11460 today my voice rings on behalf11462 of those communities who raised me.11464 Where I come from is why I'm here today. I was raised in very places across the world,11469 the bodies11470 of France, the homeless shelters of Massachusetts11472 and eventually landed in the point neighborhood of Salem. Today I've lived11476 in places that have lacked the appropriate resources where I11479 could regularly breathe with limited access to the food, housing and other needs that I required to survive. This reality is shared with many low income students of color in the United States.11489 My safety is threatened at all times, threatened due to my lack of proximity to wealth and whiteness that steered the legislation of11495 the11495 past legislation that intentionally kept black and low income people's interest astray.11499
These bills embodied the much11501 overdue justice we are owed as policy team lead for the Massachusetts Youth for Climate Justice and for the Massachusetts The of Climate Coalition, along with leading the justice equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Inclusion, education At our climate, I have seen how grassroots organizations convened for collective liberation,11518 mobilizing and advocating in ways only the power11521 of the people can create. In the last year,11525 I lead the Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition Policy Team, youth from different races, class and gender identities representing different youth led groups11532 to sift and condense conversation by conversation through11535 legislation. In the end, it was11537 clear that the Green Future Act 100% Clean Act and IPCC 2030 reflected our common ground critical steps for healthy, sustainable and11544 equitable futures. I11545 also took11546 on the direct task of11548 reaching out and installing11550 the11551 ask of our environmental justice partners to shape the explicit environmental justice causes in the Green Future Act. clauses about allocating funds intentionally across regions, rebates that protect the most economically11560 vulnerable people from rising utility costs or the need for a just transition11565 to green11566 jobs.
These11567 were all direct demands of frontline organizers. These interactions allowed for the causes that you11571 see today. I need11573 you to11574 trust the words of11575 my fellow organizers and I,11577 the expertise, the compassion, the11578 labor, all of the seats as the11580 backbones of11581 these bills.11582 I am done with empty words,11584 recognitions and unambitious politics that11585 govern the11586 choices11586 of the past. We cannot wait for the next disaster to arise. I want safety now and t we committee. This world of safety starts with passing the11596 Green Future Act 100% clean act of I PCC 2030 act an imperative defiance of the past and an important step towards11602 the future. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. And are there questions of our11617 Panelists11617 hearing None. I know we're going to hear from more11619 students in just a11620 moment, but I want to thank this group. Very impressive. Thank you.11627 We're11627 now going to hear from another panel of students who work with11631 Mass PIRG. I believe,11632 uh, there11634 may be a half dozen or so. Why don't we begin? Yes. Um, I will start.
[CAROLINE WILLIAMS11643 (MASSPIRG):][HB3288][SB2136] Hello, everyone. My11644 name is Caroline Williams. Um, I'm11647 a junior environmental11648 science and geography11649 major at U Mass. Amherst.11651 I'm here representing11653 MASSPIRG, which is a public interest research group. We work11656 on issues that11657 are important to students.11659 Um, one of these11660 campaigns that we are working11661 on is the 100% renewable energy campaign, which is a campaign we've been running for several semesters. Now, um, we are in11668 support of the 100% Clean Act H 3288 S 2136. And this semester, we have been working across the state to pass 100% Clean Act. Uh,11678 and we have found that students really want this to11680 be passed, and this can11681 be shown to some of11682 the campaign11683 actions that we have done this semester. So I'll just list off some of the accomplishments from this11688 semester. We have had 5415 petition signatures from students in support, Um 650 for grassroot activists called generated to legislators. Um, 90 photo petitions and 21611701 tweets. 65 LTE submitted in five published in 31 lobby11705 meetings.
All of11706 this is just to show that this is an issue that11709 students are really11710 interested in and really care about, um and so11714 now I'm just going to talk a little bit about why I got involved in climate action work.11719 Um, I kind of11720 first started learning about11721 the environment when I was11722 really young and I saw it on the11724 news, and I was kind11725 of alarmed at what was happening,11726 and I was really annoyed that nothing was really getting done. And11730 so11730 when I was nine, I decided I'm going to try to make11733 some changes. So I sent11734 a letter into11736 Obama administration and I was like, Hey,11737 can you make climate11738 change your11739 top priority? And of course,11740 he11740 sent a letter back being like, Yeah, whatever. I'll do that. And I really still didn't see that much action getting done. Um, and I really saw. And I still see, like, little action being done on the federal level, which is why I think11752 it's really important that we get local bills passed, like for Massachusetts, um, specifically for Massachusetts 100% Clean Act, which would transition all Massachusetts to rely on interesting, clean electricity. Um, it would be the strongest clean energy legislation in all11768 of, um, Massachusetts. All of the United States.
So in college I joined MASSPIRG because I wanted to take action.11776 And during my time at U Mass. Amherst. I've learned11778 more about the impacts of climate change, and honestly, we11782 don't have any time left. And we don't need to continue talking about policy. We just need to get this11788 done. I'm from Cambridge.11790 It's very close to the coast and we11792 have a big risk of being flooded. And11794 I really don't want to see, like my childhood home go underwater. And so I think it's time that we make a change and we11803 pass 100% Clean Act. But now I'm going to pass it on11807 to my fellow11808 students, who are going to share11809 some more about why11810 they care about renewable energy. Um, and how they got involved in this work.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Let's hear from11818 them.
