House approves bill curbing greenhouse gases
By Globe Staff
The Massachusetts House has given preliminary approval to a bill that would sharply curb greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
The proposed law would require the emissions, which scicentists say are causing global warming, to be reduced by as much as 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020. It also calls for a reduction of 80 percent by 2050. The bill would include tough penalties, with fines of as much as $25,000 a day for violations.
"Now is the time to take action," said Representative Frank Smizik, chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture. He warned his colleagues that without any action, the state's climate would soon feel like South Carolina's.
Former Vice President Al Gore wrote a letter last week urging the House to act. More than 100 representatives signed a letter to House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi supporting the bill and DiMasi announced this morning that the bill would come to the floor with his support.
The bill passed unanimously, on a 154-0 vote, despite opposition from the business community. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts today sharply criticized the bill, saying, that the greenhouse gas reduction goals were "exceedingly aggressive, perhaps to the point of being unattainable and could only be achieved through greatly increased costs for consumers and employers."
The redrafted bill is expected to be passed by the Senate, which has already passed a different version of the bill. Gov. Deval Patrick is expected to sign the bill once the Legislature sends it to his desk.
