The Newton Democratic City Committee’s Climate Crisis Subcommittee sponsored an online watch party for the Mass Citizens’ Climate Forum held on October 19 to inform citizens about how recent state and Federal legislation could accelerate climate action across Massachusetts. The forum was organized by Citizens’ Climate Lobby and streamed by Fitchburg State University (video).
Forum speakers included Rep. Lori Trahan (MA CD3), Judy Chang, Massachusetts Undersecretary of Energy and Climate Solutions, and Lower Falls resident David Melly, a legislative director at the Environmental League of Massachusetts.
The session focused on local payoffs from recent legislation that builds on existing environmental programs while bringing significant economics benefits to Massachusetts. These include the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act at the Federal level, and the Clean Energy and Offshore Wind Act at the state level.
Rep. Trahan said, “We’re finally getting the rebates and the subsidies to consumers to weatherize their homes, to purchase heat pumps and to buy eco-friendly appliances.”
The state recently approved a $4-billion program for upgrading buildings, and Undersecretary Chang noted, “That means that there are dollars available for everyone to improve the energy efficiency of your homes and your businesses. Definitely call your Mass Save representatives.”
Melly said that electric vehicle (EV) incentives in the new and existing legislation could lower the sticker price of an EV by $10,000 or more, making it fully competitive with traditional vehicles. He noted that the Clean Energy and Offshore Wind Act will boost the Massachusetts economy and make the state a national leader in offshore wind.
Trahan stressed that the Inflation Reduction Act also sets aside $1.5 billion “to do simple things like planting trees and expanding green spaces in cities, which increases recreation opportunities, lowers our electric bills and reduces heat-related heat illness and death.”
