Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2290 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2088 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2290
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Adam Gomez
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act preventing gas expansion to protect climate, community health and safety.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Adam GomezHampdenJacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/11/2025Mike Connolly26th Middlesex2/11/2025Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/20/2025 1 of 12
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2088 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2290
18	18	By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2290) of Adam Gomez, Jacob R.
19	19	Oliveira, Mike Connolly and Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to establish a moratorium on new
20	20	gas system expansion. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE SENATE, NO. 2135 OF 2023-2024.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act preventing gas expansion to protect climate, community health and safety.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Section 69J of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
32	32	2by inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
33	33	3 No new gas facility or expansion of an existing gas facility, any part of which falls within
34	34	4a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice neighborhood, shall be approved unless required for
35	35	5the safety of the public.
36	36	6 SECTION 2. Section 69K of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
37	37	7inserting, at the end thereof the following: - 2 of 12
38	38	8 No new gas facility, or expansion of an existing gas facility, any part of which falls
39	39	9within a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice neighborhood, shall be granted a petition for a
40	40	10certificate unless required for the safety of the public.
41	41	11 SECTION 3. Section 69J ¼ of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
42	42	12inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
43	43	13 No new gas generating facility or expansion of an existing gas generating facility, any
44	44	14part of which falls within a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice neighborhood, shall be
45	45	15approved.
46	46	16 SECTION 4. Section 69K ½ of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
47	47	17inserting, at the end thereof the following: -
48	48	18 No new gas generating facility or expansion of an existing gas generating facility, within
49	49	19a 5 mile radius of an environmental justice community, shall be granted a petition for a
50	50	20certificate.
51	51	21 SECTION 5. Section 1E of Chapter 164 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
52	52	22adding the following subsections after subsection (c):-
53	53	23 (d) The department shall require each company engaged in the sale or distribution of gas
54	54	24as part of performance-based ratemaking and biennially, as required by this act, to submit a just
55	55	25transition plan, which must be approved by the department, to address workforce development,
56	56	26maintenance, and attrition, and provide the following:
57	57	27 (i) A detailed proposed chronology for projected energy supply and distribution in the
58	58	28transition to net zero emissions to be set through performance-based ratemaking; 3 of 12
59	59	29 (ii) A detailed plan for the hire, retention, and training of a sufficient operations and
60	60	30maintenance workforce through 2050, or until the complete retirement of its gas pipeline is
61	61	31achieved, whichever is later, and which addresses the gas company’s operational plans to meet
62	62	32the commonwealth’s net zero emissions goals while concurrently fulfilling this chapter’s
63	63	33requirements to provide safe and reliable service as well as all other state and federal regulatory
64	64	34requirements;
65	65	35 (iii) Sufficient in-house staffing levels, in each relevant job classification and department
66	66	36to ensure the safety and reliability of the gas company’s gas service through the effective time
67	67	37period for which the performance-based rates have been sought and taking into account the gas
68	68	38company’s projected schedule for adopting non-pipeline and other renewable energy alternatives
69	69	39to natural gas and its obligations to maintain safe and reliable gas service to existing customers;
70	70	40 (iv) Training and workforce development plans providing for gas company workforce
71	71	41needs on residual natural gas as well as non-pipeline alternatives and other renewable energy
72	72	42sources through the effective time period for which the performance-based rates have been
73	73	43sought, including but not limited to, the generation and distribution infrastructure utilized to
74	74	44replace and/or complement natural gas, whether by the gas company, its parent or subsidiary or
75	75	45related corporation, a joint venture, or another company regulated by the department with
76	76	46electric or other non-pipeline alternative or renewable energy service territory overlap with the
77	77	47gas company;
78	78	48 (v) Any and all mitigation measures proposed or implemented to address the impacts of
79	79	49transition on the gas company’s workforce over the course of the time period in which the
80	80	50performance-based rates remain in effect, including but not limited to, cross-training and hiring 4 of 12
