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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1445 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3584
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bud L. Williams
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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 to prevent gas expansion to protect climate, community health and safety..
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bud L. Williams11th Hampden1/14/2025 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1445 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3584
By Representative Williams of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3584) of
Bud L. Williams for legislation to further regulate gas facilities. 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 to prevent gas expansion to protect climate, community health and safety..
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: Section 69J of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
2by inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
3 No new gas facility or expansion of an existing gas facility, any part of which falls within
4a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice neighborhood, shall be approved unless required for
5the safety of the public.
6 SECTION 2: Section 69K of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
7inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
8 No new gas facility, or expansion of an existing gas facility, any part of which falls
9within a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice neighborhood, shall be granted a petition for a
10certificate unless required for the safety of the public. 2 of 4
11 SECTION 3. Section 69J ¼ of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
12inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
13 No new gas generating facility or expansion of an existing gas generating facility, any
14part of which falls within a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice neighborhood, shall be
15approved.
16 SECTION 4. Section 69K ½ of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
17inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
18 No new gas generating facility or expansion of an existing gas generating facility, within
19a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice community, shall be granted a petition for a
20certificate.
21 REDLINED against 193 session’s H.3237/S.2135
22 An Act establishing a moratorium on new gas system expansion to prevent gas expansion
23to protect climate, community health and safety.
24 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled,
25and by the authority of the same, as follows:
26 SECTION 1: Section 69J of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
27by inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
28 No new gas facility shall be approved, and nor expansion of an existing gas facility, any
29part of which falls within a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice neighborhood, shall be
30approved unless required for the safety of the public. 3 of 4
31 SECTION 2: Section 69K of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
32inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
33 No new gas facility, or expansion of an existing gas facility, any part of which falls
34within a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice neighborhood, shall be granted a petition for a
35certificate, and no expansion of an existing gas facility shall be granted a petition for a certificate
36unless required for the safety of the public.
37 SECTION 3. Section 69J ¼ of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
38inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
39 No new gas generating facility or expansion of an existing gas generating facility, any
40part of which falls within a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice neighborhood, shall be
41approved.
42 SECTION 4. Section 69K ½ of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
43inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
44 No new gas generating facility or expansion of an existing gas generating facility, within
45a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice community, shall be granted a petition for a
46certificate.
47 SECTION 3: Section 30 of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is amended by striking out,
48in line 1 the words “a gas or” and inserting in place thereof the following word: -”an”.
49 SECTION 4: Said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting
50after section 86 the following section:- 4 of 4
51 Section 86A. A town where no gas company exists in active operation, or where no
52person owns or operates the manufacture and sale of gas, no gas company, nor any other person,
53shall dig up and open the streets, lanes, and highways of such town in order to construct a gas
54facility.