Bill H.4796

FILED ON: 5/13/2022

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4796

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to a just transition to clean energy.

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. (a) Notwithstanding any special or general laws to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to ensure that workers employed in the energy sector who are displaced due to efforts by the commonwealth or the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or transition from fossil fuels to clean energy have immediate access to employment and training opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields. The Just Transition Commission shall also study how the Commonwealth and clean energy businesses can ensure they act as responsible employers to further the Commonwealth’s workforce and economic development goals. The Just Transition Commission shall also study how to increase access to employment and training opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields for residents of environmental justice communities.

(b) For purposes of this commission, the following words and phrases shall have the following definitions, unless context clearly requires otherwise:

“environmental justice population”, shall have the same meaning as defined in section 62 of chapter 30.

(c) The commission shall consist of 17 members: (1) the secretary of labor and workforce development, or designee; (2) the commissioner of the department of energy resources, or designee; (3) the director of the office of clean energy equity in the executive office of energy and environmental affairs; (4) a representative of employers in the gas utility sector appointed by the governor; (5) a representative of employers in the electric power generation sector appointed by the Speaker of the House; (6) a representative of employers in the renewable electricity sector appointed by the Senate President; (7) a representative of employers in the energy efficiency sector appointed by the governor; (8) a representative of employers in the clean transportation sector appointed by the Speaker of the House; (9) a representative of employers in the clean heating sector appointed by the Senate President; (10) a representative of employees in the gas utility sector appointed by the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO; (11) a representative of employees in the electric power generation sector appointed by the Massachusetts Building Trades Council; (12) two representatives of employees in the clean energy sector appointed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; (13) a representative of employees in the transportation sector appointed by Massachusetts department of transportation; and (14) three representatives of environmental justice communities appointed by the director of the office of clean energy equity.

(d) If a vacancy occurs on the commission, the appointing authority may fill such vacancy. All members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

(e) The commission shall be tasked with conducting a study needed to develop a just transition plan for the energy sector. The study shall include details on:

(i) Workers currently employed in the fossil fuel sectors by industry, trade, job classification, and region. This information shall include relevant details including, but not limited to, current wage and benefit packages and current licensing, certification, and training requirements.

(ii) The number of jobs clean energy jobs created in the Commonwealth, by industry, trade, job classification, and region.

(iii) Projected inventory of jobs needed and skills and training required to meet future demand for jobs in the clean energy sector.

(iv) Strategies for targeting workforce development, re-employment opportunities, and work supports for dislocated workers displaced from energy sector jobs as a result of the transition to clean energy.

(v) Recommended actions to increase job opportunities in clean energy industries and provide support services for residents of environmental justice communities.

(f) The commission shall report to the department of energy resources, the executive office of labor and workforce development, and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate by no later than January 1, 2024 on the findings of the study required under subsection (e).

SECTION 2. Chapter 23J of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 12 the following new section:-

Section 13: Clean Energy Workforce Development Plan

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (“Center”) shall develop and implement successive 5-year workforce development plans for the Commonwealth, beginning in FY2024, that includes outreach and recruitment into the Clean Energy Industry for existing workers in fossil fuel intensive industries, as well as environmental justice populations and individuals living in municipalities at high risk for climate change within the Commonwealth.

The Center’s workforce development plans shall include:

(1) Development of technical assistance, grants, loans, and demonstration projects, facilitating the creation of construction, operations, and maintenance jobs in the Clean Energy Industry.

(2) Measures to expand training capacity for the Clean Energy industry, building upon the Commonwealth’s extensive existing public and private workforce development facilities, including all state and federally certified apprenticeship programs, licensure, and degree programs.

(3) Specific goals for the utilization of the residual workforce in fossil fuel intensive industries, as well as environmental justice populations and individuals living in municipalities at high risk for climate change within the Commonwealth.

(4) Recommendations, programs and technical assistance for the Clean Energy Industry to ensure that the industry develops and maintains excellent working terms and conditions for all workers employed therein.

(5) Requirements for minimum working conditions on Clean Energy projects owned, leased, or financed by the Center through the Renewable Energy Trust Fund, or otherwise by the Commonwealth, its departments, offices, agencies, and quasi-independent agencies.

The Center will engage all stakeholders in the planning process, including but not limited to the union representatives of workers in fossil fuel industries and organizations serving environmental justice populations and individuals living in municipalities at high risk for climate change within the Commonwealth. The Center will coordinate their workforce development planning and research with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

SECTION 3. (a) Subsection (b) of section 2 of chapter 23J of the Massachusetts General Laws shall be amended by inserting, after the word “Alliance;” in line 50, the following words:

“1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, or designee; 1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, or designee;”

(b) Subsection (b) of section 2 of chapter 23J of the Massachusetts General Laws shall be amended by striking out, in line 42, the word “12” and inserting in place thereof the word “14.”