What's New
This week, we expect the House and Senate to appoint a conference committee, which will decide on a final version of an energy bill.
The House and Senate have each passed different versions of a strong energy bill, both of which put energy efficiency and renewable energy at the heart of new policy; however, there is one important difference. The House bill offers incentives to coal technologies that may significantly increase global warming pollution.
How You Can Help
Please email House Speaker DiMasi and your local Representative and ask them to remove incentives for dirty coal technologies from the final energy bill.
Background
We may finally be at a break-through moment for energy policy in Massachusetts. After years of facing problems from our energy choices—high energy bills, a strained infrastructure, and the reality of global warming—our leaders on Beacon Hill are now open to change.
For too long, solutions have sat on the table. More than 94 percent of our power still comes from dangerous sources like coal, oil, gas and nuclear, and powerful energy interests fight to maintain this status quo.
Massachusetts has the potential to revolutionize the way we produce and use energy. We can build high performance homes and businesses that reduce energy waste and we can generate clean renewable energy from wind and solar power. Solutions like energy efficiency and renewable energy stabilize energy bills, create local jobs, and put Massachusetts on a climate safe path.
The time has come for visionary solutions. Speaker Sal DiMasi spearheaded the passage of a bold energy bill out of the House in November, and the Senate passed a strong energy bill in January. As a single bill is finalized, the legislature and governor now have the opportunity to put in place solutions that will guide Massachusetts to a new energy future, which includes barring subsidies for technologies that increase global warming pollution, cutting energy waste, and ensuring clear and consistent support for renewable energy and efficiency programs.
That’s why we’re asking citizens to capitalize on this moment of progress and tell their state senator and representative to quickly pass an energy bill that will solve our energy crisis and put us on a climate-safe path.
