Mass Legislature is holding hearings on decarbonizing buildings, July 12 & 13
One third of Massachusetts carbon emissions come from the building sector, and two-thirds of that is from gas, explained Anita Roy Dobbs at a June 29 presentation on The Future of Clean Heat Act. The bill lays out a strategy to move gas companies and customers to non-combusting, non-emitting renewable sources of energy, such as air-source or networked ground-source heat pumps by 2050. The Future of Clean Heat bill offers a “utility-scale solution to a utility-scale problem,” says Dobbs, who is a member of Gas Transition Allies.
Dobbs spoke along with Salem City Councilor Jeff Cohen, who has been leading local efforts to reduce building emissions. Councilor Cohen is advocating for Salem to participate in a state pilot program that would allow the Council to limit gas infrastructure in new construction throughout the city.
Future of Clean Heat Presentation
A Utility-Scale Solution
The Future of Clean Heat bill (H. 3203, S.2105) has multiple provisions but most importantly it includes both an opportunity and a mandate. It opens the door for gas companies to reinvent their utility to sell clean heat – non-combusting, non-emitting renewable thermal energy – instead of gas, and they can install the needed infrastructure, including networked ground-source heat pumps, using their skilled workforce and their existing access to our streets. At the same time, the bill mandates that gas companies create plans to transition gas infrastructure and pursue neighborhood-wide electrification projects, allowing municipalities and customers to participate in the planning. The bill also empowers and requires the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to create the regulatory structure needed for these vital transitions, while DPU decision-making is made more transparent to the public.
“We need a utility-scale solution to a utility-scale problem.”
–Anita Roy Dobbs, Gas Transition Allies
The Future of Clean Heat Act takes the burden off homeowners, who currently have to spend considerable time researching options and the various cost-saving programs supported by the federal government and the state. Most gas customers can’t afford the time, let alone the money, to switch off gas, so they have no choice but to stick with their current heating system. And individual efforts don’t result in the retirement of any leaking gas infrastructure. In a utility-scale solution, the gas companies do the planning and financing, get economies of scale, and retain customers who repay this investment through monthly utility bills. This is how we reach a future of clean heat — and cooling!
Moving Salem Off Gas
As a result of state legislation passed last year, Councilor Cohen explained, a state pilot program will allow 10 communities to pass local ordinances that limit gas hookups in new buildings, explained Councilor Cohen. The Department of Energy Resources is responsible for choosing the ten communities and, thus far, is considering the first applicants only, mostly affluent towns. Under Councilor Cohen’s leadership, Salem submitted a home rule petition (H.3846) to be part of that pilot but the DOER has not yet decided if it will consider additional applicants. In addition to Salem, Somerville and Boston would like to be included in the first 10 communities. Along with Salem, these are all Environmental Justice cities, a criteria that Cohen believes should be prioritized, since these communities have borne the burdens of fossil fuel production and transmission for generations. If these communities were included, said Cohen, 18 percent of Massachusetts’ population would have an opportunity to shape their environmental futures.
Upcoming Hearings
On Wednesday, July 12, and Thursday, July 13, the Legislature’s Joint Telecommunications, Utility and Energy (TUE) Committee is holding separate House and Senate hearings on a package of decarbonization bills, including those discussed above. The Senate hearing is July 12, 1 pm to 5 pm. The House hearing is the following day, July 13, 10 am to 1 pm. The public is invited to testify in person or by Zoom. To testify in person or on Zoom for the Senate hearing, you must fill out this form by 11 am July 12. For the House hearing, individuals must fill out this form by 5 pm Tuesday, July 11. Oral testimony is limited to 3 minutes.
You can also submit written testimony (of any length):
For the Senate: Written testimony can be submitted via email to Lexi Concannon at Lexi.Concannon@masenate.gov. The deadline is Friday, July 14 by 5 p.m. When submitting written testimony, please send it as an attachment and use the following document title format: Bill# – Your Organization’s Name – Support/Oppose
For the House: Written testimony can be submitted via email to JointCommittee.Utilities&Energy@malegislature.gov. The deadline to submit written testimony is Friday, July 14 by 5 p.m. When submitting written testimony, please send it as an attachment and use the following document title format: Bill# – Your Organization’s Name – Support/Oppose
Please join SAFE in adding your voice in support of The Future of Clean Heat Act and the petition to join other communities in developing a plan for banning new gas infrastructure in our city.
Additional Resources
Summary of the Future of Clean Heat Legislation [pdf]
Gas Transition Allies Future of Clean Heat slide presentation [pdf]