Sierra Club Supported Legislation, 2013-2014 Session
The information we've provided is based on the best information
available to us at time of publication. The status and/or language of
bills can change quickly and the Sierra Club may
change its position on a bill based on the most recent data, which may
not be posted on this or the State House web site. In some cases, the
Sierra Club has not yet completed a formal analysis and voted to take a
position on the proposed legislation.
Waste and Recycling
Updated
Bottle Bill – (H2943, S1588 Rep. Hecht/Sen. Creem) Updates this
highly successful program to add deposits to water, juice, and tea
beverages. Improves recycling, reduces litter. Dockets
Visit
www.massbottlebill.org for more info. -
Summary -
Click here to take action!
Producer Take-Back for Electronics ("E-Waste") -
(Rep. Smizik, Sen. Eldridge) Places responsibility of disposal of
electronics waste on manufacturers. H803, S357
Incineration
Moratorium and Phaseout – (Sen. DiDomenico/Rep. Garballey) Places a
legislated, permanent moratorium on increasing trash incineration.
Phases out incineration over next 11 years. H706, S1004 -
Summary
Coal and Fossil Fuels
Transition
to a Coal-Free Commonwealth – (Rep. Ehrlich) Would phase out coal in
Massachusetts, help retrain workers, and help transition communities
that host a coal plant. A clean energy future will make Massachusetts a
leader in the World clean energy economy. H2935-
Summary
Regulate Gas Obtained by “Fracking” (Rep. Garballey) Requires
that gas that’s obtained by hydraulic fracturing comply with the Safe
Drinking Water Act. Docket. -
Summary
-and -
Restrict
“Fracking” (Rep. Garballey) Places restrictions on class 2 wells,
making the current administrative ban to a legislated ban. Cleans up
accidental loopholes and vagueness in regulations. H652, H707, H2940,
H788.
- Summary
Natural Gas Leaks Protection Bills – (Rep. Ehrlich). Addresses
the growing issue of natural gas leaks from aging pipes. Natural gas
kills trees, it is 25X more potent a global warming gas than CO2, and
there are 20,000 known gas leaks in Mass. Dockets HD1941/HD2241. -
Energy and Global Climate Change
Carbon
Tax (H2532, Rep Conroy, Sen Barrett) Encourages energy
efficiency by taxing those who pollute more, providing rebates to
mitigate any effects of regressive taxation.
Testimony
Wind Siting Reform – (Rep. Smizik) For siting purposes,
current law discriminates in favor of fossil-fueled facilities. This
bill facilitates the siting of land-based wind energy projects. H2980.
Electric
Vehicles Omnibus Bill - (Rep. Hecht) provides sales tax incentives
for the purchase of EVs, adds incentives for charging stations, places
charging station requirements for parking lots. H3002. -
Summary
Solar Farm Restrictions (H1838, Rep. Gifford) Would change the
existing state laws, resulting in more restrictioons placed on solar
panels.
Testimony in opposition -
bill text
Toxins and Pollution
Plastic
Bag Ban I – (Rep. Ehrlich, Sen. Eldridge) Bans non-biodegradable
plastic shopping bags that kills countless millions of animals/year.
Allows exemptions for small stores. Requires that paper bags be 80%
recycled material. H696 -
Summary -
Click here to take action!
- and -
Plastic
Bag Ban II –(Rep. Provost, Sen. Eldridge) Bans all plastic shopping
bags. Requires that paper bags be 80% recycled material. H787, S359
- Summary -
Click here to take action!
Ban Polystyrene – (Rep. Smizik, Sen. Barrett). Bans
polystyrene (#6 plastic) in all forms when in contact with food. H2087 - Summary
Make Idling Law Enforceable – (Sen. Brownsberger) The current
5-minute limit is difficult to enforce and produces excessive greenhouse
gas. This reduces the limit to 2 minutes. S1636 -
Summary
Safer Alternatives – (Rep. Smizik) Creates a program to
support businesses and manufacturers to transition away from using and
selling products containing toxic chemicals. H235, H2086
Mercury Protection - (Rep. Smizik) Producer responsibility
bills that require manufacturers to offer a small bounty on old
thermostats in order to keep them out of the trash. H802, H814.
NOTE: The state senate passed a weak mercury bill in March. Contact
your state rep to ask them to make it stronger!
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) (Rep. Ehrlich) H1944
Particulates, (Rep. Provost), H2059, H3128.
Habitat
Article 97/Public Lands Protection Act – (Rep. Balser/Sen.
Eldridge) Requires “no-net-loss” replacement of lands for parks being
used or transferred from protected status. H657, S361.
Old Growth Forest Initiative - (Rep. Kulik) Establishes
Reserves to protect the few remaining Old Growth Forests, which have
escaped the clear-cutting of the past and provide unique habitats.
H749.
Protect the Mass Endangered Species Act (MESA) - (Rep. Kulik)
Strengthen protections for rare species provided by the Massachusetts
legislature, almost 20 years of conservation of rare plants and animals.
H756.
Outdoor Lighting Standards ("Dark Skies") - (Rep.
Garballey, Sen. Creem) Not only do some outdoor lights waste energy,
they also jeopardize wildlife and interfere with bird migration. This
requires that streetlights, etc., don’t endanger wildlife by simply
directing the light downwards. H2941, S1573
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