The Barrett Report
The governor just vetoed the climate bill
The Boston Globe says, “Sign the climate bill, governor.”
Update: With only 2 days to go, “worries mount over the climate change bill,” because no one knows what Gov. Baker will do.
Urgent: 7 days left to implore Gov. Baker to sign the strongest climate bill in a generation
Today the Legislature passes a dramatic climate bill. But I’m worried about the Governor.
The NextGen Roadmap Bill is Ambitious but Balanced
Mike Barrett
The most recent numbers tell us Massachusetts is backsliding in terms of reducing emissions. This bill is our chance to get back on track and stay there. Tip of the hat to Senate President Senate President Karen E. Spilka and State Representative Ron Mariano for putting us back to work on climate immediately. Because of them, the legislation’s odds of ultimate success are excellent.
A Climate Toolkit, Assembled Over the Course of Months
Get the details on the bill, which has passed the Senate and House and is now on the governor’s desk:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/…/state-lawmakers…/…
Massachusetts lawmakers send climate bill that would reduce state’s carbon footprint to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk
Mass Live
Emissions would have to fall to at least 50% of 1990 levels by 2030 and 75% of 1990 levels by 2040, but the bill also calls for interim goals every five years.
“An underlying idea driving the particulars of this bill is that the need to do something needs to be front and center, more than has been in the last 10 years,” Sen. Michael Barrett, a Lexington Democrat and key negotiator on the bill, said in a phone interview. “We tried to write a bill that would present people in Massachusetts with a need to change. I believe that a successful adjustment to climate change will involve transformations big and small.”
Historic climate, renewable plan heads to Mass. governor
Energywire
A slate of controversial clean energy policies is set to advance in Massachusetts this year after state lawmakers passed sweeping climate legislation last night and the governor’s office released new plans.
On Sunday evening, a bipartisan legislative committee announced a compromise on a long-debated climate package that would codify the state’s goal of zeroing out CO2 emissions by 2050, with new interim targets every five years. By 2030, emissions would have to fall by 50% over 1990 levels, followed by a 75% decrease by 2040. The legislation passed the Massachusetts Legislature last night by large margins in both chambers.
State Sen. Michael Barrett, a Democrat who co-chaired the bipartisan team of negotiators for the bill, said the cities of Boston and Cambridge had voiced interest in adopting codes that require net-zero emissions for new buildings.