[GENT HAVIARI (U MASS DARTMOUTH):][HB3288]11821 Thank you. Honorable chairs and committee11823 members. Hello, everyone. My name is Gent Haviari. I'm a freshman at U Mass. Dartmouth studying political science, and11827 I'm here to represent the 100% Clean Act over two11830 years ago when my father purchased a11832 Nissan leaf to the wanting to11833 lower his11834 carbon footprint. I was motivated11835 to look into11836 electric vehicles and clean transportation.11838 I know this technology11839 can become widespread very soon. 100% Clean Act plans to do just that11843 by setting a goal11844 of 100%11845 clean energy for the transportation sector by 2045. This bill is11849 essential for our state and our future. We are currently on the brink11852 of bringing11853 substantial change in the northeast with this bill, and it will pave the way for other states to do the same. Massachusetts is no stranger to being a maverick. We did the same with marijuana in 2016 and almost 20 other states have tagged along.
11864 We need to see clean11865 energy make a surge in the near11867 future. After listening to world11868 leaders, speak11869 at Cop 26 is clear to us that more and more11871 of the world is11872 on board with a legitimate action plan.11874 I have a personal stake in this being to them11876 only a freshman in college, and we'll have to deal with the consequences of11879 climate change very soon. If serious action is not taken. The lack of action has an effect on my and other young peoples futures is incredibly important11886 that we see something change as soon as possible. We wholeheartedly believe in the 100% Clean Act.11891 We are asking for you to vote for it to pass. Let Massachusetts be the maverick that11895 is destined to be students, families, future generations, our country and the entire world11900 will depend on. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. I appreciate you being with11907 us.11907 Who should we hear from11908 next? Hi. Um, you hear me? Yes.
[STEVEN CHATELL (U MASS11915 AMHERST):][HB3288][SB2136] My11916 name is Steven Chatell and I live in Stoneham Massachusetts. I'm currently a junior at U. Mass11921 Amherst, and I'm here11922 expressing my support for11924 the 100% Clean Act. You know,11925 growing up in Stoneham my family and11926 I would drive into Boston all the time when I was growing up and one11930 of my favorite things to do11931 was go down by long Wharf11932 and look out into the harbor. At one time, when I was in11935 high school, my friends and11936 I went down to the pier and it had completely flooded the11940 high tide, just completely engulfed, engulfed it. And I went home and I looked it up. And11944 I found out that this level of flooding was a relatively new thing. And11948 it was because of rising sea levels. You know,11951 I always heard about the effects of climate change, but this11953 was the first time that I11955 actually saw it. Um,11956 and I'm sure I'm11957 not alone. You know, I have to11958 assume that many people here have also noticed these things as well.
If we continue to burn fossil fuels and destroy our atmosphere, the planet will continue to heat up and11967 sea levels will continue to rise. You know, climate scientists have predicted that, uh, water levels11974 around Boston could rise by nearly 10 ft. by 2100 And11978 at that point,11979 the damage is done. And it won't just be, you know, landmarks around the city that are going to be affected. It's going to be homes, businesses and farms all across the state.11987 That's why we need to11988 take charge and make the switch to renewable energy. Um, you know, we've already heard it already today, but there are many states that are starting to11995 commit to making the switch. There's11996 no reason why we shouldn't be next. Um thank you for your time.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you12004 very much. Let's12005 let's continue to hear from members12008 of the panel. Yes, thank you very much.
[JARRETT TAYLOR (U MASS AMHERST):][HB3288][SB2136] My name is Jarrett Taylor. I'm a12013 senior political science major at12015 U Mass Amherst, and I'm here to speak on in support of 100%12019 Clean Act. And that's also really why I'm here.12021 Just the amount12022 of support around this bill that I've seen as I've12025 begun to12026 wrap up my undergraduate12028 collegiate career and looking at my extracurricular activities, which12031 have been heavily centered around student advocacy with MASSPIRG,12035 it's really inspired me to see how many students and my peers really12040 care about environmental issues. I'm sure a lot of you are aware it can be really hard to get the youth and particularly12047 college students out12048 and caring about particular things.12050 But when it comes to climate issues, they really are motivated, and they really want to12055 see bold actions, whether12056 it's people in turning in organizations or just a passerby seeing12060 the work we've done on this bill, and they get impressed with the bold action of the bill12065 because they know that is really what we12067 need for the12068 future. If we are part12069 of the younger generation, it is our future.
And they see12074 Oh, this bill will actually make some change. And it will do good things12079 that have a grand impact. I mean,12081 I don't12082 need to continue echoing all of the disastrous climate crisis12086 issues we12087 are currently facing, but personally, for me, I am from Marshfield, which, if you12091 don't know, it's on the south shore,12093 a coastal12094 town and big beach12095 town, which is wonderful. But also the coastal comes with the issues of flooding. An entire section12100 of the town. Brant Rock often gets flooded and goes underwater, not even during major12106 storms. Now, during minor12108 storms. And I've seen my12110 neighbors, houses and businesses just get destroyed by massive flooding, and it's only going to get worse12115 and worse if we do not act and make12118 bold change like the 100% Clean Act. So I really do implore you12122 all to report on this bill favorably and get it moving along in the process. But thank you very much. Thank you. Jarrett. Uh, next on the panel.12131 Mhm.
