But perhaps the biggest bang to come out of the State House is the continued progress of the energy bill, which passed the State Senate this past week. It is an aggressive set of provisions aimed at electric and gas utilities, building owners, renewable-energy developers, new-home buyers, and others.
Environment Massachusetts called the final bill “among the strongest new energy policies in the country.” Massachusetts Climate Coalition called it “groundbreaking.”
All that’s left — and it’s no small matter — is working out a compromise between the Senate’s heavily amended version, and the version passed earlier by the house.
In this and other matters, the Senate, led by Therese Murray, seems to be more in concert with Patrick than the DiMasi-led house.
The original energy bill passed by the house was DiMasi’s baby. His willingness to accept the Senate’s changes will determine how quickly the bill becomes law. The lobbying activity, particularly from the Patrick administration, shows how badly everyone wants to chalk up a “Together We Can”–style victory before the budget sends everyone back to their corners of the ring.
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