On July 19 I joined farmers from across western Mass at a meeting to learn about the impact of the draft Clean Heat Standard regulations, which would require heating energy suppliers to replace fossil heating fuels with clean heat over time by implementing clean heat or purchasing credits. Learn more here.
I have heard from hundreds of constituents over the past year with concerns regarding and/or a passion to support an emergent Clean Heat Standard. I’ve also heard a bit of misinformation which is understandable in an intense moment like this. I want to hear it all so that I can help find the best path forward for the people I represent.
(With regard to misinformation, I’ve heard about a .70 cent fuel tax being proposed. MassDEP assures me that this is not part of their plan, but may be related to a program under development in Vermont.)
As the Commonwealth transitions away from fossil fuels, ensuring that constituents in our district do not bear a disproportionate burden is an absolute priority for me and our team.
As you likely know, in much of our district there is no additional natural gas capacity due to a moratorium on new natural gas hookups — meaning that a disproportionate number of constituents rely on home heating oil.
Our electric grid infrastructure is also not able to accommodate an immediate and complete transition to green energy.
The convergence of both of these realities means that we’ll need to take great care as we proceed forward.
I have filed and passed into law bills that address the issue of equitable access to renewable energy, including legislation to speed up the modernization of our electricity grid and legislation to allow non-homeowners easier access to rooftop solar.
And I will continue to prioritize the work of updating our electric grid to ensure that it enables us to comply with our statutorily-mandated emissions reductions, while also ensuring that constituents are not unduly burdened. I have communicated the concerns I’ve heard directly with Senate leadership and the Healey-Driscoll Administration.
With regard to the Clean Heat Standard, MassDEP has concluded a pre-regulation-proposal stakeholder process. All materials from the stakeholder process are available on MassDEP’s website including recordings of virtual stakeholder meetings at: https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-clean-heat-standard.
The Department is still writing DRAFT regulations, which is to say that Clean Heat Standard has not yet reached the “formal” public comment period. I understand from my conversations that DEP is considering all comments received thus far and is working internally on draft regulations to publish, for comment, as soon as late 2024.
All draft regulation packages go through public hearings and a public comment period. My team and I will make sure to let constituents know how to engage when the time comes.
Again, ensuring that constituents in our district do not bear a disproportionate burden as a result of an energy transition is an absolute priority for me and our team.
