On Friday, August 11th, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) published six final regulations to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions in the Massachusetts Register. These regulations follow the Supreme Judicial Court’s May 17, 2016 ruling in Kain v. DEP and Governor Baker’s September 16, 2016 Executive Order No. 569 (“Establishing an Integrated Climate Change Strategy for the Commonwealth”) to help ensure compliance with the 2020 statewide emissions limit established by the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA).

The six regulations and amendments include:

• 310 CMR 7.72: Reducing Sulfur Hexafluoride Emissions from Gas-Insulated Switchgear (amended)
• 310 CMR 7.73: Reducing Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Distribution Mains and Services (new)
• 310 CMR 7.74: Reducing CO2 Emissions from Electricity Generating Facilities (new)
• 310 CMR 7.75: Clean Energy Standard (new)
• 310 CMR 60.05: Global Warming Solutions Act Requirements for Transportation (amended)
• 310 CMR 60.06: CO2 Emission Limits for State Fleet Passenger Vehicles (new)

For more information on these regulations, including Fact Sheets, please visit the MassDEP website on the topic.