MassDEP Releases Clean Heat Standard Program Proposal
NOVEMBER 24, 2023
Recently, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) released a proposed program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil heating fuels. This process – commonly referred to as the Clean Heat Standard – requires the replacement of fossil heating fuels with clean heating options . This proposal would strongly incentivize the installation of electric heat pumps and give added support to low-income households.
Earlier this year, Representative Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) filed bill H.3694, An Act relative to the clean heat standard, to implement a Clean Heat Standard in Massachusetts by extending renewable energy mechanisms to homes and buildings, incentivizing the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Driscoll’s hope in filing this legislation was to push the administration to follow through with a previous commission report related to a Clean Heat Standard in the Commonwealth. The announcement that MassDEP will administratively develop a Clean Heat Standard that focuses on supporting electrification means that this bill may no longer be needed and that steps will be taken to implement such strategies without further legislation.
This initiative is headed in a positive direction, but Driscoll intends on continuing to collaborate with advocates and monitor this plan as the process undergoes.
Residents are encouraged to submit input. In the coming weeks, MassDEP plans to hold three open sessions to discuss the draft program framework:
Residents should email climate.strategies@mass.gov with any questions or comments concerning the Clean Heat Standard and/or heating fuel supplier reporting. MassDEP is specifically looking for written comments on the draft program framework by Thursday, December 21, 2023.
For more information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-clean-heat-standard.
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