[CAROLINE SUNUWAR (U MASS AMHERST):][HB3288][SB2136] Hi, everyone. Thank you for letting me speak today. I am Caroline. Sunuwar.12140 I'm 19 years old,12141 and I am a sophomore political and environmental science student at U Mass. Amherst as well. So my12148 hometown is Boston. And growing up there, I always remember hopping on the MBTA.12152 To12152 take a trip to the Charles River or going on exploring. The colorful jellyfish dancing in the waters12158 of the New England Aquarium or taking countless pictures large, majestic like whales in the Boston Harbor. But little did12165 I know sea level at the harbor could reach over seven ft. by the end of the century, and over 65% of our states and Michigan's12172 comes from our12173 vehicles, homes12174 and offices. Another 20% comes from the power plants12177 that provide electricity for lights, computers and appliances. So needless to12181 say, if we stay at12182 business as usual, this will only be a recipe for disaster in12185 combating climate change, As emission levels and sea levels continue12188 to rise.
To mitigate such effects, as12191 was said, we12192 must pass 100% Clean Act,12194 which, if passed,12195 could be the boldest climate bill in the12198 country as it would12199 bring 100%12200 renewables to not only electricity, but also heating and transportation all by 2045.12206 At the end of the day, I just as a human, I I simply feel a moral obligation to protect our home. A beautiful planet has given us human12215 so much laughter, excitement, tears, joy and beauty. We12219 cannot take for granted what Mother Nature has provided us. Let12222 us give back12223 by protecting her. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Caroline. Very much. Let's keep going here. This is good stuff.
[ASHLEY AGOSTINELLI (U MASS AMHERST):][HB3288][SB2136] Hi. Um, I'm Ashley Agostinelli, I'm from Boston as well as a junior U Mass.12239 Amherst. Um, climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. As each year passes by, we have less and less than opportunity to mitigate the effects of climate change.12250 And as for myself, it can be easy12252 to separate yourself12253 from these things. So When I think12255 about why I support renewable energy and bills like the 100% Clean Act, I like to think about it12260 in terms of12261 myself. Growing up in Boston provided me with the opportunity12264 to visit amazing green spaces like the Boston comment and the Arnold Arboretum as well as beautiful beaches12270 like the Constitution Beach. I don't want to lose12273 these valuable natural spaces. And12274 in addition to wanting to keep my city Lovely, I have big dreams and hopes for a12280 bright future. I have goals that extend beyond my undergraduate degree at U Mass.
Um, in order to be12286 able to chase these dreams, I need a healthy12289 planet. I'm not the12290 only one with dreams. Kids12291 younger than me have their own hopes and dreams as they look forward12294 to, and they won't12295 be able to look forward12296 to them if the planet12297 is dying12298 and we're12299 doing nothing to stop it. My future and the futures of my own and the coming generations rely on a healthy planet. And this is our moment to ensure that we need to transition away from fossil12309 fuels and towards renewable energy with12310 the 100% Clean Act.12311 And we can do that. Thank you for listening to12313 my12313 fellow students and12314 I and we hope you pass favorably on this bill.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank12316 you very12317 much. Ashley, are there additional members of your12321 panel? Well, uh, thank you for supplying so much12328 passion12329 and intellectual muscle to12332 this effort to12333 this debate. Good to see you. Mass and mass pirg moving out there.12338 We're going to move on and12342 hear from Anne Center. Whose12344 chapter chair12345 for Clark's Mass PIRG12347 student chapter. Yes. Huh? Hi. Can you hear me? Excellent. High.
[ANNIE SINERT (MASSPIRG):][HB3288][SB2136] Thank12356 you so much for12357 having me and taking the time12358 to listen to12359 me. Um, my name is Annie Sinert. I'm from Needham, Massachusetts. I'm a junior at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. Uh, majoring in political science, uh, and I'm here today to testify in support of 100% Clean Act. I spent this past summer working12375 with environment Massachusetts, canvassing around12377 the state for energy. Um, and like you mentioned that, Clark, I am the chair of our MASSPIRG chapter.12384 Uh, for the past two semesters are central campaign at Clark has been fighting for renewable energy and going towards renewable12393 energy. Um, more specifically to pass12395 100% Clean Act. Um, Broadly speaking, this bill will transition Massachusetts to 100% clean electricity by 203512405 100% clean energy12406 for heating and transportation by 2045 over the past year. That we've been working12411 on this. An overwhelming12413 majority of the students who have gotten12415 involved with us in our12416 chapter have12417 done so because of their12419 explicit support for this legislation. Um, as students, it's very easy to feel that there is nothing we can do.
Um,12428 and that there is no definitive12430 action we can12431 take to curb the reality of the climate crisis.12435 This campaign12436 has given our students a tangible means12439 of making a difference. Um, we have scheduled and conducted dozens of lobby meetings with Massachusetts State elected officials that have yielded very promising and productive conversations. Campus-wide.12452 We've gotten 1/4 of12453 our student body to12454 sign our petition in12455 support of12456 this legislation, we've12457 placed over 100 phone calls to state legislator legislators urging them to co sign and show their support for a12465 small liberal arts school that has just over12468 2000 students. These numbers have exceeded our original expectations and goals by milestone, and additionally,12477 I'd12477 like to point out that we have gathered this support almost entirely during the coronavirus pandemic. Um, uh, the fact that I bring up for good reason, um,12487 you know, it shows that even in the face of countless other issues that12492 are facing our country and our world. Students12495 care about this. They care about climate change. Students12499 recognize the promise that transitioning to renewable12502 energy brings the promise of the future.