81	81	51preferences at dual-fuel companies and joint ventures with non-pipeline alternative energy and/or
82	82	52other renewable energy generators and distributors, early retirement incentives, and education
83	83	53stipends for retraining;
84	84	54 (vi) Any collective bargaining or other agreements reached with labor unions
85	85	55representing the gas company’s in-house workforce and/or representing the workforce of outside
86	86	56contractors to ensure a just workforce transition over the duration of the proposed performance-
87	87	57based rates or until a full transition to net zero emissions is achieved;
88	88	58 (vii) In the event of the gas company’s anticipated substantial, partial, or complete
89	89	59cessation of gas operations in Massachusetts during the period in which performance-based
90	90	60review is effective, the company must report the following to the department:
91	91	61 (a) Means by which the gas company, and/or its parent corporation, intends to avoid
92	92	62burdening the commonwealth, ratepayers, or taxpayers with the social welfare costs resulting
93	93	63from such cessation;
94	94	64 (b) Measures to ensure the solvency of the gas company pension system during and after
95	95	65transition;
96	96	66 (c) Measures to stem the displacement of gas company employees unemployed as a result
97	97	67of transition from the Massachusetts energy sector; and
98	98	68 (d) Any agreements developed with labor unions representing the gas company’s in-
99	99	69house workforce and/or representing the workforce of outside contractors to ensure a just
100	100	70workforce transition over the duration of the proposed performance-based rates. 5 of 12
101	101	71 This subsection shall apply to any distribution, transmission, and gas company organized
102	102	72and doing business in the commonwealth pursuant to the provisions of chapter 164, including
103	103	73any successor company engaged in dual-fuels, joint ventures with renewable energy generators
104	104	74or distributors, or alternative energy companies.
105	105	75 Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit or supplant the local distribution company’s
106	106	76collective bargaining obligations relative to the National Labor Relations Act.
107	107	77 SECTION 6. Chapter 164 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
108	108	78following section:-
109	109	79 Section 149. Department program to ensure a just transition.
110	110	80 (a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
111	111	81 “Gas company” or “employer”, any local distribution company regulated under section 3
112	112	82of chapter 164 and distributing natural gas to ratepayers.
113	113	83 “Dual-fuel company”, a company that distributes natural gas and one or more other forms
114	114	84of energy to commercial, governmental, and/or residential ratepayers.
115	115	85 “Alternative energy company”, a company that generates or distributes forms of energy
116	116	86whose production and use results in the production of lower carbon emissions than conventional
117	117	87natural gas or electric energy.
118	118	88 “Commonwealth”, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and/or its departments, offices,
119	119	89agencies, political subdivisions, and quasi-public agencies, including, but not limited to, quasi-
120	120	90public agencies subject to chapter 150A as appearing in chapter 760 of the acts of 1962, and any 6 of 12
121	121	91quasi-public independent entity and any authority or body politic and corporation established by
122	122	92the general court to serve a public purpose.
123	123	93 (b) Planning for Just Transition of Workforce.
124	124	94 (1) Every gas company shall develop, and periodically amend, a comprehensive plan, as
125	125	95set forth in Section 1E of Chapter 164, to be filed with the Department of Public Utilities for the
126	126	96hire, retention, and training of a sufficient operations and maintenance workforce through 2050,
127	127	97or until the complete retirement of its gas pipeline is achieved, whichever is later, addressing its
128	128	98plans to meet the commonwealth’s net zero emissions goals and its plans to fulfill this chapter’s
129	129	99requirements to provide safe and reliable service as well as all other state and federal regulatory
130	130	100requirements. Such plan shall be amended biennially, beginning July 1, 2026, and shall also be
131	131	101amended when the gas company files with the department requesting performance-based
132	132	102ratemaking.
133	133	103 In addition to provisions set forth by section 1 of this act, each company plan shall also
134	134	104provide projections for any attrition among its in-house workforce and the utilization of outside
135	135	105contractors over both the biennial period and over the course of its transition to net zero
136	136	106emissions or its complete retirement of its gas pipeline, whichever is later.
137	137	107 All dual-fuel companies must additionally provide, as part of their biennial plan,
138	138	108provisions, opportunities, and initiatives to provide training and employment opportunities to
139	139	109workers who may be displaced by the gas company’s compliance with the commonwealth’s net
140	140	110zero emissions goals on the other forms of energy it distributes. This includes, but is not limited
141	141	111to, any agreement reached with labor organizations representing employees at its gas or 7 of 12
142	142	112alternative fuel operations or labor organizations representing employees of its outside
143	143	113contractors.
