Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Energy Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cambridge City Council goes on record opposing House bill H4744, citing climate and affordability concerns
Summary
Following public comment and council debate, the Cambridge City Council voted unanimously to oppose House bill H4744 (reported as H4744 at the time), saying it would roll back state climate goals, cut Mass Save by $500 million and bar fossil‑fuel‑free pilot communities from energy incentives.
The Cambridge City Council on Nov. 17 voted to go on record opposing House bill H4744, which sponsors and public commenters said would undermine the Commonwealth’s climate goals and reduce energy affordability supports.
Councillor Patricia Nolan (spoke as Councillor Nolan) introduced the policy order and noted that the bill was recently moved out of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy and placed in the House Ways and Means Committee. She said the council would update the resolution language to reflect the bill’s current number and to direct the city clerk to forward copies to both the bill sponsor and the House Ways and Means chair.
Public comment framed the debate. Erin Fagotto, identifying herself as representing Mothers Out Front Cambridge, told the council the measure “ends the Commonwealth's commitment to cut fossil fuel emissions 50% by 2030,” would slash the Mass Save program by $500 million and cap it for five years, and would disqualify pilot communities that have adopted fossil‑fuel‑free building codes from receiving Mass Save incentives. “This is a cruel move at a time when gas bills are rising dramatically,” she said, urging the council to oppose the bill.
Why it mattered: Councilors said the bill would undercut local climate strategies and remove incentives that cities like Cambridge rely on to make building electrification and efficiency affordable. Councillor Nolan said the measure would be particularly harmful to the 10 communities participating in the fossil‑fuel‑free pilot, including Cambridge, because it would bar them from Mass Save incentives designed to support electrification.
Council action and next step: The council amended the draft to reflect the current bill number (H4744) and to direct the clerk to forward the resolution to the relevant House committee chairs and the bill sponsor. The motion to adopt the order passed with seven recorded votes in the affirmative and two absences. Staff will transmit the resolution to state legislative leaders as instructed.
