Calling for action to “stop the pain and suffering,” the parents of a Boston University professor who died when he fell through a broken MBTA station staircase made an emotional call Monday for strengthening safety oversight of the under-fire transit agency.
West Tisbury’s decision to withdraw tips over a domino that could lead to groundbreaking new regulations on new buildings in Boston or Somerville.
Transportation, energy and the construction fields feature as primary focus areas in a bill Senate Democrats rolled out Thursday to accelerate decarbonization efforts amidst what lawmakers called a sluggish approach by state agencies.
MBTA overseers on Thursday approved a $157 million purchase of 160 diesel-electric hybrid buses, embracing the vehicles as a step along the way toward full electrification while irking transit advocates who want the agency to move away from any fossil fuel footprint.
As the Department of Energy Resources launches hearings on its straw proposal for a stretch code update and a new municipal opt-in specialized stretch code, two key senators made clear to Commissioner Patrick Woodcock that they expect “substantial revisions” to the proposals before they take effect later this year.
The lead Senate architect of the law made warned the Baker administration Wednesday he will be watching its implementation of a landmark carbon emissions bill closely, particularly the creation of a new building code meant to rein in the commercial real estate industry’s contributions to climate change.
Gov. Charlie Baker still is not on board with the climate policy bill overwhelmingly passed by the Legislature twice in about a month, but this time he has sent it back with proposed amendments he says would make the legislation more palatable.
Senate leaders say a “major” bill that addresses clean energy, clean vehicles and buildings will “probably” come before the state Senate in January of next year.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides told a Senate oversight committee Monday it could expect the early framework for a multi-state pact to reduce carbon emissions from transportation sources by early October, ahead of a legislative summit at Yale.
