Looking to the near future, Massachusetts is focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as a strong priority of environmental justice. The transition to a clean energy economy while ensuring all residents of the state are equally benefitted from this new standard of living is known as a “just transition” and is a key focus of Massachusetts moving forward.
On this score Massachusetts has adopted its first ever comprehensive environmental justice strategy (EJ Strategy) which directs all EOEEA agencies to develop their own EJ strategies to ensure that the principles of EJ and equity are embedded into the work of EOEEA and its agencies when implementing their agendas and when transitioning to a clean energy economy. The EJ Strategy explains how EOEEA agencies plan to incorporate industry-specific EJ policies into their missions.
Massachusetts is focused on climate resiliency, a proactive effort to protect communities, critical assets, and natural resources from the vulnerabilities associated with flooding, coastal storms, and other natural hazard events. As just one example, as of this writing MassDEP has prepared to issue under the Wetlands Protection Act and Chapter 91, for the first time, performance standards for doing work in the Resource Area known as Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage.
Lastly, Massachusetts has codified in the Public Lands Preservation Act (PLPA), enacted during 2022 and effective February 2023, the administrative process, documentation, and criteria for proposing a transfer or change of use of public natural resources lands, waters and other real estate interests (commonly called open space and parklands but actually much broader) protected by Article 97 of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution. The requirements are on the books now, but Implementing regulations from EOEEA are due and expected by August 2024.
