Join 350 Mass, Mass Power Forward, and allies across the Climate Movement at the State House Thursday for the House Energy Omnibus Bill vote!

On Tuesday 2/24, the House Ways and Means Committee started moving a new redrafted version of H.4744, the Energy Omnibus Bill (H.5151). They’re moving fast - ramming a 105 page bill through the Committee in just 45 minutes - but it’s not too late to make the bill better and send a strong message to the State House.

This new version incorporated much of our feedback, with many good elements around:

• No changes to the 2030 climate goals (a major win!)
• A huge expansion of solar energy, including DOER (Department Of Energy Resources) authorization for 10 gigawatts of solar and automated permitting for residential solar
• Low/Moderate income rate protections maintained
• Positive regulations around labor and network geothermal clean heat generation
• Positive regulations around balcony solar panels

But it also includes a massive poison pill in the form of a $1 BILLION cut to the Mass Save budget. This essentially would shut down Mass Save in 2028, taking with it the tens of thousands of clean energy jobs that are supported by energy efficiency and electrification work. It would immediately strip Massachusetts families' ability to get the energy efficiency and electric upgrades that can result in healthier, more affordable homes while likely causing enormous cost to restart the program. Meanwhile gas bills have been increasing 10% each year thanks to continued gas pipeline spending.

The new bill does nothing to cut gas utilities spending ratepayer money on lobbying, perks, and executive salaries. It also fails to take on one of the biggest causes of high bills, the massive expenditures we make on fossil fuel infrastructure through GSEP (the Gas System Enhancement Program).

Call your state representative today and urge them to stop scapegoating Mass Save while utilities spend billions on fossil fuel infrastructure and lobbying. We’ll be able to follow up soon with Amendment numbers to advocate for, then RSVP here to pack the State House on Thursday during the vote.