[Save] Lobby MA Senate for Green Buildings, Amendmt #65 to S.2127

[mslow@MIT.EDU]

Please spread the message!

Manshi

----- Forwarded message from Lara Greden <lgreden at MIT.EDU> -----
    Date: Tue, 04 Nov 2003 15:21:43 -0500
    From: Lara Greden <lgreden at MIT.EDU>
Reply-To: Lara Greden <lgreden at MIT.EDU>
 Subject: Lobby MA Senate for Green Buildings, Amendmt #65 to S.2127
      To: bt-lab at mit.edu

Hi all,
You may be interested in making a quick and simple phone call to ask your
state senator to support Amendment 65 - Green Building Incentive
Program.  All you do is call and say you want him/her to support it, no
questions asked!
-Lara

PS. If you live on campus, this is your senator:
SENATE PRESIDENT
ROBERT E. TRAVAGLINI
Telephone: (617) 722-1500
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/member/ret0.htm

>To the Green Building Coalition, All Environmentalists, and Green Building
>Supporters:
>
>IT'S CLUTCH TIME !
>
>If you want Green Building Incentives for Massachusetts, PLEASE CALL & FAX
>your State Senator TODAY & TOMORROW to tell them to support  "Amendment
>#65: To Establish a Green Building Incentive Program,"  an amendment to
>the Senate's Economic Stimulus Bill, S. 2127.*
>
>Amendment #65 was submitted by Senator Susan Fargo and is based directly
>on her bill S. 1733 which our Green Building Coalition helped draft,
>testified for and supports.
>
>The Economic Stimulus Bill will be taken up by the full Senate at Noon,
>Wednesday, November 5, so time is of the essence.
>
>Find your State Senator's phone, fax or email using this link:
>
>http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php
>
>
>Note: Faxes and calls are best.  Email is less effective. If you use
>email,  please put your "ask" in the Subject Line as well as in the body.
>Be sure to tell them you are their constituent!
>
>EXPLANATION & DETAILS:
>
>While I cannot vouch for the larger Economic Stimulus Bill - a work in
>progress and fully in play - I can vouch for Amendment 65 and the
>importance of this moment.
>
>This is the first time the Green Building Coalition's Green Building
>Incentive Bill has effectively gotten out of committee and onto the Senate
>floor.
>
>It is our best and likely the only opportunity this session to have our
>legislation debated and possibly adopted by the full Senate.
>
>So PLEASE ACT NOW.  Make you support count ASAP!  So, by fax, phone,
>horseback (and less effectively, email) LOBBY NOW!
>
>Reasons to support Amendment 65 are as an economic stimulus and for
>environmental, energy security, and public health benefits.  See details
>provided in the S.1733 Fact Sheet and Senator Fargo's letter below.
>
>Also, see the Q&A on our GBC website
>http://www.gbreb.com/greenbuildings  -  which basically still applies.
>
>But it is enough simply to tell your Senator to vote for Amendment #65 to
>the Economic Stimulus Bill.
>
>Note:  Supporting Amendment #65 is not an endorsement of S.2127 which has
>attracted at least 64 and surely more, other amendments. All need to be
>debated.
>
>Note also: The House version of the Economic Stimulus Bill does not
>include a Green Building amendment. So there is no second chance.
>
>Thank your for your help.
>Please forward this letter to colleagues, and call and fax now!
>
>Yours truly,
>Michael Charney, MD,  Co-chair, Green Building Coalition
>
>mcha6677 at aol.com
>617-492-6614
>
>*Formerly S.2124, and also described as "An Act to Promote Job Creation,
>Economic Stability and Competitiveness." Text at:
>http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st02127.htm
>
>**Text of S.1733 is at: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/st01733.htm
>
>Enclosures: Fact Sheet for S.1733;  &  Letter from Senator Fargo to
>Co-Sponsors of S.1733 requesting endorsement of Amendment now numbered 65.
>
>
>Massachusetts Green Building  Incentive Program
>Supported by The Green Building Coalition
>
>Brief Introduction
>The construction and operation of buildings has the single most
>environmental impact of any human activity.  In order to reduce this
>impact, the Green Building  Incentive Program will provide tax credits to
>building developers, owners and tenants who, for commercial and
>multi-family residential buildings, invest in measures to:
>
>a. increase energy efficiency,
>b. improve indoor air quality, and
>c. reduce the environmental impacts.
>
>This bill is based on the New York State Green Building Tax Credit Statute
>that became law in May 2000.  Lead coalition participants in New York
>included the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Real Estate Board of
>New York, and the New York Environmental Business Association.  The bill
>also received strong support from labor communities.
>
>Environmental Benefits
>The bill will promote better energy and environmental practices for
>building design, construction and maintenance, and increase demand for
>new, clean technologies and environmentally preferable building products
>and services.  The bill will also reduce water and energy consumption and
>landfill demand, thus addressing a host of environmental problems
>including ozone depletion, acid rain, toxins, and climate change.
>
>Economical Benefits
>This bill will create industry and public awareness of resource management
>that will improve the quality of life for building occupants in a
>sustainable and profitable way. The Commonwealth is home to more
>businesses involved in energy efficiency and green building construction
>than anywhere else in the nation. By enacting this legislation, we will
>help to promote this industry, create jobs and continue to maintain the
