SENATE DOCKET, NO. 276        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1748

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

William N. Brownsberger

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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 requiring the timely adoption of greenhouse gas emission limits for the year 2030.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 276        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1748

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2085 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act requiring the timely adoption of greenhouse gas emission limits for the year 2030.

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

SECTION 1.  Section 4 of Chapter 21N of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(a) The secretary shall adopt the 2020 statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit pursuant to subsection (b) of section 3 which shall be between 10 per cent and 25 per cent below the 1990 emissions level and a plan for achieving said reduction. The secretary shall further adopt the 2030 statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit pursuant to subsection (b) of section 3 which shall be between 35 per cent and 60 per cent below the 1990 emissions level and a plan for achieving said reduction. The secretary shall consult with all state agencies and regional authorities with jurisdiction over sources of greenhouse gases on all elements of the emissions limits and plans that pertain to energy-related matters including, but not limited to, electrical generation, load based-standards or requirements, the provision of reliable and affordable electrical service and statewide fuel supplies, to ensure the greenhouse gas emissions reduction activities to be adopted and implemented by the secretary are complementary, non-duplicative and can be implemented in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The 2020 and 2030 statewide emissions limits and implementation plans shall comply with this section.

SECTION 2. Said section 4 of said chapter 21N, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 16, the word "limit” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- "limits"

SECTION 3. Said section 4 of said chapter 21N, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 37 and 38, the words "2020 emission limit and implementing plan" and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  2020 and 2030 emission limits and implementing plans

SECTION 4. Chapter 298 of the Acts of 2008 is hereby amended by striking out section 16 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 16.  The department of environmental protection shall promulgate regulations pursuant to subsection (d) of said section 3 of said chapter 21N not later than January 1, 2016, which regulations shall take effect on January 1, 2017.

SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, clause (2) of subsection (b) of section 3 of Chapter 21N of the General Laws shall be implemented no later than January 1, 2021.

SECTION 6. The 2030 statewide greenhouse gas initiative required to be adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4 of said chapter 21N shall be adopted no later than January 1, 2021.