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What is — and isn't — in the Mass. State House's new clean energy compromise
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The 2024 Head of the Charles Regatta officially begins this hour. If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands expected to attend over the weekend, come swing by the WBUR tent. You’ll get to meet Morning Edition host Tiziana Dearing — and try samples of our new coffee blend made in partnership with Flour Bakery and Fazenda — tomorrow morning.
But first, the news:
A new green deal: State House leaders have finally reached a deal on the climate change bill that got left on the cutting room floor this summer. The bill was one of the major pieces of legislation that lawmakers were unable to compromise on before formal sessions ended in July. But the top House and Senate negotiators said yesterday they have a deal, to be unveiled in “the coming days.”
- What’s in it: The core focus of the bill is streamlining the permitting process for clean energy infrastructure projects, like transmission lines, electric substations and battery storage. According to Senate sponsor Michael Barrett, the bill also included provisions to expand electric vehicle chargers and allow the state to buy nuclear power from Connecticut and New Hampshire.
- What isn’t in it: Barrett and his Senate colleagues had pushed for broader reforms, such as a ban on “competitive electric suppliers” and an expansion of the state’s bottle redemption law. But as The Boston Globe reports, those items were cut from the final deal.
- What’s next: The bill faced opposition from some Republicans in both chambers, which could complicate the compromise’s path forward during informal sessions. But as State House News Service reports, Democratic leaders have a few options.
Round two: Sen. Elizabeth Warren and John Deaton met again last night in Springfield for their second and final debate this week. WBUR’s Patrick Madden reports the hourlong match-up got heated at times. (You can watch the full debate here; just note, the first five minutes had some audio problems.)
- Where they differed: In addition to again clashing over immigration and abortion, Deaton defended his reluctance to support aid to help Ukraine beat back Russia’s invasion. Deaton argued the money needs “to be earned” and could have been spent on things like expanding Medicaid or universal pre-K. (He threw in a Tupac quote for good measure.) Warren countered that it was imperative to support Ukraine’s “frontline war for democracy.” “If Putin takes Ukraine, he’s coming for Poland, he’s coming for Estonia,” she said. “He is coming for the other nations in Europe.”
- Where they agreed: East-West rail. Both said they’re committed to pursuing more federal funding for the rail project. However, Warren argued the best way to obtain that funding was by ensuring Democrats had a majority in Congress.
Meanwhile on Beacon Hill: The House passed a $730 million spending bill yesterday. The annual fall bill closes out the 2024 fiscal year, which ended in late June.
- One thing it doesn’t include: Gov. Maura Healey’s controversial request to move around money from the “millionaires tax” to cover a small budget gap. Instead, the House is using extra revenue from capital gains taxes to make up the deficit. Now we wait to see if the Senate follows suit.
Behind the scenes: Massachusetts’ four-year-old police oversight agency will soon have the power to inspect local police departments. The POST Commission unanimously voted yesterday to give itself the expanded power. According to the Globe, the move comes after months of public discussion and concerns that some departments aren’t following the voluntary reporting requirements.
- The vote means — beginning Nov. 8 — the commission will be able to audit record-keeping, internal investigations, uses of force and police-involved deaths within departments.
Trick-or-treating comes early: A Halloween tradition returns to Boston Common today. The Boston Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its fourth annual “Fall-o-Ween Children Festival.” The free event runs 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Common near Frog Pond.
- Costumes are encouraged, both for kids and adults. Parks and Rec officials say there’ll be live music, arts and crafts, rides on a trackless train, a maze and a glow-in-the-dark play space.
P.S. — Why did a Massachusetts town send a cease and desist to a property owner? Take our Boston News Quiz and test your knowledge of this week’s stories.
