Testifying in Support of Climate Change Adaptation for Municipalities

From left, Wayne Cobleigh, CPSM, GZA GeoEnvironmental (for ACEC/MA), Elena Proakis Ellis, PE, City of Melrose, and John Nunnari (AIA/MA), testify in support of S.10, An Act Providing for Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure, before the Joint Committee on Revenue on June 18, 2019

Testifying in Support of Climate Change Adaptation for Municipalities, By Abbie Goodman, ACEC/MA Executive Director

On June 18, 2019, the Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing on legislation filed by the Baker-Polito Administration to establish a new, sustainable source of revenue for cities and towns to fund climate resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions.

The legislation, Senate Bill 10, An Act Providing for Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Investments in the Commonwealth, would direct $137 million annually to cities and towns to protect public health, safety, and property, and reduce the long-term costs of climate-related risks.

Importantly, the legislation builds upon the successful Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program to meet the significant need demonstrated through this program. In just over 3 years over 70% of the Commonwealth’s cities and towns have joined the MVP program, which allows them to access technical assistance to identify climate-related hazards and implement priority projects to improve resilience and reduce risk. As more communities engage in the program and advance projects from planning to implementation, this demand for a dedicated revenue source will only grow, requiring this dedicating funding source.

Additional information on S.10 can be found here.    

SUMMARY OF S.10 LEGISLATION

An Act Providing for Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Investments in the Commonwealth

• The bill would transform the Commonwealth’s commitment to community resilience by dedicating a new, sustainable source of revenue to fund climate resilient infrastructure investments.

• Through a modest increase in the deeds excise rate, revenue would be deposited into a Global Warming Solutions Trust fund and directed to municipalities.

• With $75 million in revenues projected to be generated from the proposal in FY20, $137 million on an ongoing, annualized basis, and $1 billion over 10 years this initiative would enable an historic level of investment in community resilience.

• Funding will be made available to cities and towns to invest in climate-smart infrastructure that protects public health, safety, natural resources, and property across the Commonwealth including:

• Culvert replacement
• Dam removal and repair
• Infrastructure retrofits and nature-based solutions
• Funding for vulnerable and environmental justice communities
• Resiliency measures for critical facilities
• Strategic land acquisition and restoration; and
• Deployment of clean energy resiliency measures to ensure preservation of vital services.

Note: ACEC/MA is also supporting H.3846, An Act Relative to Greenworks (see separate article), proposed by Speaker Robert DeLeo.  ACEC/MA support both bills that would make funding available to communities to make their infrastructure more resilient to climate change.  You can help as the bills work through the legislative process. See www.acecma.org for updates and join our ACEC/MA Government Affairs Committee here for other ways in which you can show support for these bills.