Students care about sustainability and protecting the planet that gives12510 us life. So on behalf of all the students at Clark University, I12514 implore the committee to report favorably on 100%% Clean Act. Um, we beseech you to tangibly show that you too care about our future. Thank you for your time. you for your time.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
And thank you. Thank12528 you, Miss Senator. Are12529 there questions? I want to thank you12534 very much for joining us. And, uh, you're going to be followed by12539 Stephen Linsky, who12541 is a volunteer member12542 of climate action.12543 I'm sorry. I apologize. Smola cotton of our climate is next. So Hyla actually got to speak on an earlier panel. So12552 we're good. Thank you very much for12555 for letting us know12556 us Stephen Linsky, then who's with Climate Action now?12559 And Adele Franks, who12567 we know12568 well who's also with climate action now12571 is the deal12572 with us? How about Theresa Biele Do League12580 of Women voters of12581 Cape Cod. And finally,12582 Andrew Hearn speaking for12589 himself. Are there additional witnesses who12599 wish12599 to testify on12600 H 3288? R S 2136. The bill that we've been hearing. If not, we'll12607 move on to H 3372 S 2170 and act investing in a prosperous,12612 clean commonwealth by 2000 and 30. Uh,12615 is Graham12616 Albert of Sunrise12617 Boston here? Yes, I am. Thank you, Chairman. Uh, Senator Barrett and12630 other members of the committee. Um I am, uh, Gram Albert and I'm a12636 member of the sunrise movement. Can you guys hear me?12638 Okay. I just want to make12639 sure before I proceed that everyone hear me. Uh, sir. Okay.
[GRAHAM ALBERT:][HB 3372]Um, so thank you, Representative12649 Jones. Um, So I'm advocating for the passage of Bill H3372 an act investing in the clean and prosperous Commonwealth by 2030. And, uh, perspective that I'm taking is actually as it relates to Massachusetts, economic competitiveness and remaining12667 competitive in the future. And the and what will be talking12671 specifically about is the need to transition masses. Electricity grid12675 from what is predominantly12676 natural gas right now about 66% over to completely renewable12680 energy. And the reason why is because, um, research which have included in my written testimony to you, along with12687 additional references, indicates that the energy transition12690 that we're undergoing right now is not12692 necessarily something that is linear and not something that may be happening gradually.12697 That, in fact,12698 different nations and different states may transition at faster rates. And this could in turn, leave slower moving12705 states or nations12707 at a competitive disadvantage. Um, Because12711 of this, um, I would recommend that a any bill should include a12717 rapid transition to12718 100% renewables.
Because retaining fossil fuel modes of power generation does potentially risk stranded assets and increased costs that will12731 be passed on to ratepayers, um, more over with worsening climate with the worsening12738 climate crisis, it will be12740 more difficult12741 for Massachusetts to meet its12743 renewable energy electricity goals with a12745 gradual build out scenario because, um, because of12750 the frequent climate crisis that we face a12754 rapid expansion when you look at the literature really is the best and the, uh, one of the cheapest ways to achieve our net12765 zero emission goals, delaying it could potentially be very consequential and may actually rest12772 Massachusetts. Never meeting its net zero 2050 goals. Um,12777 I would want to speak in more detail about this.12779 I do recognize that I am limited for12781 three minutes. I would just respectfully12783 ask that you read my written testimony. Um, and12786 if you have the time,12788 please look at the sources that I cited. Um uh, that, uh, it's really important that we stay competitive.12796 This is beneficial for our economy. And I don't12798 think that this has been spoken about enough.
Thank you.12804 Representative Owens. Chairman.12805 Barret it for your time today. Um, and I just12810 once again urged that the12812 committee, uh, provide a favorable review of this12815 bill. Um, and at the very least, consider the beneficial aspects that may have for future legislation. Thank you. And I yield back. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Mr. Albert, Thank you12827 for joining us today. Uh, Sabrina Larkin.
[SABRINA LARKIN (SUNRISE MOVEMENT):][HB3372][SB2170]12836 Good afternoon, everyone. Thank12837 you so much for12839 having me. Thank you.12841 Uh, Chairman Barrett, Chairman Roy and to the rest of the committee. Thank you for staying on a little late to hear testimony. I appreciate12848 it. My name is Sabrina Larkin, and I'm a member12851 of the Sunrise Movement, which12852 is a movement of young people fighting to12854 stop the climate crisis and create millions of good jobs in the process. I'm12858 here to testify in support of H. 3372 and S. 2170 an act investing in a prosperous, clean12866 Commonwealth by 2030. Representative. Uyterhoeven, Senator Eldridge and12870 others have spoken12871 to the larger goals and the larger tenants of the bill. But I'd like to use my time to speak about a part of the bill that's most important to me. Growing up, my dad12881 is and was a member of the international brotherhood of electrical workers' local three, and that afforded me a great deal of stability.12889 Even if I didn't know what12890 a union was when I was12891 a child, I12892 knew that him being a member12894 of it meant that I12896 never had to worry about going to the doctor when12898 I broke my finger or, you know,12900 worry about food or shelter or other basic12902 needs.