144	144	114 (2) The department shall, when initiated sua sponte or by motion of the Attorney General,
145	145	115initiate an investigation to determine the sufficiency of the gas company and/or dual-fuel
146	146	116company’s plan with regard to meeting the commonwealth’s net zero emission requirements and
147	147	117chapter 164’s reliability, safety, and staffing requirements. Such plans, and all back-up data upon
148	148	118which the plans are based, shall be subject to disclosure to all intervening stakeholders during the
149	149	119investigation. Upon good cause shown, back-up data may be subject to reasonable protective
150	150	120treatment.
151	151	121 (c) Funding for Training on Alternative Fuels.
152	152	122 The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Executive Office of
153	153	123Labor and Workforce Development shall, joint and in collaboration, administer programs,
154	154	124provide technical assistance, and develop regulations for a training fund to support the
155	155	125establishment of apprenticeship programs to train gas and dual-fuel company employees on
156	156	126alternative energy generation and distribution and raise the next generation of energy industry
157	157	127workers in the commonwealth.
158	158	128 Grants from the fund may be provided to gas and dual-fuel companies for the
159	159	129development and execution of training their workforces on a competitive basis, based upon a
160	160	130number of factors, including but not limited to, the company’s demonstrated commitment to (1)
161	161	131retaining and repurposing its in-house gas workforce on dual-fuel or alternative energy
162	162	132businesses, and (2) to maintaining high quality, long-term in-house employment opportunities in 8 of 12
163	163	133energy distribution. Labor organizations representing gas company workers and dual-fuel
164	164	134company workers may also apply for funding.
165	165	135 Alternative energy companies, including both generating or distributing companies, may
166	166	136also apply for training grants from this fund to defray the cost of hiring and training workers
167	167	137displaced by the commonwealth’s efforts to meet its net zero emissions goals. To qualify,
168	168	138alternative energy companies must demonstrate that (1) they are developing and executing plans
169	169	139for hiring, training, and retention that include a demonstrated commitment to training and hiring
170	170	140gas company employees and other workers displaced by the commonwealth’s transition to net
171	171	141zero emissions, (2) they have or are in the process of developing robust in-house training
172	172	142programs in the commonwealth on alternative energy, and (3) they are committed to the creation
173	173	143and maintenance of high quality, sustainable employment opportunities for displaced workers.
174	174	144 SECTION 7. Chapter 23 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
175	175	145is hereby amended by adding following section:-
176	176	146 Section 26. Just Transition to Clean Energy.
177	177	147 (a) Within the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, there shall be a
178	178	148Just Transition Office. The office shall ensure that workers employed in the energy sector who
179	179	149are displaced due to efforts by the commonwealth or the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas
180	180	150emissions or transition from fossil fuels to clean energy have access to employment and training
181	181	151opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields. The office shall also work with clean
182	182	152energy businesses to ensure they act as responsible employers to further the commonwealth’s
183	183	153workforce and economic development goals. The office shall also work to increase access to 9 of 12
184	184	154employment and training opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields for residents
185	185	155of environmental justice communities.
186	186	156 (b) The Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development shall appoint the director of the
187	187	157office.
188	188	158 (c) There shall be a Just Transition Advisory Committee consisting of: (i) the director of
189	189	159the just transition office; (ii) the secretary of labor and workforce development, or their designee;
190	190	160(iii) the commissioner of the department of energy resources, or their designee; (iv) the secretary
191	191	161of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, or their designee; (v) a representative
192	192	162of employers in the gas utility sector appointed by the governor; (vi) a representative of
193	193	163employers in the electric power generation sector appointed by the governor; (vii) a
194	194	164representative of employers in the renewable electricity sector appointed by the governor; (viii) a
195	195	165representative of employers in the energy efficiency sector appointed by the governor; (ix) a
196	196	166representative of employers in the clean transportation sector appointed by the governor; (x) a
197	197	167representative of employers in the clean heating sector appointed by the governor; (xi) a
198	198	168representative of employees in the gas utility sector appointed by the president of the
199	199	169Massachusetts AFL-CIO; (xii) a representative of employees in the electric power generation
200	200	170sector appointed by the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO; (xiii) two representatives of
201	201	171employees in the clean energy sector appointed by the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO;
202	202	172(xiv) a representative of employees in the transportation sector appointed by the president of the
203	203	173Massachusetts AFL-CIO; (xv) the president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, or
204	204	174their designee; and (xvi) two representatives of environmental justice communities appointed by
205	205	175the secretary of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs. 10 of 12
206	206	176 (d) The committee shall be tasked with developing a just transition plan for the energy
207	207	177sector that identifies workers currently employed in the sector by industry, trade, and job
208	208	178classifications, and contains relevant information including, but not limited to, current wage and
209	209	179benefit packages and current licensing, certification, and training requirements. The committee,
210	210	180through the just transition plan, shall recommend education and training programs to enhance re-
211	211	181employment opportunities within the energy sector, and services to support dislocated workers
212	212	182displaced from jobs within the energy sector as a result of emissions-reducing policies and
213	213	183advancements in clean energy technology. The just transition plan shall also recommend actions
214	214	184to increase opportunities for residents of environmental justice communities to work in clean
215	215	185energy industries.
