Breaking Ground: AEG Boston Task Force Language Included in MA House Bill on Building Decarbonization
Author: Mariana Chissell, AEG Junior Fellow, Advanced Energy Group
On February 8th, 2024 the AEG 23Q4 Boston Mobility and Clean Transportation Task Force presented updates on their progress at the AEG Boston Action Challenge on Grid Modernization, Clean Transportation, and Green Jobs. The Task Force required cross-sector collaboration from utilities, municipal departments, local fleets, and federal and state governments. Regarding this partnership, Alistair Pim, Vice President of Innovation & Partnerships at NECEC stated, “hearing stakeholders all say they wanted to work together to try to develop charging infrastructure for MHDV truck fleets made it all worthwhile.”
The Task Force played a key role in MA House Bill 3218 on Building Decarbonization, submitted by Representative Jeffrey Roy which proposes to promote crucial transportation electrification infrastructure. Section 34 of the bill, which contains Task Force inspired language, marks significant progress towards overcoming the derived obstacle of creating an “approved, equitable forecasting methodology that enables anticipatory planning for EV spot loads which is supported by comprehensive energy legislation.”
Above: 2023 Q4 Task Force pledging to a 12-month and 90-day goal that enables EV infrastructure planning supported by energy legislation.
If passed, the bill will positively impact electrification efforts by establishing a robust charging network that will facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles while also enacting proactive infrastructure development that ensures the grid can handle future EV charging demands, preventing potential grid overloads. The bill supports The inclusion of Environmental Justice (EJ) communities in planning, which ensures that the benefits of electrification, such as reduced emissions and improved air quality, are equitably distributed. Read the complete Bill Summary here.