MCAN Legislative Action Push - December 2020

 

How to Contact Your Legislator

 

You can find your legislators’ contact information at www.malegislature.gov. Please contact both your Senator and Representative’s offices. Often, the phone number listed on the website is for a committee or a suite of offices, so you’ll have to ask for the specific legislator you want to talk to. Please follow up your call with an email with more information, and feel free to reference the scripts below.

 

Let us know how your outreach went. Email [email protected] to keep us posted! Thank you.

Phone Script

 

Hello, this is ____ (name) calling from (your town). I’m calling today to thank you for your leadership on climate so far this session, and to ask you to continue working with your fellow conference committee members to ensure that an environmental justice amendment is part of  a consensus climate bill.

 

As a member of the Mass Climate Action Network, it’s crucial to me that the climate bill protects environmental justice communities and that the investor-owned utilities take climate into account when determining cost benefits, and ensure that biomass is removed as a source of non-emitting energy that Municipal Light Plants can burn. Lastly, maintaining the net Zero stretch code language is key for the commonwealth to meet its emission target goals.

 

Be a climate leader. Thank you very much.

 

 

Email Script (Senator)

 

Dear Senator ____,

 

I’m [name], your constituent from [your town]. I’m writing today to thank you for helping pass the next Generation Climate Bill (S.2500) this session. [Why Senator’s leadership on climate / getting climate legislation passed this session matters to you.]

 

I also want to ask you to reach out to your colleagues, Senators Barrett, Creem, and O’Connor, to make sure that the final piece of climate legislation that comes out of the conference committee is as strong as possible. 

The threats of climate change march on while the global public health crisis continues to impact people’s lives.  Covid-19 relief packages are essential for supporting people through these difficult times, and we are hopeful for federal stimulus money in 2021.  However, if the Conference Committee fails to put forth a consensus climate bill, the long-term public health and wellbeing of the Commonwealth will be undermined.  

As an active member of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, it’s important to me that this climate bill:

 

• Includes Amendment #52 to the Roadmap Bill, which codifies the definition of Environmental Justice. It’s crucial that Environmental Justice communities are recognized and protected as part of a statewide climate solution.  

 

• Amend the House’s proposed new greenhouse gas emissions standard for Municipal Light Plants to include only resources that are qualified under the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard or the new Clean Energy Standard.

 

• Retain the language in S.2500 that directs the Board of Building Regulations and Standards to develop a Net Zero building code, as well as Amendment #8 to the Roadmap Bill, which adds 4 energy efficiency seats to the BBRS. This gives towns and cities across the Commonwealth the option to require a Net Zero standard for all new construction.   

 

• Require investor-owned utilities to take climate into account when determining the cost-effectiveness of their programs, as outlined in Sections 17-25 of S.2500.

 

Thanks again for your leadership on climate this session, and for reaching out to your colleagues to ensure that MA’s final climate package prioritizes Environmental Justice, clean energy for municipal light plants, and a Net Zero stretch code.  

Climate solutions are public health solutions – and the Commonwealth needs both NOW.  

Your Constituent,

 

[Your Name]

[Your address]

For Representatives

 

Dear Representative ____,

 

I’m [name], your constituent from [your town]. I’m writing today to thank you for helping pass the next Roadmap Bill (H.4912) this session. [Why Rep’s leadership on climate / getting climate legislation passed this session matters to you.]

 

I also want to ask you to reach out to your colleagues, Representatives Golden, Haddad, and Jones, to make sure that the final piece of climate legislation that comes out of the conference committee is as strong as possible. 

The threats of climate change march on while the global public health crisis continues to impact people’s lives.  Covid-19 relief packages are essential for supporting people through these difficult times, and we are hopeful for federal stimulus money in 2021.  However, if the Conference Committee fails to put forth a consensus climate bill, the long-term public health of the Commonwealth will be undermined.  

As an active member of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, it’s important to me that this climate bill:

 

• Includes Amendment #52 to the Roadmap Bill, which codifies the definition of Environmental Justice. It’s crucial that Environmental Justice communities are recognized and protected as part of a statewide climate solution.  

 

• Amend the House’s proposed new greenhouse gas emissions standard for Municipal Light Plants to include only resources that are qualified under the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard or the new Clean Energy Standard.

 

• Retain the language in S.2500 that directs the Board of Building Regulations and Standards to develop a Net Zero building code, as well as Amendment #8 to the Roadmap Bill, which adds 4 energy efficiency seats to the BBRS. This gives towns and cities across the Commonwealth the option to require a Net Zero standard for all new construction.

 

• Require investor-owned utilities to take climate into account when determining the cost-effectiveness of their programs, as outlined in Sections 17-25 of S.2500.

 

Thanks again for your leadership on climate this session, and for reaching out to your colleagues to ensure that MA’s final climate package prioritizes Environmental Justice, clean energy for municipal light plants, and a Net Zero stretch code.

Climate solutions are public health solutions – and the Commonwealth needs both NOW.  

Your Constituent,

 

[Your Name]

[Your address]

Sample Social Media

 

We need a Net Zero Stretch Code, an #EJ4MA amendment, and to remove biomass a non-emitting source! Tell your legislators we need climate legislation now! #MAPoli #ActOnClimate

 

Climate change is a public health issue! To avert future disaster we need a #ClimateBillWithTeeth! A MA climate and environmental justice bill must make it out of conference committee @BarrettSenate @tomtipagolden @PatrickMOConnor @cindycreem @rephaddad @RepBradJones #MAPoli

.@BarrettSenate @tomtipagolden @PatrickMOConnor @cindycreem @rephaddad @RepBradJones As a resident of ____, I call on the conference committee to pass a #ClimateBillWithTeeth, that addresses #EnvironmentalJustice #MApoli

To get a successful #ClimateBillWithTeeth we need an #EJ4ma amendment! There is no climate justice without social justice!

Massachusetts can’t recover from #COVID without leading on #Climate - Climate Solutions are Public Health solutions #MApoli @BarrettSenate @tomtipagolden @PatrickMOConnor @cindycreem @rephaddad @RepBradJones

 

Who to Tag

Conference Committee Members: @BarrettSenate @tomtipagolden @PatrickMOConnor @cindycreem @rephaddad @RepBradJones 

MCAN - @MassClimate

Other climate advocates in your community

 

Hashtags

 

#MApoli

#ClimateBillWithTeeth

#ActOnClimate

#NetZero

#EnvironmentalJustice

#EJ4MA