>Commonwealth's unique position as a leader among states.
>
>Eligibility Summary
>The application must include certification by a licensed architect or
>engineer that the base building and/or tenant space meets the criteria set
>forth in the legislation.  Standards will be developed by state agencies,
>including:
>
>a. Energy Efficiency:  Energy use for new buildings must not exceed 65% of
>use permitted under the Massachusetts Building and/or Energy Code
>(rehabilitated buildings must not exceed 75%).
>b. Indoor Air Quality:  Ventilation, thermal comfort and air quality must
>meet specified requirements.
>c. Building Materials:  Materials must meet specified criteria regarding
>minimum percentages of recycled content and renewable source material and
>maximum levels of toxicity.
>
>Tax Credit Provisions
>The bill includes the following tax credits spread over a five year period:
>
>1. Green Whole Building:  Up to 7% tax credit on overall capital costs and
>up to 8% tax credit if built in an economic development area.
>
>2. Green Base Building (whole building minus tenant spaces):  Up to 5% tax
>credit on overall capital costs and up to 6% tax credit if built in an
>economic development area.
>
>3. Green Tenant Space:  Up to 5% tax credit on overall capital costs and
>up to 6% tax credit if built in an economic development area.
>
>4. Photovoltaic Module Credit Component (solar power):  100% of the
>incremental cost for integrating PV modules.
>
>5. Fuel Cell Credit Component:  30% of the incremental cost for
>integrating fuel cells.
>
>The Green Building Coalition includes: Abt Associates, Inc., American
>Consulting Engineers Council of Massachusetts, Boston Society of
>Architects, Building Envelope Committee - BSA, Building Owners and
>Managers Association - GBREB, The Cadmus Group, Inc., Clean Water Action,
>Committee on the Environment - BSA, DMI - Demand Management Institute,
>Inc., Ecology and Environment Professional Interest Council (JFK School of
>Gov't), Environmental League of Massachusetts, Greater Boston Coalition on
>the Environment and Jewish Life, Greater Boston Real Estate Board, Green
>Roundtable, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Massachusetts Climate Action
>Network, MassPIRG, New Ecology, Inc., Northeast Sustainable Energy
>Association, Renewable News Network, Rental Housing Association -
>GBREB.   ***    For information, contact Michael Charney at
>(617) 492-6614, CambClimAct at aol.com
>
>
>
>LETTER FROM SENATOR FARGO ANNOUNCING & DESCRIBING AMENDMENT.  Note:  It
>was filed 11/04 and assigned as Amendment #65  to S.2127
>
>FW: Senator Fargo Amendment to the Economic Stimulus Bill
>Date: 11/3/2003 4:44:05 PM Eastern Standard Time
>From: Timothy.O'Neill at state.ma.us
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>From:     O'Neill, Timothy
>Sent:    Monday, November 03, 2003 4:19 PM
>To:    Brewer, Stephen; Creem, Cynthia Stone; Chandler, Harriette-SEN;
>Glodis, Guy; Hedlund, Robert; Magnani, David; Melconian, Linda; Pacheco,
>Marc; Shannon, Charles; Tarr, Bruce; Tolman, Steven
>Subject:    Senator Fargo Amendment to the Economic Stimulus Bill
>
>Dear Colleague,
>
>Thank you for co-sponsoring Senate Bill 1733, "An Act Establishing a Green
>Building Incentive Program".  As you know, Senate Bill 1733 addresses the
>need in Massachusetts to promote better energy and environmental practices
>for building design, construction and maintenance.   Specifically, this
>bill will provide tax credits to building developers, owners and tenants
>who, for commercial and multi-family residential buildings, invest in
>measures to increase energy efficiency, improve indoor air quality, and
>reduce negative environmental impacts.
>
>The benefits of this legislation are substantial.  Energy use will
>decrease, as green building design and technology heating and cooling
>costs are cut dramatically. Alternative energy sources will reduce fossil
>fuel use, thereby reducing air, land and water pollution in Massachusetts.
>Additionally, burning less fossil fuel will better protect our health by
>reducing power plant emissions that cause lung and heart disease,
>contaminate our food and water supply, and harm developing children.  This
>legislation also contains several key economic incentives.  Worldwide,
>quality green commercial and residential space is increasingly recognized
>as a competitive advantage.  Green development practices will strengthen
>the Massachusetts building industry and economy, as competition increases
>amongst architects, engineers, builders, developers and providers of green
>building products and services.  An investment in Green Buildings today
>will pay dividends in the future.
>
>In light of the fact that the Economic Stimulus Bill before the Senate
>will promote increased development in the corporate sector and in the
>housing market, I will file Senate Bill 1733 as an amendment to the Senate
>economic plan.  Therefore, please consider signing on as a co-sponsor of
>this amendment, and together we will help promote environmentally sound
>development and further support a growing sector of our local economy
>dedicated to the creation and implementation of clean, efficient energy
>products.
>
>I have included the bill text and a fact sheet for Senate Bill 1733.  If
>you would like to sign onto this amendment, please contact Tim O'Neill at
>722-1572 before 10:30 A.M. tomorrow.  Thank you again for your continued
>support.
>
>Best Wishes,
>
>Senator Susan C. Fargo
>3rd Middlesex
>   < Incentive Program-Fact sheet.doc
>
>
>
>
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