Two business groups that expressed reservations with details of the sweeping climate policy and emissions bill on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk have shifted their tone after lawmakers adopted several Baker amendments, yet another sign that the governor’s signature on the bill may be coming soon.

In a member alert issued on Friday, a day after lawmakers returned the bill (S.9) to Baker, the commercial real estate group NAIOP pointed to a change to the bill that allows the state Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to develop a new municipal opt-in stretch energy code that “includes, but is not limited to, net-zero building performance standards and a definition of a net-zero building.”

“This change is critical, as it ensures net-zero is no longer a core-component of the code as originally envisioned by the Legislature, and allows DOER to develop the new code with the support of the industry and other stakeholders to ensure a cost-effective and energy-reducing implementation,” said NAIOP, expressing its general sentiment that the amended bill had addressed concerns of the business community using almost the exact same language that Baker’s environmental secretary used to discuss the change.

Then on Monday, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, which had raised concerns about the bill’s potential to create “patchwork of building codes across the state,” declared its support for the amended bill, which it said removed “vague language” around which type of projects will require environmental impact reports.

The chamber said it was “proud to support the Senate and House enacted climate legislation that puts the state on a path to a net-zero emission future and we pledge to be a partner in working through the difficult challenges of implementing this legislation in the coming decades in a balanced and pragmatic manner.”

Given the bill’s ambitious carbon reduction goals, the chamber also called for recognition by the state of the need to “prepare for a dramatically different infrastructure to support ubiquitous electrification.”

“This means new electric vehicle charging stations, additional power lines, and substations,” the chamber said. “Over time, the political reality will emerge that the same communities that support net zero historically have opposed projects that support the electric grid. Going forward, this will be a tension that lawmakers, advocates, businesses, and local communities need to navigate.”

Indications from the administration in the wake of the legislature’s adoption of many of the governor’s amendments suggest that Baker is expected to sign the legislation. His deadline to act on it is Sunday.

Big Biz Groups Shift Tone on Climate Bill

by State House News Service time to read: 2 min
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