12903 Uh, I feel really grateful12904 to have had the protection12905 that my dad's union offering me and believe12907 that everyone should have the same12909 privilege. And right,12911 Uh, and, you know, given all of that,12913 many folks today have spoken and provided testimony for a number of bills, all of12918 which focusing on the need for urgent bold economy wide climate action.12924 Uh, in doing12925 so, we have to ensure12926 that nobody is left behind,12928 including our fossil fuel workers, pipefitters, unions, anyone, any impacted worker12933 in the12934 commonwealth. And that's why12935 I'm here today in12936 support of H 337212938 and S 2170.
that bill will guarantee12943 that any impacted worker gets job training priority for renewable energy jobs, uh, guarantee that those jobs are unionized12950 and ensure that they are provided wage and12952 benefit parody with their prior jobs. Massachusetts fossil fuel12956 workers have ensured over the course of their12958 careers that all of us as residents will12961 have energy security. So I'm hopeful Massachusetts12964 will lead in12965 offering it just12966 transition and economic12967 justice to those workers. That is12970 my testimony. Thank you again to12972 the committee for12973 your time and your your12974 support.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Much appreciated. Sabrina. Uh, Andrew Ahearn. Well, perhaps hear from Andrew12992 as soon. Jonathan Cohn. Mhm. Okay. Can you hear me? Okay, good.13000 The13001 time Now. Okay.13003 Thank you. Uh, this timing actually worked perfectly for me because I13008 was watching.13009 And then on a meeting, uh, and13011 now back, uh,13012 we know13013 that exactly. It's perfect. Worked out perfectly. Um, yes. Okay. Go ahead.13022 Yes. Okay. Awesome.13024
[JONATHAN COHN (PROGRESSIVE MASSACHUSETTS):][HB3372][SB2178] Well, thank you so much. Uh, again. Thanks. Chair Barrett, Chair Roy. Members of the committee, um, names Jonathan Cohn, a political13035 director for Progressive13037 Massachusetts statewide multi issue advocacy group focused on fighting for13040 a more13041 equitable, just democratic and sustainable commonwealth. Um, according to the government, the13046 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world must reach13049 net zero13050 emissions by 2050 in order to contain runaway climate change. The next generation road map bill13055 passed earlier this year, committed Massachusetts13057 to13057 the goal of net zero by 2050. But here's the catch. If we're to reach that goal as a globe, we must, uh,13065 actually, if we are to13066 reach that goal just as Massachusetts, we must do more than we are currently doing. And as one of the13071 most affluent states in13072 the most affluent country13073 in the world for for the world to reach13076 that goal, we should be setting higher goals,13079 higher goals than others.
So13081 that's why we want to urge you to give a favorable report to S 2178 3372 act investing in a prosperous, clean commonwealth by 2030. Uh, presume folks have already gone through some of the highlights of13094 the bill.13095 Um, but the bill is essential13096 both for the higher goals13097 that it sets. We have a net zero13100 100% renewable electricity13101 by13102 2030 and for the13103 concrete steps that it proposes to achieve the decarbonization of our energy and13107 transportation13108 systems. The bill13109 mandates13109 the procurement of new offshore wind and solar capacity while increasing the accessibility of13114 solar to low13115 income on environmental justice, communities, crimes, electric vehicle charging infrastructure for new13121 residential and commercial construction, and13123 such strong girls for13124 the electrification13125 of the MBTA regional transit authorities and13127 kind of13128 public and public fleets, establishes the mandatory net zero building code13132 for new construction while13133 harmonizing building efficiency standards across the Commonwealth and retrofits all publicly assisted housing by 2030 the bill centers equity both in the13143 ways outlined above and in Howitt protects workers from fossil fuel,13146 uh, workers from fossil fuel industries allowing them to choose to retrain or to collect a pension early while guaranteeing that jobs created as a result of the13155 energy transition our union jobs with13157 wage and benefit parody.13158
Um, the fact that we just had a humid 60 degrees Saturday this weekend in the middle of December while tornadoes affect13166 other states shows that the the erratic weather patterns that climate change hotels are already13171 here, and they13172 will get worse with impacts to agriculture, infrastructure, human health and so much more. Uh, and our13178 efforts must match the13179 scale of the problem. So thank you13181 for holding the hearing today.13182
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you13183 for being on here. And the13185 as it as13186 we near the for this hearing being four hours long, uh, have a wonderful message of the hearing. And thank you13194 for all that you're doing. Thank you. Thank13197 you, Jonathan. Thank you for all that you're doing. Are13200 there questions of Jonathan Cohn? Yeah. Hearing none. Thank you. And thank you, Progressive Massachusetts. Thank you, Cameron. Presi. Can you hear me? All right. Sweet.
[CAMERON PRESSI (CONCERNED CITIZEN):][HB3372][SB 2170]13221 Thank you, Senator. And thank you to the committee. Um, my name is Cameron Pressi. I'm here my personal capacity today, but I'm a resident of East and Mass. And I'm also13229 a member of the Boston13231 Democratic Socialists of America, as well as Take Back the Grid where we're mostly concerned about energy, democracy and energy rights. So I'm here to speak today and support the joint bills13240 H 3372 and S 2170 an act investing in a prosperous, clean Commonwealth by 2030. As you13246 know, Mass past and accurate and next generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy this year, committing the state to net zero emissions by 2050. This bill and its environmental justice13256 amendment a very important part marked a significant step in the right direction for the Commonwealth13260 And I thank you for passing this bill. Despite numerous setbacks and13264 hurdles along the way.
