20

Page 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList— the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and infl uence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Chris Van Buskirk and Keith Regan who introduce each article in their own clever and inimitable way. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: www. massterlist.com/subscribe THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill roll Call records loPart-time Job Openings: Victim Advocates Licensed Social Workers Attorneys cal senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of April 11-15. There were no roll calls in the House last week. CLEAN ENERGY AND REDUCED EMISSIONS (S 2819) Senate 37-3 approved a bill that would expand the clean energy industry and reduce emissions from the transportation and building sectors across the state with the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Provisions include providing creating a $100 million Clean Energy Investment Fund, $100 million to incentivize adoption of electric vehicles and $50 million to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations; requiring all new vehicles sold to produce zero emissions beginning in 2035; requiring the MBTA to purchase or lease only zero-emission buses starting in 2028 and to convert its entire fl eet by 2040; increasing from $2,500 to $3,500 rebates for drivers who purchase electric vehicles; requiring the state to prepare a report on the estimated cost of converting school buses to zero-emission vehicles; and updating the procurement process for new off shore wind energy investments. “We know climate change Portal To Hope (“PTH”) serves people whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence. If you would like to join PTH’s award-winning team and share your leadership in the cause to end domestic violence, please call (781) 338-7678 for more information. is relentless, so we think Massachusetts needs to be relentless, too,” said Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Senate chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee. “No one’s around to give out ‘A’s’ for eff ort. What matters are results. [The bill] pushes back against global warming on multiple fronts, and with an emphasis on innovation and smart experimentation. It’s about thinking longrange but executing now, in the short term. It’s about problem-solving, confi dence and even optimism.” “Clean energy policy must be as realistic as it is bold,” said Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “After over 12 hours of debate, the Massachusetts State Senate voted on a bill that was bold, but not realistic. Although well-intended, the fi nal bill neglected undeniable realities for our economy, workforce and supply chain. My colleagues that voted no and I proposed a plan that would have boldly invested in a green future without putting too much strain on taxpayers, but this was rejected. That is why I voted against the fi nal version of the bill.” “The [bill] will help Massachusetts reach net-zero emissions by 2050 by paving the road to clean transportation, clean buildings and clean electric and thermal energy,” said Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton), chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change. “It is an impressive achievement, one that should give every resident of the commonwealth hope about our ability to mitigate climate change.” “The bill as written signifi - cantly increases demand for electricity, without corresponding cost controls, increases in supply and transmission capacity, or support for conservation measures,” said Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “These factors could well combine to cause economic harm and hardship, unsustainability and failure to meet the signifi cant carbon reduction requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act and its successors and related regulations.” “Combating climate change requires an honest assessment of the challenges before us, and constant work to change the course we are on,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’m proud to say that the Senate has never shied away from either and that we continue to lead on taking action to combat climate change.” “Many states are trying to provide tax relief for consumers and small businesses due to the high cost of inflation and states having extra money from over taxation,” said Paul Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. The Massachusetts State Senate is taking another approach by passing a multifaceted climate bill which aims to restrict energy supplies and options for consumers while mandating costly alternatives. The Senate Democrats passed a climate bill which will eliminate popular and reliable gasand -diesel powered vehicles, joining the likes of California. This ban will become a significant problem for Massachusetts motorists when their options are arbitrarily taken away from them due to this bill.” The House has already approved a diff erent version of the proposal and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration. The bills will likely end up in a conference committee to hammer out a compromise version. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (S 2819) Senate 11-28, rejected an amendment that would convene a Building Justice With Jobs Task Force to establish the Building Justice With Jobs Plan – a statewide strategy to retrofi t and electrify 1 million residential homes over the next ten years and to implement a comprehensive strategy that extends targeted fi - nancial resources for homes located in environmental justice communities. Another key provision transfers $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources to the Mass Clean Energy Center, a state agency dedicated to increase and accelerate the growth of the state’s clean energy sector, create jobs, deliver statewide environmental benefi ts and secure long-term economic growth. Earmarked funds include $350 million to carry out the Building Justice With Jobs Plan; $250 million to establish a clean energy investment institution or mechanism including a green bank; and $150 million for clean energy infrastructure. “I am disappointed that our chamber passed up an incredible opportunity to invest in our collective future and our statewide economy,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton). “According to the 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap, we need to retrofit and electrify 1 million homes over the next decade to comply with our updated emission reduction laws. By deploying $1 billion of our one-time federal ARPA resources - which revert if unused - this powerful statewide plan would have helped ensure equity, create thousands of new clean energy jobs and ultimately achieve the progress we need to decarbonize our commonwealth. It is imperative that the Legislature invest these federal ARPA funds, which come at no cost to the state, otherwise, the cost of inaction will simply be unaff ordable.” Amendment opponents said the amendment results in the Legislature giving too much power and authority to an unelected task force in place of the Legislature. They noted the amendment sets a bad precedent and might even be unconstitutional. Despite repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call, several senators did not respond to a request to comment on why they voted against the amendment including two key players in the drafting of the bill: Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Senate chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee and Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), the chair of the Senate Way and Means Committee. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it). Sen. Brendan Crighton No DIVEST FOSSIL FUELS (S 2819) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would confi rm the authority of local retirement boards to divest their respective pension funds from investments in fossil fuel companies including those in sectors related to coal and consumable fuels; integrated oil and gas; and oil and gas exploration and production. “The need for a local divestment option bill arose in 2017 after a local vote to divest retirement funds from fossil fuel companies was ruled invalid, on the basis that they lacked the authority to do so,” said Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton). “Fossil fuel investments are extremely volatile and in direct confl ict with our continued progress toward a clean energy future. This amendment is a common-sense solution that empowers local communities to divest from fossil fuel companies by confi rming their right to cut ties with risky long-term commitments.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment). Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes ELECTRIC BUS ROLLOUT (S 2819) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would require the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to provide each of the state’s 15 regional transit authorities (RTAs) with assistance to create an electric bus rollout plan that includes a goal to transition to zero-emission buses. Amendment supporters, noting that 55 percent of Bay State residents are serviced by the state’s 15 RTAs, said these RTAs need this assistance in order to make progress and reach the goal of all zero-emission buses. “I proposed this amendment to support RTAs in electrifying their bus fl eets to ensure a sustainable and continued critical service to some of our most vulnerable groups including riders who are low-income, paratransit, older adults and essential workers,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester). (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment). Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes PRESERVE OPEN SPACE (S 2820) Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would place into state law a BHRC | SEE PAGE 21

21 Publizr Home