Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed sweeping climate legislation, similar to a bill he previously vetoed, on Friday. The legislation, passed by a veto-proof majority, will slash the commonwealth’s greenhouse gas pollution by at least 50% below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with incremental goals every five years. Among a host of new efficiency standards, clean energy targets, and EV and storage provisions, the legislation creates a specialized energy code for municipalities seeking to promote net-zero building construction measures. It also strengthens protections for “environmental justice populations” by, among other things, requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to account for historical and existing pollution burdens when evaluating proposed projects. (Boston Globe $, AP, S&P Global $, Utility Dive)