216	216	186 (e) The just transition plan shall include provisions to:
217	217	187 (i) educate dislocated workers, in collaboration with employers of dislocated workers and
218	218	188relevant labor unions, on re-employment or training opportunities;
219	219	189 (ii) provide training, cross-training, and re-training to workers displaced by gas
220	220	190infrastructure loss in the commonwealth’s local distribution companies and related businesses:
221	221	191 (iii) address the workforce development challenges of the fossil fuel energy sector’s
222	222	192shrinking workforce over the course of the commonwealth’s transition to a clean energy
223	223	193economy;
224	224	194 (iv) incentivize the hiring of displaced energy sector workers with utilities, clean energy
225	225	195industries, and related industries; 11 of 12
226	226	196 (v) collaborate with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to ensure that training and
227	227	197employment opportunities for displaced energy sector workers are included in their initiatives,
228	228	198incentives, funding opportunities, and projects;
229	229	199 (vi) collaborate with the department of public utilities and other agencies regulating the
230	230	200energy sector within the commonwealth to coordinate just transition initiatives, complementing
231	231	201the other regulatory priorities of those agencies;
232	232	202 (vii) evaluate options for the establishment of a fund to implement the just transition plan
233	233	203and its components, including potential sources for sustainable short-term and long-term
234	234	204funding;
235	235	205 (viii) develop requirements, including the submission of a workforce transition plan, for
236	236	206energy sector employers that are closing a facility or significantly reducing their workforces as a
237	237	207result of efforts by the commonwealth or the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
238	238	208or transition from fossil fuels to clean energy;
239	239	209 (ix) identify employers in the energy sector involved or likely to be involved in
240	240	210transitional steps away from fossil fuels and establish requirements and procedures for
241	241	211submissions of employee counts and classifications to the office; and
242	242	212 (x) increase access to employment and training opportunities in clean energy industries
243	243	213and related fields for residents of environmental justice communities.
244	244	214 (f) Employers described in paragraph (ix) of subsection (e) shall submit a workforce
245	245	215transition plan to the office. Workforce transition plans be subject to section 10 of chapter 66 of
246	246	216the General Laws and shall include: 12 of 12
247	247	217 (i) the reasons for the workforce reduction or facility closure;
248	248	218 (ii) the total number of workers by job classification and by geographic assignment
249	249	219employed by the employer;
250	250	220 (iii) the total number of workers whose existing jobs who will be retained, by job
251	251	221classification and geographic location;
252	252	222 (iv) the total number of workers whose existing jobs are being eliminated by the
253	253	223workforce reduction or the closure of a facility, by job classification and geographic location;
254	254	224 (v) whether each classification of workers whose jobs are being eliminated will be
255	255	225offered employment in any other job classification or capacity by the employer; how many
256	256	226employees in each classification will be offered employment; and whether the replacement
257	257	227employment offered will provide comparable wages, benefits, and working conditions;
258	258	228 (vi) whether the employer is offering severance or early retirement benefits to impacted
259	259	229workers; the value of the severance or early retirement benefits; whether the severance or early
260	260	230retirement benefits are being provided to all or certain classes of workers and how many
261	261	231impacted workers intend to utilize these offerings;
262	262	232 (vii) whether the employer plans to transfer the work to a separate facility, enter a
263	263	233contracting agreement for work previously performed by company employees, or otherwise
264	264	234outsource work previously performed by company employees; and
265	265	235 (viii) whether the employer is a recipient of loans, grants, tax increment financing, or any
266	266	236other financial incentive from the commonwealth, its independent state agencies, departments, or
267	267	237corporations, or any municipality within the last five years.