Massachusetts Legislators Push Bills to Halt Natural Gas Expansion and Promote Geothermal Energy Transition Efforts.

Climate activists and legislators in Massachusetts are pushing a series of bills aimed at preventing further expansion of the state’s natural gas system. The legislation builds on a state order last year that aims to transition the state from natural gas to a carbon-neutral goal. The bills include measures to prohibit construction of more pipelines, limit expansion into new cities and towns, and encourage the growth of utility-scale networked geothermal projects. One bill would prevent utilities from bringing natural gas into municipalities that already have service, and prevent state regulators from approving new pipelines to import more natural gas until at least 2026. Another bill would create a fund to help low- and moderate-income residents switch from gas to electric appliances and retrain gas utility workers to build and maintain geothermal pipes and infrastructure, creating more secure employment for these workers during the transition. The environmental impact of these bills outweighs the economic costs incurred by the gas companies.