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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3171 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3577
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Andres X. Vargas and Manny Cruz
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a zero carbon renovation fund.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Andres X. Vargas3rd Essex1/16/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex1/16/2025Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk1/24/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/31/2025Christopher Richard Flanagan1st Barnstable2/3/2025Steven Owens29th Middlesex2/6/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/6/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/12/2025Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/12/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/12/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/12/2025Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/20/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire2/24/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/24/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex3/3/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex3/11/2025Adrianne Pusateri Ramos14th Essex3/11/2025Christopher J. Worrell5th Suffolk3/11/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3171 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3577
By Representatives Vargas of Haverhill and Cruz of Salem, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 3577) of Andres X. Vargas, Manny Cruz and others for legislation to establish a zero
carbon renovation fund to provide for the costs associated with energy efficiency renovations of
certain existing buildings. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a zero carbon renovation fund.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the
2following section:
3 Section 29. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a
4fund to be known as the Zero Carbon Renovation Fund that shall be administered by the
5Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, in consultation with the Department of
6Energy Resources, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center, the Governor’s Office
7of Climate Innovation and Resilience, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable
8Communities, the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the Executive Office of Economic
9Development, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund Board, and the Massachusetts
10Development Finance Agency, who shall expend the funds for costs associated with the
11renovation of existing buildings including Affordable housing as defined by section 38D of
12chapter 121B, homes rented or owned by low or moderate income households as defined by 2 of 3
13section 38D of chapter 121B, municipal buildings, including, but not limited to, public schools,
14and small businesses with Massachusetts State Supplier Diversity Office Certifications to
15conduct “Zero Carbon Renovations'' so that these buildings shall, to the maximum extent
16practicable: (i) be highly energy efficient; (ii) use all-electric heating, hot water, and cooking
17technologies; (iii) include on-site renewable energy generating sources; and (iv) be renovated
18with low-embodied carbon materials. Funds may also be expended as necessary for costs
19associated with the remediation of existing building conditions which must be addressed before a
20Zero Carbon Renovation can be completed. Such remediations may include but not be limited to
21mitigation of mold, asbestos, insect and animal infestation, lead paint, electric system upgrades
22to meet current code or facilitate building electrification, accessibility upgrades required for
23compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and remediation of any structural issues
24related to accommodating the Zero Carbon Renovation. Said fund shall be available to buildings
25throughout the Commonwealth, while prioritizing Affordable housing and low or moderate
26income homes, public schools, and other buildings located in: (i) environmental justice
27communities, as defined in section 62 of chapter 30 and (ii) gateway cities, provided, however,
28that monies deposited in said fund shall, to the maximum extent feasible, be allocated and spent
29through existing programs supporting the aforementioned decarbonization activities. (There shall
30be credited to the fund all amounts that are transferred, or authorized to be transferred thereto, or
31directed to be deposited therein, and all amounts received as gifts, grants, or contributions for the
32purposes of the fund. Any money remaining in the fund at the close of a fiscal year shall not
33revert to the General Fund, but shall remain available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years.
34 XXXX-XXXX For a reserve, as established in Section 29 of Chapter 21A of the General
35Laws, to support the renovation of existing buildings including affordable housing; homes of low 3 of 3
36or moderate income households; municipal buildings, including, but not limited to, public
37schools; and small businesses with Massachusetts State Supplier Diversity Office Certifications,
38provided, however, that funds in this item shall be administered by the Executive Office of
39Energy and Environmental Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Energy Resources,
40the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center, the Governor’s Office of Climate
41Innovation and Resilience, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, the
42Massachusetts School Building Authority, the Executive Office of Economic Development, the
43Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund Board, and the Massachusetts Development Finance
44Agency, for Zero Carbon Renovations; provided further that not less than $300,000,000 shall be
45transferred to the Zero Carbon Renovation Fund …………$300,000,000