This past winter, our vulnerability as a coastal state became clear. T stations flooded along the waterfront, communities lost power, and tides engulfed entire neighborhoods along the coast. According to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, the March storm alone cost $1.8B in damage to Massachusetts and neighboring states.
Massachusetts has a significant track record preparing for and mitigating the effects of climate change. With the passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act in 2008, we set ourselves on a trajectory to make historic investments in clean power like solar, hydro, and wind power. Today, those efforts are bearing fruit. We recently completed the largest procurement of offshore wind energy in our history. Our polices have ranked us number one in energy efficiency. The clean energy sector accounts for just over 109,000 jobs - an 81% increase since 2010.
However, these policies need funding to be successful, and our Commonwealth needs to be resilient in the face of future severe storms. Our House budget was a significant step toward funding programs to ensure we’re resilient in the face of a changing climate. We included $2.2M for Climate Change Planning and Adaptation, $29M for environmental protection, $1.1M for watershed protection, and $855K for Ecological Restoration.
Today, the House passed a $2.2 billion bond bill authorizing funding for climate adaptation, conservation, recreation, environmental protection, and other programs. This includes:
- 60M for coastal infrastructure and resiliency measures,
- $95M for water and air quality protection at DEP,
- $180M for state, municipal, and publically-owned dams,
- $160M for DCR parkways and trails,
- $165M for natural and coastal resource conservation grants
- And $9M for Electric Vehicle Incentive Program, just to name a few.
Overall, we passed a strong bond bill that authorized investments in programs that will make a difference in our communities. We’re all aware of the risks of climate change. We need to prepare for extreme weather situations and ensure the commonwealth’s infrastructure is ready to bounce back. We also have a responsibility to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we use. This bill ensures we make the investments in our shared environmental goals and remain stewards of our natural resources for generations to come.
