Supporters of the Environment:

Seldom has there been a more important moment for you to call your State Legislator. Your call could make the difference between a Massachusetts powered by renewable energy, or one powered by climate polluting, fracked gas.

Both the House and the Senate have now passed different versions of an omnibus energy bill. The versions need to be reconciled before July 31st by a House-Senate Conference Committee.

IF the legislature gets this right we can build the first commercial off-shore wind farm in America. We can replace fossil fuels with on-shore wind and hydro. We can fix gas pipeline leaks, reduce pollution and create new industries and jobs in clean technology and manufacturing. IF?! This is where you come in….

We ask you to do two things today:

#1: Click here to email your state legislator and urge them to support a strong and comprehensive energy bill that:

• Requires our utilities to procure 2000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2030. A robust procurement will achieve an economy of scale that will lower costs, and create more local manufacturing and high-tech jobs.
• Increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard growth rate from 1% to 2% each year. This is the amount of renewable energy utilities must buy and will increase the amount of on-shore wind in our energy portfolio.
• Prohibits utilities from charging customers a new “tariff” for new gas pipelines we don’t need.
• Protects consumers by establishing a first in the nation free home energy rating and disclosure program. It’s just like an MPG sticker on your car. It tells you what you’re buying.
• Accelerates repair of our state’s costly and wasteful leaking gas pipelines.

Click here to email your legislator or

Click here to look up your their phone numbers.

(Don’t know who your Legislators are? Click here to find out.)
#2: Call the members of the House-Senate Conference Committee for the energy bill and let them know your priorities for this important legislation. Their phone numbers are below:

• Honorable Brian Dempsey (D-Haverhill), Chairman of House Committee on Ways & Means, 617-722-2990
• Honorable Thomas Golden (D-Lowell), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, 617-722-2263
• Honorable Bradley Jones (R-North Reading), House Minority Leader, 617-722-2100
• Honorable Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, 617-722-1625
• Honorable Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton), Senate President Pro Tempore, 617-722-1551
• Honorable Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Senate Minority Leader, 617-722-1600

Both the House and Senate have made important contributions. But we need the most robust energy bill possible. Your calls today will make the difference. For more on ELM’s analysis of energy legislation and our work on climate change and energy policy, visit www.environmentalleague.org.

Sincerely,

Josh Craft
Program Director
Environmental League of Massachusetts