Bill > H3541

This bill modifies Massachusetts' existing greenhouse gas emissions measurement and reporting requirements by updating how statewide greenhouse gas emissions are defined and calculated. Specifically, the bill requires that emissions be expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) for both 20-year and 100-year timeframes, which allows for a more nuanced understanding of different greenhouse gases' warming potentials. The bill mandates that the state department annually publish a greenhouse gas emissions inventory using updated emissions factors and accounting methods, which would be applied retroactively to 1990. Additionally, the bill introduces a new requirement for ongoing greenhouse gas emissions monitoring using statistically significant sampling methods, continuous direct atmospheric measurements, and the best available scientific methodology. This monitoring would be conducted by an independent contractor, with emissions data to be publicly available, compared annually to the inventory, and analyzed for any significant differences. If the new measurement methods differ from federal reporting requirements, the department must report both sets of results side-by-side. The goal appears to be creating a more comprehensive, transparent, and scientifically rigorous approach to tracking the state's greenhouse gas emissions.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3541