HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 602        FILED ON: 1/13/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2990

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Martha M. Walz

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing natural gas infrastructure improvement financing.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Martha M. Walz

8th Suffolk

1/13/2013

Thomas M. Menino

1 City Hall Square, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02201

 

Carlo Basile

1st Suffolk

 

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

1/17/2013

Stephen L. DiNatale

3rd Worcester

 

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

 

Cory Atkins

14th Middlesex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 602        FILED ON: 1/13/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2990

By Ms. Walz of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2990) of Martha M. Walz and others for legislation to establish a program within the Department of Public Utilities for natural gas distribution companies to replace certain leaking pipes.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act establishing natural gas infrastructure improvement financing.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to finance improvements to the Commonwealth’s natural gas infrastructure, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 25 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 21 the following section:-

Section 21A. The department shall establish a funding mechanism, which may include rate adjustments, and administer a program for natural gas distribution companies to replace pipes with leaks not deemed to be an immediate health and safety threat but that leak methane and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The funds for this program shall be dedicated to natural gas infrastructure improvement and leak reduction. The department is hereby authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.