At the October 2016 Green Acton meeting, State Senator Jamie Eldridge spoke on “green” initiatives and bills pending at State House.

  • In Aug., Gov. Baker signed the omnibus energy bill, which included 1,600 MW of offshore wind and 1,200MW of hydropower.

    • Eldridge’s gas leaks language was included in this law., which requires that Grade 3 (low level) gas leaks be evaluated not only for safety risk, but also, for significant environmental impact, and must be addressed.

    • Not in the bill: an increase in the RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard)

    • Not in the bill: a ban on ratepayer funding of new natural gas pipelines

  • Solar net metering bill (a compromise) passed and was signed

    • Cap on commercial solar increased, but not for community solar; helps the well-off with big roofs, but not the less-well-off

    • Reimbursement rate was reduced

  • Water

    • Stopped the government from shifting wastewater monitoring from EPA to DEP. DEP staff has been decimated, so moving to DEP would have been, de facto, a move to less monitoring.

  • Current bills in focus

    • Zero emission vehicle (ZEV) bill; will encourage by allowing ZEVs to drive in HOV lanes, and enjoy other advantages

    • Plastic bag ban didn’t pass, but will be back. Cities and towns are passing such bans, and the Massachusetts Grocers Association may soon prefer a statewide ban to a patchwork of bans across the state.

    • Gas leaks: whenever the roads are ripped up for any reason, the utilities would have to go in and repair/replace old gas lines.

    • Pipeline issue: prohibiting companies from charging ratepayers for costs of new pipelines (Spectra pipeline still alive)

    • Drought response, including measures for response to future droughts

Sen. Eldridge Legislative Update on Green Initiatives

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