By Jeff

Tounge

pane ) to replace fossil fuels with clean heat . The CHS would require energy providers to either implement clean heat solutions ( full electrification via heat pumps , geothermal , etc .) or purchase clean heat credits to meet

The sneaky and intentionally quiet climate policy is called the Massachusetts Clean Heat Standard ( CHS ), or as I like to call it – forced electrification . The MA CHS is a Climate Policy pushed by the MA Department of Environmental Protection ( MassDEP ) to enforce emissions limits for residential , commercial , and industrial heating .

It is important to understand how the MA CHS ( aka Forced Electrification ) started to know where it is going . Here is a brief synopsis of its development , as I have researched it :

• August 2008 , the Global Warming Solutions Act ( GWSA ) was signed into law , making Massachusetts one of the first states in the nation to move forward with a comprehensive regulatory program to address Climate Change .

• In 2016 , the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the state was not meeting emissions abatement requirements ( 25 % reduction in CO2 emissions by 2022 ) established by the 2008 GWSA after the state was sued by the Conservation Law Foundation ( and four other plaintiffs ).

• 2021 , Global Warming Solutions Act was amended by an Act Creating A Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy ( Roadmap ). Additionally , this initiated the Cleat Heat Commission formed by Governor Baker .

• 2022 , Clean Energy & Climate Plan ( CECP ) for 2025 and 2030 was issued by the MA Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs as required under the authority of the GWSA . The CECP tasks MassDEP with developing a “ a high-level program to meet the emissions limit for residential , commercial , and industrial heating ” and identifies a Clean Heat Standard ( CHS ) as a regulatory option for addressing this requirement .

• November 2023 , MassDEP released a draft Clean Heat Standard program framework addressing key policy design topics .

The important point of the above history of the CHS is that the GWSA was legislated law in 2008 , along with the amendment in 2021 ‘ Roadmap ’. Ostensibly , you can argue that Massachusetts voters approved of this legislation ( by voting in the legislative body ) since 2008 . And many voters like to hear that their politicians are ‘ protecting the environment ’. However , the CHS is a regulatory option that if implemented does not require a legislative vote and the CECP grants the MassDEP authority to implement the CHS . Essentially – this regulation is being forced on the consumer as early as 2025 / 2026 without any choice – and yet the regulators and policy makers will just argue that Massachusetts is required to implement these policies because it is law .

So , what exactly is the CHS ? The CHS is a credit system that

their state mandated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions .

To be clear , credit systems – especially mandated credit systems – are inevitably a tax on products , and a tax that will be borne by the consumer . The state of Massachusetts must penalize natural gas , oil and propane in order to force the adoption of higher cost , less reliable electrification .

Furthermore – the state of Massachusetts has unilaterally determined that full electrification is the right solution to reduce emissions . However , this is clearly putting the cart before the horse – the electric grid is nowhere near ready to take on this type of demand shift to electrification . The truth is , New England ’ s electric grid is supplied by fuels including natural gas and some Renewables , and it is not sufficient even today to handle this demand ; it will only drive costs up for the consumer . Not only in the cost of electrification ( wires , transmission , distribution and electrons ) but also in the increased cost of natural gas , heating oil and propane .

It is time for consumers to speak up . They need to ask : If electrification is so beneficial and affordable , why do other fuels need to be penalized and taxed in order to force electrification ? The CHS is :

• A Tax on Your Fuel : It will adversely increase the cost of propane , natural gas and heating oil as home heating fuels in favor of forced electrification .

• An Attack on Energy Choice – the intent of this policy is to force everyone on to electric heating by placing a ‘ tax ’ on your current fuel choice .

• A Backdoor Policy : It is NOT a legislative bill – which means it does not need to pass through the legislative process . MassDEP has been granted the authority to implement this policy without a legislative vote .

• A Complicated Policy with Unintended Consequences - It is designed as a credit market that requires heating fuel suppliers to buy credits – but the unintended consequences will be increased costs for everyone , and more electrification on an already costly and strained electric system ( that isn ’ t even close to being supplied by renewable resources ).

By the way – there is also a Vermont Clean Heat Standard that is aimed at the same objective – forced electrification and elimination of heating oil , propane and natural gas as home heat options . At least in Vermont , the final proposed CHS would need Legislative approval in 2026 .

These climate policies , in many New England states , will not stop until the consumer is entirely forced onto electrification of their home , their car , and their businesses . If you live in a New England state with a proposed CHS – let your legislatures and

requires heating energy providers ( natural gas , heating oil , pro-