House Passes Sweeping Climate Change Bill

Today, I joined my colleagues in the House to pass a historic piece of legislation that takes bold steps to tackle climate change, create new jobs, expand access to solar energy for low-income and elderly households, address offshore wind, and protect our planet now and for decades into the future.

By setting next-generation climate policy, H.4912, An Act Creating a 2050 Roadmap for a Clean and Thriving Commonwealth, puts us on a strategic path to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with interim reduction goals set for 2030 and 2040. There will be a roadmap plan, and accompanying regulations, to outline how these goals will be achieved including updates every five years.

This bill also creates net-zero targets for municipal lighting plants while retaining their local control. It includes several provisions to ensure that we are addressing the needs of our environmental justice communities and of workers displaced from the fossil fuel industry.

There are many other good components of this bill. Overall I am pleased that we were able to pass a bill that shows a bold commitment to tackling climate change while fighting for environmental justice and a livable planet for our children, grandchildren, and future generations.