MCAN is excited to share our 2023/24 legislative priorities focusing on four critical areas of climate action: 1) equitable building decarbonization; 2) the reduction of embodied carbon in buildings; 3) reforming municipal utilities and advancing energy democracy; and 4) advancing energy and environmental justice.

MCAN worked with many of our partner organizations and coalitions on developing these bills.  We expect to expand this list as co-sponsors take on bills.   

Download the full list of MCAN's legislative priorities here.

MCAN's Top Four Priorities

1. An Act Establishing a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund (H.3232/S.2365)

• Sponsors: Rep. Vargas, Sen Gomez

The ZCRF is a bold proposal to allocate $300 million from the Massachusetts State Legislature for a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund to jumpstart the market for zero-carbon renovations in existing buildings in Massachusetts, with the goal of having this fund administered by MassCEC. Renovations supported by the ZCRF will include improvements and renovations that are aligned with a zero-carbon future and incorporates one or more of the following: (1) maximizing energy efficiency through building envelope upgrades; (2) electrification of building systems; (3) maximizing usage of on-site renewable energy, wherever possible; and (4) consideration of building retrofit materials that are low embodied carbon. The ZCRF will prioritize affordable housing, public housing, low- and moderate-income homes, schools, BIPOC and women businesses, and buildings located in Environmental Justice communities.

Learn more and take action here.

2. An Act Advancing Clean Energy, Equity, and Innovation within Municipal Utilities (H.3150/S.2117)

• Sponsors: Rep. Cataldo, Sen. Elridge

An Act Advancing Clean Energy, Equity, and Innovation within Municipal Utilities addresses the equitable distribution of benefits and burdens of the clean energy transition by requiring municipal utilities (also known as Municipal Light Plants or MLPs) to adhere to the same clean energy goals and requirements as Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs). In particular, the bill requires MLPs to meet the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the Clean Peak Standard (CPS) by 2030 - requirements that the rest of the state is already meeting now. It also establishes a $50 million fund to accelerate the transition to clean energy for environmental justice communities, low- or moderate-income housing, and elderly housing that is being served by MLPs.

Learn more and take action here.

3. An Act Incorporating Embodied Carbon into State Climate Policy (H.764/S.2090)

• Sponsors: Rep. Ciccolo & Rep. Owens, Sen Comerford

Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building and infrastructure materials. The emissions that come from embodied carbon account for between 11-23% of global annual emissions. This bill takes critical steps to address this little-known but critical source of global emissions by establishing a state advisory board to address embodied carbon; requiring DOER to put forward recommendations and best practices for measuring and reducing embodied carbon; requiring a report outlining effective regulation strategies for reducing embodied carbon; and incorporating the measurement and reduction of embodied carbon into the stretch and specialized stretch code.

Learn more and take action here.

4. An Act relative to energy facilities siting improvement to address environmental justice, climate, and public health (H.3187/S.2113)

• Rep. Madaro, Sen. DiDomenico & Sen. Edwards

The years-long fight to prevent a polluting substation from being constructed in East Boston illustrates a larger problem: environmental justice (EJ) communities do not have enough power to stop polluting facilities from being built in their neighborhoods. We need the Massachusetts Siting Reform Bill to protect vulnerable communities and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. The bill will require a cumulative impact assessment and an EJ impact statement before the Energy Facilities Siting Board approves any electricity generating facility or oil, gas, or substation facility. Additionally, it would prohibit the approval of electricity-generating facilities or substations if the EJ impact statement shows that they will result in public health or other harm to EJ populations.

Learn more and take action here (Coming Soon)

Full List of Legislative Priorities

Equitable Building Decarbonization

• (H.3232/S.2365) An Act Establishing a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund
  • Sponsors: Rep. Vargas, Sen Gomez
• (H.3171/ S.21098) An Act establishing the Gateway cities Renewable, Efficient, and Electrified Neighborhoods initiative
  • Rep. Higgins & Rep. Kushmerek, Sen. Crighton
• Wholistic Building Decarbonization (TBD)
  • Sponsors: TBD

Reducing Embodied Carbon

• (H.764/S.2090) An Act Incorporating Embodied Carbon into State Climate Policy
  • Sponsors: Rep. Ciccolo & Rep. Owens, Sen Comerford
• (H.3035/S.1981) An Act requiring state procurement of low-carbon building materials
  • Sponsors: Rep. Garballey, Sen. Creem
• (S.1982/H.3002) An Act relative to the use of low-embodied carbon concrete in state projects
  • Sponsors: Rep. Cahill, Sen. Creem

Municipal Utilities and Energy Democracy

• (H.3150/S.2117): An Act Advancing Clean Energy, Equity, and Innovation within Municipal Utilities 
  • Sponsors: Rep. Cataldo, Sen. Elridge
• (HD.3410/S.2146) An Act Reforming the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company Board of Directors
  • Sponsors: Rep. Kerans, Sen. Lovely
• (S.2095) An Act supporting municipal light plants
  • Sponsors: Sen. Creem 
• (H.3184/S.2111) An Act An act to enhance municipal choice and provide affordable electricity options
  • Sponsors: Rep. Kushmerek, Sen. Cronin

Coalition Priorities

• (H.2131/S.1382) An Act to improve outdoor and indoor air quality for communities burdened by pollution
  • Sponsors: Rep. Barber & Rep. Connolly, Sen. Jehlen
• (H.3187/S.2113) An Act relative to energy facilities siting improvement to address environmental justice, climate, and public health
  • Rep. Madaro, Sen. DiDomenico & Sen. Edwards
• (H.1677/S.953) An Act relative to access to justice
  • Rep. Meschino, Sen. DiDomenico & Sen. Miranda
• (H.3237/S.2135) An Act establishing a moratorium on new gas system expansion
  • Sponsors: Rep. Williams & Rep. Ramos, Sen. Gomez
• (H.872/S.481) An Act establishing a climate change superfund and promoting polluter responsibility
  • Sponsors: Rep. Owens, Sen. Eldridge