Amendment #52 to H4617

Health Impacts of Energy Emissions

Mr. Hecht of Watertown moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

Section XX.

To protect public health and contain health care costs in the Commonwealth, the Department of Public Health shall create an assessment tool to quantify the health impacts and costs of emissions associated with grid electricity, delivered fuels, renewable energy, and other energy sources in the Commonwealth. The assessment tool shall separately quantify health impacts and costs of emissions to environmental justice populations, the MassHealth program, community hospitals, and the state budget. The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, health impacts and costs due to particulate matter < 2.5 microns, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon, carbon dioxide, and mercury emissions from energy sources. Health impacts and costs shall include, but not be limited to, premature death, cardiovascular events or injury, chronic bronchitis, asthma, respiratory symptoms, hospital admissions, restricted activity days, lost school and work days, and developmental/neurological problems. In creating the assessment tool, the Department of Public Health shall make reference to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Co-Benefits Risk Assessment, the health science underlying the US Environmental Protection Agency Clean Power Plan and Health Care Without Harm’s Healthcare Energy Impact Calculator.

Not later than 12 months after the effective date of this act, the Department of Public Health shall submit the assessment tool and explanatory materials to the Clerks of the Senate and the House, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The Department of Public Health shall update the tool every 3 years.