SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2159        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2185

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Adam Gomez

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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 providing for community-based green infrastructure in Western Massachusetts.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2159        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2185

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 providing for community-based green infrastructure in Western Massachusetts.

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

Chapter 25A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 10A the following section:-

Section 10B.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the department shall establish local community utility associations and local utility districts designed to serve areas not larger than a census tract and authorizes such associations to work in conjunction with existing utility companies and other relevant agencies and craft unions to design, implement, operate, and maintain facilities such as photovoltaic solar power generation, geothermal heating and cooling, residential conservation efforts, stimulation of local agriculture, extension of vehicle fleet life, support of walkable development patterns, and conversion of existing vehicles to electric propulsion.

(b) The department, working in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, shall work in conjunction with and assist community development corporations, neighborhood councils, and other non-profit organizations interested in adapting their communities to a more sustainable future to develop strategies to carry out this work in their communities. This assistance shall include, but not be limited to, the development of model documents governing their authority in working with multiple property owners within the communities and relating to utility, energy, transportation, and communications companies relative to individual solar and communications projects as well as collective geo-thermal and 'Community Solar' projects.