Page 10 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 29, 2022 MCGONAGLE | FROM PAGE 5 In addition to wind and solar power, the bill addresses other innovative sources of clean energy, such as fusion energy and geothermal power. Acknowledging the harmful health and environmental impacts of utility-scale biomass power plant facilities, this legislation removes biomass from the list of energy-generating sources that are allowed to receive certain state incentives for generating clean electricity. To ensure that the Commonwealth has adequate storage systems to accommodate increasing amounts of clean energy that J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. Massachusetts will be adding to its energy portfolio, this bill directs a study of how to optimize the deployment of longterm energy storage systems. Grid readiness The legislation also modernizes Massachusetts’s electrical grid and energy storage S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping infrastructure. It requires utility companies to proactively upgrade the transmission and distribution grid to improve reliability and resilience and accommodate the anticipated signifi cant shift to renewable forms of energy. Green transportation As the transportation sector is the largest source of fuel emissions in Massachusetts, the bill takes steps to encourage the use of electric vehicles, including expanding and codifying the Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) incentive program into statute. Under the bill, the rebate amount will increase by $1,000, to $3,500, for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. Moreover, electric vehicle purchasers who trade in their emission-producing vehicles will be eligible for an additional incentive of $1,000. The program may include a pointof-sale rebate model for individual purchases that offers consumers savings at the point of purchase or lease. The bill also makes used vehicles eligible for rebates. Further, the bill directs the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to conduct an outreach campaign to promote awareness about the MOR-EV program among consumers and businesses in underserved and low-income communities, as well as in communities with a large proportion of high-emission vehicles. To expand access to electric vehicle charging stations, this bill convenes an interagency coordinating council to develop and implement a charging infrastructure deployment plan in an equitable and comprehensive manner. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) would be required to set vehicle electrifi cation and greenhouse gas emission requirements for electric vehicles for transportation network companies. In addition, to ensure that zero-emission vehicle charging remains aff ordable for consumers, the bill requires all electricity companies to submit proposals to DPU for how they will offer reduced electricity rates for consumers who charge their zero-emission vehicles at off -peak times. Finally, the bill takes historic steps to address emissions that come from MBTA bus fl eets. Starting in 2030, this bill requires every passenger bus that is purchased or leased by the MBTA to be a zero-emission MCGONAGLE | SEE PAGE 15
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