BOSTON – Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury) announced the passage of a $2.4 billion Environmental Bond Bill focused on improving climate change resiliency and adaptation; enhancing environmental and natural resource protection; and investing in parks and recreational assets.

"This legislation helps ensure that Massachusetts can continue to plan for global warming and a changing climate, including along our vulnerable coastlines," said Senator Moore who previously served as an Environmental Police Officer.

Among other spending, the bill appropriates:

$1,000,000 for improvements to the Sword Street culverts in the Town of Auburn;
$1,000,000 for park and playground improvements in the Town of Auburn;
$30,000 for the relocation of the skate park in the Town of Auburn;
$528,000 for the rehabilitation of Round Pond in the Town of Millbury;
$150,000 for weed eradication on Lake Singletary in the Towns of Sutton and Millbury;
$1,681,000 for the athletic field project in the Town of Millbury; and
$528,000 shall be expended for the rehabilitation of Round Pond in the Town of Millbury.
$732,500 for the Westboro Road, State Highway Route 30, sewer extension project in the Town of Grafton;
$500,000 for brownfield site reclamation and cleanup at 2040 Providence Road in the Town of Northbridge; and
$657,500 for dam repairs in the Town of Upton
$800,000 to replace the Waite Pond Dam in the Town of Leicester.
$2,000,000 for dredging and conservation of Salisbury Pond at Institute Park in the City of Worcester;
$1,500,000 for the design and construction of a public safety boat house on Lake Quinsigamond in the City of Worcester;
$100,000 shall be expended for invasive aquatic plant species eradication in Lake Quinsigamond in the Towns of Grafton and Shrewsbury and the City of Worcester;
$1,000,000 for the purpose of dredging Indian Lake in Worcester;
$1,500,000 for the design and construction of a forebay on Indian Lake in Worcester;
$250,000 to install lights at the baseball fields located at Aaron Krock Memorial Park in Worcester;
$2,000,000 to reopen the historic Blackstone Canal Park in Worcester
$225,000,000 for community investment grants;
$100,000,000 for energy and environment coastal infrastructure;
$100,000,000 for state hazard mitigation, climate adaptation, and resilient land conservation;
$75,000,000 for municipal vulnerability preparedness;
$55,000,000 for river and wetland restoration programs;
$54,000,000 for rural investments.

The bill also requires the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to coordinate and strengthen the Commonwealth’s climate resilience and prepare for climate change impacts; publish an integrated state climate adaptation and hazard mitigation plan every five years; and establish frameworks for state agency and municipal vulnerability assessments to be included in the state plan.

Additionally, the legislation creates and funds a Global Warming Solutions Trust Fund to fund the implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act, the state’s Clean Energy and Climate Plan, and state and local strategies for climate adaptation.

The Environmental Bond Bill also emphasizes the importance of public and parkland throughout the Commonwealth, appropriating $150,000,000 to tree planting, urban and suburban parks, EEA land acquisition, and trails.

Other highlights of the bill include the creation of the Agricultural Innovation Fund to finance grants for the Commonwealth’s agricultural and cranberry producers; and the Fishing Innovation Fund for the design, construction and modification of commercial fishing vessel; and for research, development, acquisition and deployment of advanced or innovative technologies such as sonar, satellite, radar and radio communications.

To view the newly-signed law, please visit the Legislature's website by clicking below.

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