BOSTON (AP) - The Massachusetts Senate on Monday again approved a sweeping climate change bill that has ping-ponged between lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Baker for the past several months.
The 39-1 vote follows a decision last month by the Republican governor to return the bill to lawmakers with proposed changes - a move that came after the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill during the waning days of the prior formal session in January.
Both Baker and lawmakers say they support a key element of the bill - creating a net-zero greenhouse gas emission limit by 2050.
The Legislature’s bill includes additional steps like incremental goals every five years to reach a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 before meeting the 2050 goal.
The bill would also strengthen protections for “environmental justice populations” - typically lower income communities facing greater health risks from pollution; create a specialized energy code that would allow for net-zero building construction for towns that want it; and increase the production of offshore wind energy.
The bill approved Monday preserves all the essential elements of the original bill, said Sen. Cindy Creem.
“The bill we passed in January and vote again on today is a landmark piece of climate legislation,” the Newton Democrat said. “By mapping out the road to net zero emissions by 2050 it ensures Massachusetts is doing its part to help the country and the world address the threat of climate change.”
Baker has said he supports much of the legislation.
“The science is clear - the Commonwealth, the nation and the world must achieve net zero emissions by 2050 if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change,” Baker said in a letter to lawmakers last month when he returned the bill.
But he has also said some elements in the legislation could end up slowing the economy as it tries to rebound from the pandemic.
Most of the changes suggested by Baker are technical in nature, impacting the details about how the state hopes to reach its renewable energy goals. One amendment proposed by the governor would give specific sectors of the economy more flexibility in reducing emissions, as long as the state hits its overall target.
Baker has also expressed concern that some elements of the bill could make it harder to build desperately needed housing.
In a joint statement issued last week, the Democratic leaders of both chambers - Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano - said the bill can accomplish many goals.
“We can fight climate change, grow the economy, and support the most vulnerable at the same time,” they said.
The House is expected to debate, and likely pass, the bill again on Thursday with the goal of shipping it back to Baker quickly.
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