13266 However, the most recent IPCC report has made clear that the window for decarbonization is rapidly closing13270 and we all need13271 to do much more to reach climate goals this decade and protect our vulnerable communities here in the Commonwealth. These joint bills are an opportunity for us in Massachusetts to step up and be real true. Climate13281 leaders, paving the way for the ambitious climate13283 action we all know13284 we need to13285 protect our people and13286 communities who13287 are already suffering the disproportionate13289 effects of environmental destruction. As many as of the great people who have spoken13293 on the great bills have have13296 talked about today. Representative Uyterhoeven and Senator Eldridge, as well as the previous13299 speakers, spoke on many of13300 the great measures of these bills, So I'll try not to be redundant.13303 Rather, I'll share why this bill is so important to13305 me as a Mass resident who was raised in13307 southeastern Mass, went to school13308 in Western Mass and has worked and lived around Cape13311 Cod,13312 Boston and the North Shore.
First off my experience13315 with the electricity grid. I've struggled financially to pay my energy bills, especially as a student, to the13319 point that my roommates and13320 I were keeping the heat on 50° in the dead of13323 winter to save money, I struggled morally as13326 transitioning our consumption to green energy sources would cut our carbon emissions but increase13329 our building to the way it was presented13331 to us and this was simply not something we could afford as we also paid our rent, tuition, food, water and other living essentials. I believe we need13339 more access to renewable13340 energy production, especially in low income communities, so that everyone has13343 access to cheap, clean energy and doesn't have to weigh the costs between keeping13346 their families warm and having clean environment13348 to live in. When I lived in Western Mass13350 and struggled to pay my bills, which are13352 low relative to other places in13353 Mass, to the best of my13355 knowledge, I also experienced the lack of rail13357 public transit. To be13358 fair, we did have access to mostly consistent buses, but these are mostly limited to the areas directly surrounding universities, and the fleet consisted of gas13366 guzzling off the broken down buses to reach Boston and other areas, be it for work,13371 travel advocacy or see13372 friends and family and13373 whatnot. We have few options, and none of them could be considered very13376 climate friendly. You13377 can choose a costly13378 in time and carbon intensive trip and your personal vehicle.
13381 If available to you or a close friend or13383 family, you could get an expensive train13384 ticket if13385 you could make it to13386 Springfield, or you could pay even more13388 for a13389 long, gas guzzling bus ride. Massachusetts simply doesn't13391 have the infrastructure13392 it needs to give people clean, cheap13394 options of work13395 and travel that will13396 undoubtedly boost our economy as well. And13398 this bill will13399 help that. I've seen these13400 systems repeated in the Boston13401 area in Cape Cod as well. The latter especially13405 lacks public transit infrastructure. Um,13406 it sounds like I'm at my time. So thank13409 you, everyone. Um, for for listening to me today, I13412 reiterate my full enthusiastic13413 support13413 for this bill, and I13414 encourage you to pass it favorably out of committee committee to protect our people for speeches and13419 critical natural. And he made infrastructure in the Cape in Boston, in the North Shore and all around the Commonwealth. Thank you to the chair. Thank you13426 to the committee and for everyone for speaking and being here today. for everyone for speaking and being here today. for everyone for speaking and being here today. for everyone for speaking and being here today.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Mr Presi, Are there13433 questions13433 we're going to go on to13434 Willow Chavez? Uh and how about Tarr? An HSA? Hello? Can you hear me? All right, we can Fantastic.
[TARANG:][HB3372][SB2170]13454 Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I would like to testify in favor of this bill, and that is,13463 and it really feels strongly about this today because Saturday crossed 60 F. It13470 was really13471 weird. It felt like a weird week because13473 it felt like October. Maybe it's feeling like October right now, maybe13477 even September, because13480 the days are essentially almost13482 as warm as San Francisco is right now.13484 It just feels really weird. This is December. This is definitely13489 not what I'm used to, and I don't I'm really just concerned about what comes. This becomes will come in the summer and the next one and13498 the one after that. If13499 this is how odd it is, if winter is this13503 hot like I don't want to like, I have my whole life ahead of me and we need to act on climate change so13509 I13509 don't have a lifetime13510 of environmental13511 hazards. I think like you to look forward to. I mean, it's13517 just it's really just going to be a lot of unpleasant weather this bill calls for. Additionally, just aside13526 from calling for the climate action we need13529 for a livable future, it called for building and transit electrification, which would massively decrease utility and13536 transportation costs for families. Transit electrification would enable13540 faster transport13541 than ever before across Massachusetts.
13544 Simply electrifying the commuter rail would enable we from to travel13548 from Worcester to Boston, Worcester, where I live To Boston. Just13552 45 minutes, which had been a massive economic and environmental13555 benefit to environmental justice communities, gateway committees and, of course, our family really13560 congested Boston. I use the train13562 to get to Boston halfing my journey. Time would help me a lot13565 with job access and13568 mobility.13568 I grew up in a city which exacerbated my mother's asthma, constant deforestation, large amount of traffic pollution in that city Basically just caused13577 her to. When I was 16, she was frequently Bedridden. It should be a goal of13581 our society, to13582 decrease pollution and13583 protect our health. But we're13584 really not setting. That is a good, really good goal for13587 the state. We have traffic issues13589 that just stay bad or get worse, and we13591 have deep street inequities, street pre pollution and asthma rate13596 inequities between13597 neighborhoods where low13598 income people are denied a clean environment and we're basically and we're still continuing to sustain that.
