Bill > S2303

This bill establishes new responsibilities for the undersecretary of environmental justice and equity to ensure fair distribution of clean energy benefits across Massachusetts, particularly focusing on environmental justice populations and low-income communities. The undersecretary will be tasked with developing a comprehensive framework to track and monitor the allocation of clean energy benefits, creating a nuanced definition that considers spending, pollution reduction, transportation, economic development, and energy cost reduction. They must consult with various stakeholders, including environmental justice councils and experts, to set compliance goals and issue reports on clean energy benefit delivery. The bill requires all clean energy program reviews, starting January 1 of the year following the framework's creation, to detail benefit amounts, allocation, and potential participation barriers, with strategies to reduce these barriers such as community partnerships, multilingual application processes, and accessible financing options. The benefits framework will be reviewed and updated every five years beginning in 2025, and the undersecretary is authorized to adopt necessary regulations after consulting with relevant advisory councils. The first stakeholder group meeting is mandated to occur no later than January 1, 2026, ensuring a structured approach to implementing these equity-focused clean energy initiatives.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2303