Platform for Legislators

”Gas utilities have asked the DPU to approve the spending of ratepayer money on untested and costly technologies to maintain their century-old business plan.” - Attorney General Maura Healey

The Boston Globe, May 12, 2022, article by Sabrina Shankman

Only the legislature can stop the current Department of Public Utilities from approving the dangerous and costly proposals of the gas utilities. This DPU gave the gas utilities the task of planning their own "decarbonization" and announced the department will decide on these plans by the end of 2022. The Conference Committee on Climate can ensure a delay of these decisions by adopting the following language (proposed changes in green):

Proposed New Language: S2842, Section 59

Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule, regulation or order to the contrary, the department of public utilities shall not approve any company-specific plan or regulatory request, filed pursuant to the DPU Docket No. 20-80, Investigation by the Department of Public Utilities on its own Motion into the Role of Gas Local Distribution Companies as the Commonwealth Achieves its Target 2050 Climate Goals, prior to conducting an adjudicatory proceeding with respect to such plan, and prior to adjusting the gas utility regulatory framework to meet the Commonwealth's decarbonization goals.

And:

Proposed New Language: MGL Chapter 164, Section 106

The department shall, from time to time, ascertain the degree of purity that can reasonably be required in gas made and supplied by persons engaged in the manufacture or sale of gas, and shall report to the general court when it deems any change in the law relative thereto is desirable, and may from time to time, after notice and a public hearing, establish rules and regulations consistent with law, governing the quality of gas supplied by persons or municipalities subject to this chapter, provided, however, that the department shall restrict the injection of a substitute fuel from any source into a gas distribution system that delivers thermal energy to a building unless it determines that such substitute fuel (i) is non-emitting in its lifecycle, (ii) does not pose a safety hazard to persons or property, (iii) and has reliable sources of supply that ensure affordability for customers; and provided further, that the department shall prohibit the injection of hydrogen into a gas distribution system that delivers thermal energy to a building. Such rules and regulations shall be enforced in the manner provided in section seventy-nine.

In addition to the critical language changes above, we want a climate bill this session to include the following provisions:

Stop the Gas Utilities’ Plans

We support the Future of Heat bill, H.3298, which reduces the physical, financial and climate risks of our current gas system through:

A Just Transition to Clean Heat:

• Allows gas companies to deliver renewable energy to heat and cool our homes, not just gas.

• Allows gas companies to replace dangerously leaky gas pipes with modern renewable thermal pipes.

• Incentivizes gas companies to make appropriate repairs rather than expensive replacement of old pipes.

• Mandates that the cost of new fossil fuel infrastructure cannot be billed to ratepayers past 2050.

• Requires gas companies to add more renewable energy for heating and cooling each year, moving our gas system and its workers towards a modern energy system with safe jobs.

• Requires that the DPU consider impacts on public health in its decision-making.

Financing the Transition to Clean Heat:

• Authorizes pipeline replacement funds to be used for non-emitting renewable energy infrastructure.

• Authorizes securitization financing for geothermal or other non-emitting renewable thermal technology.

• Assesses per therm charge to fund renewable energy programs as well as energy innovation.

Jobs and Equity Considerations for a Just Transition:

• Assists customers in replacing appliances and upgrading buildings in order to make the transition from gas to renewable energy accessible to all.

• Prohibits landlords from passing onto tenants any costs for which landlords have been reimbursed.

• Provides training for gas workers to transition to comparable clean heat jobs.

In addition, we need to add the following in order to stop the gas company plans:

Prohibit new emitting gases in our buildings and under our streets

• Prioritize health and safety by prohibiting the use of hydrogen, biogas, and other so-called “renewable” or “fossil-free” gases.

Like fracked gas, manufactured gases emit from production to combustion. They are niche products for specific industrial and agricultural uses and not for mass distribution.

• Reserve public or ratepayer funding for the transition to safe, efficient electrical systems such as air-source and ground-source heat pumps, rather than replacing gas pipes.

• Redirect pipeline replacement funds (GSEP) to fix only the large volume and dangerous leaks using advanced leak repair methods, gas distribution system decommissioning, and installation of safe, efficient systems such as heat pumps.

Favor the least emitting choice

• Mandate that gas utilities, wherever possible, pursue non-emitting thermal services over the replacement of gas pipes.

The process should include a review with the rationale for pipe repair or electrification.

• Report methane emissions accurately, including full life-cycle emissions and science-based emissions factors.

The gas companies’ climate plans must accurately reflect the true climate impact of methane. The gas companies' plans are currently based on inaccurate models that treat “renewable” natural gas as a zero emission fuel. It is not.

Electrify Buildings

Require new and remodeled or rehabilitated buildings to be all-electric (H.4477)

Enable zero emissions retrofits of existing buildings:

Follow the approach of the Building Environmental Justice and Energy Efficiency with Jobs bill (H.4571)

• Retrofitting of all buildings, over time, to net zero emissions must be a part of the state’s plan to meet roadmap law requirements. A “net zero emissions building” is one that has no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and is powered (either onsite or some other way) by non-emitting power sources.

• Mass Save must be required to offer comprehensive retrofits, including building electrification, solar power and storage, a contractor network to implement, and expanded financing and grants to benefit all homeowners and renters, low-income residents, and Environmental Justice communities.

• Jobs created through these programs must have family-supporting wages, and the workers’ rights to unionize should be protected.

Support Amendment 128, "Green and Healthy School Buildings", to create new building standards for Massachusetts' public schools with the goals of increasing sustainability and improving school building conditions.

Prohibit energy infrastructure that pollutes already burdened communities (H3336)

• Stop cumulative threats to the health and safety of environmental justice neighborhoods

• Communities overburdened with energy infrastructure must have a voice in siting decisions

• Indoor air quality should be monitored in schools, childcare and elderly care facilities, and hospitals.