There is13604 definitely action. But we need a significant break from the status quo that perpetuates everyday pollution13610 and denies health and opportunity to people. This bill gives us the chance. Let's13615 take it. And thank13616 you for listening.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Mr Shop. Are there questions of Mr Shop? Uh oh, yes,13624 Doctor, mention I am also the13626 political leader of Sunrise Worcester and do13628 represent them. Terrific.13631 And thank you for checking in from the13633 city. Thank you, Matt. Good to have you. Matt Wittmann. Elena Boil.13646 Yeah. Hi. Can you see me and13651 hear me? Okay.
13653 [ALAINA BOYLE (CONCERNED CITIZEN):][HB3372][SB2170] So, um,13656 so thank you very13657 much for this opportunity to contribute13659 to the democratic process with everyone else. Um, clearly, I'm here to support the IPCC by 2030. Bill H 3372 S 2170. Um, I also support13670 the 100% clean bill in the Green Future13672 Act, but as a climate policy researcher and PhD student at Northeastern13676 with a background in clean13677 energy, I think it's critical that we support the most ambitious13681 climate policies that we13682 can.13683 I shifted to studying climate change when I realized it is the greatest and13687 most unequal crisis facing modern13689 humanity. People13690 often hear climate or13691 environmental crises, and they think that we're hurting the plants or the soil beneath their feet. But what is actually facing the consequences of our actions13698 are us the poorest and most vulnerable people, first and most. But all13702 of13702 us are most impacted in our daily lives, for all of us will be impacted in our daily lives soon if we aren't already, Um,13709 one of my core areas13710 of research is on the role of justice and equity and climate policy. As people involved in the policy process, we must all remember that past policies have intentionally relegated high emitting fossil fuel industries to marginalized communities, communities of color and poor communities affecting their health, their ability to learn, play, work and just live, uh, in a13730 kind of double jeopardy.13731
These communities are now also facing the brunt of climate consequences of these13736 emissions, not just rising sea levels, but heatwaves, extreme weather events, um, disruptions to our food systems and more to effectively13744 address the causes and consequences of climate change. A new wave of forward thinking climate policy makers are13750 directly incorporating considerations of justice that account for and work to13754 remedy these very real legacies of injustice. These policies are gaining traction here in Massachusetts with the State level. The recent 2050 bill at the city level, where13765 Mayor Wu, who was recently elected on a green new13768 deal platform, However,13769 these there is unanimous global agreement among climate researchers that 2050 is13774 not enough to maintain13775 not13775 just a comfortable13776 but a livable world. Our state and community. Our global emissions need to peak in 2025 and reached zero or less, not net zero,13786 but truly zero emissions before 2050. The US as the largest total historical source13792 of emissions, especially13793 based on domestic consumption, has the largest responsibility to13796 meet this target for communities around the13798 world, but also for us here Now 10 20 30 years in the future. As a leader in us13805 environmental policy, Massachusetts has the opportunity and the responsibility to13808 once again break the13809 mold of insufficient and13810 an ambitious climate policy and show the rest of13812 the Union how it's done.
This is difficult. It runs counter to13816 what we've been taught to believe about how13818 the world works by the people who have benefited from the current unsustainable fossil fuel13822 system. But it is not impossible. We are more than technologically capable of meeting the targets set13827 in this IPCC bill from achieving 100% renewable electricity, making all residential buildings net zero energy13835 users phasing out gas13836 powered cars in advancing carbon sequestration, which all create the jobs in13841 the energy industry. And the difference in the family policy is funding. But what13845 we're learning the cost13846 of preventing and preparing13847 for climate change are orders of magnitude less so13849 to wrap up the technology is there as the Boston Election has13852 shown us the13853 public is13854 there. Massachusetts funding13855 is there. All we need is your vote in the interest of your13858 constituents. Thank you very much for your time.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much, Miss13861 Boyle. Are there questions13862 we will now hear from Samantha Crowley. Hi. Yes. Can you hear13869 and see me? We can. Oh. Okay. Cool. Good afternoon for evening. Good evening.
[SAMANTHA CROWLEY13878 (SUNRISE MOVEMENT):][HB3372][SB2170]13879 Good evening. Committee members and fellow attendees. Thank you for this13882 brief space to13883 speak. My name13884 is Samantha Crowley. I live I live in Pawtucket, in Massachusetts. land in so called Somerville13889 and grew up13890 on Nipmuc Land near so called Worcester,13892 a member of Sunrise of the Sunrise movement. And I'm here to speak in favor13897 of H 3372 S 2170 Every moment that we13900 do not take steps to address climate change that we13902 do not transition away from13904 fossil fuels. The current13905 impacts we are experiencing will worsen. We know this. We must change even if it is13910 not perfect. We must change now. In my short13913 lifetime,13913 as a Mass resident,13914 I have experienced catastrophic storms from ice storms, two tornadoes, severe flooding making roads impassable13921 and heatwaves severely affecting lives13923 of residents throughout the Commonwealth and across the country as a result of13927 climate change. Emissions are a major causative13929 agent of climate change, and emissions are the result of13932 burning fossil fuels. By13934 continuing to fund fossil fuels, we are not only causing harm to our future public. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Yeah. What? You yourself? All right, Keep keep going. Samantha, we got your13948 back. Okay. Sorry about that. I don't know when13951 you asked me, but I'll just keep going.13953
We are13954 funding active harm13955 of fellow residents and fossil fuel13957 companies paying for the use of pain13959 compliance and13960 imprisonment of land offenders and13962 water protectors. All of13964 this harm we are doing to ourselves, we must change this bill is a step toward achieving that change by addressing emissions, suggest and13973 sustainable statewide. Implementation of electrification13975 and renewable energy is necessary for the good of worldwide public health and for our survival. I want to take a moment to13982 emphasize the testimony of fellow speakers, especially Suhaila Cotton Eben Bein and Vlossak, Swapnil13987 Gandhi. Hawa13988 HamidouTabayi, Charles13990 Paula Garcia, Greg Carey and Sabrina Larkin. Involvement of residents in the bill drafting process is necessary.13998 Transparency throughout the process13999 of Bill Passage, including reporting floor votes, our demands must be met. I'm certainly no legislative14005 expert, not even close. But14007 all of this legislation under consideration better contain14010 all the language and measures available to support all the14013 people in14014 communities in our state, including immigrants house this person's youth, elderly, disabled folks, black people, indigenous people14019 and people of color Regarding14021 H 3372 S 2170,14022 specifically, Massachusetts can14024 be better.
