On March 3, 2022, I joined my House colleagues in a vote to pass H.4515, An Act advancing offshore wind and clean energy, which makes historic investments in and establishes incentives for increased offshore wind development in the Commonwealth. This legislation offers a unique opportunity to invest in the Commonwealth’s clean energy future, to strengthen workforce development, and to work towards the goals set forth in the 2050 Next Generation Climate Roadmap.

The legislation would establish a $50 million tax incentive program for capital investments and employment in the wind sector, fund wind technology and innovation through utility bill surcharges, create new environmental and fishing industry-related requirements for offshore wind projects, and institute important cost containment safeguards for the wind energy bidding process. 

In addition, the legislation directs electric utilities to develop grid modernization plans and submit them for review, and the bill calls for a study conducted by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to examine the viability of a solicitation for energy storage installations. The bill also supports the creation of job training pilot programs in the wind sector and directs DOER to engage in a competitive solicitation process for offshore wind energy transmission proposals to support generation projects.

Announced as a priority for Speaker Mariano during a boat tour of the Block Island Wind Farm attended by members of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, An Act advancing offshore wind and clean energy aims to re-establish the Commonwealth as a leader in offshore wind energy production.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Marking March as Women’s History Month, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation on March 17 that would create a Women’s Rights History Trail program, promoting education and awareness of the struggle for women’s rights in Massachusetts. The House also passed legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles.

An Act relative to the creation of a women’s rights history trail, H.4555, would require the secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, in conjunction with executive director or the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to develop and implement a Women’s Rights History Trail program that designates properties and sites as historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women’s rights and suffrage. The Women’s Rights History Trail Task Force would research, solicit public input, and make recommendations for sites, properties, and attractions to be included in the Women’s Rights History Trail program.

An Act prohibiting discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles, H.4554, would define natural hairstyle in statute, prohibit discrimination in schools, employment, housing and business, and ban school policies that restrict natural and protective hairstyles. This legislation would also expand criminal law prohibiting assault and battery for purposes of intimidation to include natural hairstyle and adds natural hairstyle to hate crime data collection and reporting requirements.

Both bills now move to the Senate for consideration. 

During formal session on St. Patrick's Day, the House of Representatives had the honor of welcoming Ireland’s Minister for Education, Norma Foley. Minister Foley addressed a wide range of topics in her speech, from Ireland's efforts to support Ukraine to the strong, ongoing relationship between the Commonwealth and Ireland.