Openings Available for Mass. Senate’s Citizens’ Legislative Seminar

Wikimedia Commons / ChensiyuanMassachusetts State House. The following information was provided by State Sen. Brownsberger’s office:

Our office has been notified of one or two additional openings for the Senate’s Citizens’ Legislative Seminar on November 15 and 16. This engaging, free program aims to better educate the public on the functions of the Massachusetts State Legislature. If you are interested and available to attend from 9:30 to 4:00 both days, please email eric.helmuth@masenate.gov with the following information no later than noon this Thursday, September 15:

Name and home addressDaytime phoneBusiness/organization title or affiliation, and address (if any)A short biographical paragraph (six sentences or less). The program will run again in March 2023, so you may also submit your interest for consideration at that time.

Two Opportunities to Meet with State Rep. Hecht in July

State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

The following announcement was provided by Rep. Hecht’s Office:

Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours twice in Watertown in July. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following time and location:

Friday, July 19, 9:00-10:00 a.m., Watertown Town Hall, 149 Main St., 3rd Floor hallway

Monday, July 22, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., Raya Stern Trustees Room

Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

OP-ED: State Senate Passes Energy Bill Aimed at Addressing Climate Change

{The following piece was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who also represents Watertown}

After a long day of debate, the Senate passed the Barrett-Pacheco omnibus energy bill on Thursday — significant legislation to continue movement in Massachusetts towards a cleaner energy future. Addressing climate change is a core priority for me and I am glad to move this legislation forward. The next step will be action by the House of Representatives.   After that, the branches will need to reconcile their differences and get the bill to the Governor’s desk.  We should expect the bill to continue to evolve. As mentioned in a previous post, I am most enthusiastic about the provisions that will lead to carbon pricing in the transportation sector. A summary of the major provisions appears below, excerpted from the Senate press release on the bill:

Increasing the percentage of Class I renewable energy that must be purchased by retail electric suppliers under the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard from an additional 1% annually to an additional 3% annually. Requiring the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to establish market-based compliance mechanisms to maximize the ability of the Commonwealth to achieve its greenhouse gas emission limits for: (i) the transportation sector not later than December 31, 2020; (ii) the commercial and industrial building sectors not later than December 31, 2021; and (iii) the residential building sector not later than December 31, 2022.