Amendment #21 to H4738

Coordination of Clean Energy Standards and Emissions Limits

Representatives Smizik of Brookline, Meschino of Hull, Gentile of Sudbury, Provost of Somerville, Higgins of Leominster, Connolly of Cambridge, DuBois of Brockton and Goldstein-Rose of Amherst move to amend the bill by inserting after section 9 the following 2 sections:-

SECTION XX. Subsection (a) of section 4 of chapter 21N of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following 2 sentences:- “The secretary shall further adopt no later than December 31, 2020 both the 2030 statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit pursuant to clause (2) of subsection (b) of section 3, which shall be not less than 40 per cent below the 1990 emissions level, and the 2040 statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit pursuant to clause (3) of said subsection (b) of said section 3, which shall be not less than 60 per cent below the 1990 emissions level.”

SECTION XX. Said section 4 of said chapter 21N, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (h) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- “(h) The secretary shall issue a comprehensive 2050 emissions reduction plan that shall describe in detail the commonwealth’s actions and methods for achieving the emissions limits required by subsection (b) of section 3. The 2050 emissions reduction plan shall: (i) address all sources and categories of sources that emit greenhouse gas emissions; (ii) take into account the requirements of the Renewable Portfolio and Clean Peak Standards required by chapter 25A of the General Laws and the Clean Energy Standard required by 310 CMR 7.75; and (iii) include or be accompanied by analysis quantitatively assessing proposed and planned actions, methods, regulations and programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for their economic, environmental and public health impacts, particularly those that may benefit or burden low-income or moderate-income people. The 2050 emission reduction plan shall be developed following public hearings. The secretary shall evaluate, adjust if necessary and publish updates to the 2050 emissions reduction plan not less than once every 30 months, including assessments of the effectiveness, to date, of all actions, methods, regulations and programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the extent to which the actions, methods, regulations and programs impact low-income or moderate-income households and minimize administrative burdens and leakage.”