We need at least net zero emissions by 2030. We14035 need increased wind capacity and equitable solar capacity. We need to14040 electrify transit and housing. We must stop emitting we must stop14044 funding fossil fuels for society. That is just for the14046 future. We want to build for a culture based on the health and well being of each14051 other. We must change to quote Tara Houska, change cannot14054 be achieved comfortably, unquote for each14056 other for a future. This bill is14058 essential. I implore you all to report favorably on this bill.14061 I appreciate your time and energy. All of you being here, demonstrating the democracy we14067 live in. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Samantha. Thank you. Are there questions? Thank you very much. You are the last witness on our series of decarbonization14080 bills today. We do want to hear from Julie Perlman with respect to an important telecom14087 bill. Hello, Julie. How are you? I'm good. How are you?
[JULIE PEARLMAN (DISH NETWORK SLING):][SB2200] Thank14091 you. Chair Barrett, Chair Roy and members of the committee. My name is Julie Pearlman with the14096 law firm Orrick, Carrington and Sutcliffe.14098 And I'm here today on behalf of Dish14100 Network's sling TV service. And it's tens of thousands of subscribers here14104 in the Commonwealth Sling14106 is Dish Network's Internet video service. It offers the same or similar programming that a customer gets via satellite only it's provided via their cable Internet service. We14118 respectfully oppose14119 Senate Bill 2200, which imposes a 5% tax on gross revenues of streaming services such as Sling. The rationale behind this new tax on thousands of Massachusetts families is that services such14133 as Sling use14134 the right of way and thus must pay for such use.14138 We oppose Senate Bill 2200 for the following three14142 reasons. First,14143 it's important to recognize that every customer who obtains Internet service via a cable ISP14149 already pays a14150 5% 5% franchise fee for use of the right of way in their monthly bill.
This bill would make Massachusetts customers pay two three or even more times for using the same cable line that already exists in14164 the right of way. Second, we respectfully disagree with the premise regarding what14170 is use of the right of14172 way streaming services don't use the right of way14175 Use of the right of way was not contemplated.14177 To14177 meet a customers access to the cable companies physical use of the right of way. Cable companies, on the other hand, physically14184 occupy the right of way for their cable lines In exchange for the right dig up municipal streets and sidewalks to14191 lay cable lines. Cable companies typically pay a14194 5% fee on gross revenue. third the bill. The bill14199 fails to recognize the benefits provided to14201 cable companies as a result of these franchise fee agreements14204 by securing the right to access the right of way cable obtains an asset of immense value.14210 For example, Charter values its franchise rights at14214 approximately $67 billion14215 dollars per their 10Ks. These franchise rights are their largest asset, which they are free to sell.14222 Yet those who pay for Internet service to avail themselves of14226 cables right of way access received no such benefit.
In sum, the bill imposes a new, regressive tax that has14235 a disproportionate impact on those living on fixed incomes. Struggling to pay bills are simply seeking a more affordable option. One of the primary benefits of services like Sling,14245 Is its14246 significantly lower price compared to traditional14248 video packages. Jacking up the price through new taxes? Results14252 in added financial stress to those already14254 straining to make ends14255 meet. For these reasons, we14257 respectfully request the committee rejects Senate Bill 2200. Thank14260 you.
Mhm.14262 Thank you very much, Mr Perlman.14264 Are there questions of our witness hearing? None. We want to14270 thank you for your patience and14271 waiting so long to testify on this14273 matter. And we appreciate your input. Thank you. Are there any additional, uh, individuals who14281 wish to testify on14282 this matter14284 or on any others before us today? Hearing none. Uh, representative Owens and I and anyone else who's persevered with us. I want to thank you14300 very much. I'll represent a machine. How good for you. The three of14304 us want to thank14305 you all for testifying. We know a lot of people14307 were very patient. Many people14308 were also very passionate. Uh, and we appreciate both qualities. Uh, we wish everybody the best of14316 holidays, and I will14318 declare14319 I will accept a motion to declare14321 this hearing at a close. So moved second.14324 Gee, that looks like a tidal wave of support.14329 Thank you very much. Talk to you all14333 now.14333 Have a good evening.14334 Take care. Thank14336 you, Mr Chairman,14337 By14337 by Yeah, Mhm.
© InstaTrac 2025