Bill > S2256

This bill establishes the Gateway Cities Renewable, Efficient, and Electrified Neighborhoods (GREEN) Initiative, aimed at retrofitting low-income and moderate-income housing in gateway cities and smaller qualifying municipalities to improve energy efficiency. The initiative will focus on upgrading housing units with clean heating and cooking technologies, potentially incorporating on-site renewable energy sources, and prioritizing buildings with 6 or fewer units. The program will be administered by the Department of Energy Resources, which can contract with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and will create a special account funded by up to $30 million annually from electric and gas distribution companies. Sponsor organizations like municipal governments and nonprofits can apply to participate, and the department will help them navigate financial assistance programs and provide incentives for maintaining affordable housing. The bill requires collecting comprehensive data on the retrofits' impacts, including energy savings, air quality improvements, and greenhouse gas reductions, and mandates public transparency through community events and published evaluations. Additionally, the initiative includes provisions to promote participation of minority and women-owned businesses and will establish a task force to guide implementation, ensuring diverse stakeholder input and community engagement.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2256