[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6193470,"mediaKeyId","3867056-de4a92d14c39014cc5a55f7a08b48bad","parentId",3867056,"title","Industry group urges committee to approve framework for responsible electric-vehicle battery management","audioSeconds",298,"startMs",9239000,"endMs",9537000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867056-de4a92d14c39014cc5a55f7a08b48bad&start=9239&end=9537","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867056-de4a92d14c39014cc5a55f7a08b48bad/thumbnail_9239000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193470/Massachusetts/Industry-group-urges-committee-to-approve-framework-for-responsible-electric-vehicle-battery-management","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193470-fe373bcca91c29dae32c8d3a9e05232b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770389321&Signature=PCipN47I2yps1tGMBu4If4e-XOihiB5pIFXXIpTxmYfn3CtVM889t~3HZvCwmYEuPonwIQZgPrD~l8fCvk~HGRmr~wh~Z4gr64xr~gRt-tBJjI7ri9k4gU86JtU5tHTYnzwvmHiKcwX673xq-ENfbDE0vofGyPydXCu3ozbvskyeMcDkmseryhMHIiImFpgc9lhpmoIaJS52-X1nc6bf7g7f8C8JIOgBe9BLtVvzCwsP2c1Dsgbm78dTQdciGKrvdQmJzBlUAYt8rs2y50UWIiSlJcZ7OffwOOfwAeWaT-tWf~30NUlFC-HIvzqTARI8BHiFYrygg3Y5BpiONkQbcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","A representative of Redwood Materials urged the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy to support legislation (Senate Bill 2,283) establishing a framework for responsible end-of-life management of electric and hybrid vehicle batteries that favors market-driven coordination over highly prescriptive extended-producer-responsibility regimes.

\"We are an American company building the first US-based battery supply chain for electric vehicles and clean energy storage systems,\" Daniel Zotos, Redwood Materials' director of state policy and public affairs, said in testimony. He told the committee the company works with vehicle makers, secondary handlers and automotive recyclers to recycle and refine battery materials and to rebuild domestic supply chains for future battery components.

Zotos said the bill under consideration takes a pragmatic approach: it sets guardrails and expectations for responsible handling and recovery of batteries without imposing a single, prescriptive producer-run system that could inadvertently hamper innovation or create a patchwork of inconsistent requirements across states. Redwood urged harmonization of standards where possible and offered the company's willingness to participate in state and multi-state discussions about consistent approaches.

The witness said the emerging market for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries is already functioning in the United States and that Massachusetts can promote a resilient domestic supply chain by adopting targeted, flexible rules that encourage responsible collection, safe handling and recycling of battery materials.

Zotos said Redwood would welcome participation in the Clean Energy Act'mandated extended producer responsibility working group and encouraged the committee to adopt a legislative framework that anticipates increasing EV volumes and ensures safe, efficient processing and reuse of critical battery materials.

The committee did not take a vote at the hearing and invited additional written comments and participation by stakeholders in ongoing policy working groups.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy - 6-18-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Redwood Materials and witnesses urged a favorable report on a bill to set end-of-life management expectations for electric and hybrid vehicle batteries, emphasizing market-driven standards and domestic recycling capacity over prescriptive extended-producer-responsibility rules.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193475,"Lawmakers weigh bills to bar woody biomass from municipal standards and alternative energy subsidies",2137,219000,2356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867056-de4a92d14c39014cc5a55f7a08b48bad&start=219&end=2356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867056-de4a92d14c39014cc5a55f7a08b48bad/thumbnail_219000.jpg","/articles/6193475/Massachusetts/Lawmakers-weigh-bills-to-bar-woody-biomass-from-municipal-standards-and-alternative-energy-subsidies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193475-5de3c24560d8d66abfada1445162e73c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770389321&Signature=DBCvr5oBHTk0h1-EXMzlrMJIkfqQ5LbPQRUICE3qRJXSPIAyQqaa-LeDeaLzmUNw3szi8vjO3~xD3DlY5AE6NkYpWRPCIv6qUK7EdEj51N3HyUU-eLDJi5f8FCCI6E5F-XgkE5TiNixVRzp8VxDiG5DorBNxUT0IpVXNvWjtYukvg8wvvd7fxtEu-IqVnkqPBmY2KmlSVwhK0f8-OOE8kwlMLAtFqfl6LtrcUjF~80pdWKVnlJFi9qc~9Mf4Ho6FaN8onCHYQ6guxrE6pewQf68lAl8Hy4-EsSAm0VOETKI5MU6EMGu-XPXIF~4K648b8nK~13PHzxePQoZNDt1TAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislators, municipal officials, environmental groups and public health advocates urged the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy to pass bills that would prevent woody biomass from qualifying as a clean energy source for municipal lighting plants and from receiving incentives under the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (APS).

\"This is not an abstract policy issue. This is about air our children breathe, the future of our climate, and the integrity of our energy goals,\" Senator Gomez said when he introduced the measures (S.2288 and S.2287 and their House counterparts). Witnesses told the committee that allowing woody biomass to count toward municipal greenhouse gas standards or to receive APS credits would effectively subsidize facilities that produce significant fine-particulate and greenhouse-gas emissions.

Testimony described a specific urgency: language in the Next-Generation Climate Roadmap creates municipal lighting plant (MLP) greenhouse-gas standards that, without correction, could allow biomass to be treated as a non-carbon-emitting source beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Several witnesses said the timeline creates an immediate need to amend statute so municipal utilities cannot enter into long-term purchase agreements that would finance new biomass facilities.

Municipal officials from Springfield described direct local experience. Michael Fenton, president of the Springfield City Council, told the committee that his city has opposed a proposed commercial-scale biomass-fired facility in East Springfield for more than a decade and that the city's public-health concerns extend to some of the worst asthma rates in the region. \"These two bills in combination would remove woody biomass from the alternative energy supply definition and woody biomass from the greenhouse gas emission standards for municipal light companies,\" Fenton said.

Public-health witnesses cited particulate matter (PM2.5) as a particular risk. Jessica Collins, executive director of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, described local data: Springfield has improved some air-quality metrics but continues to register among communities with elevated asthma hospitalizations; the American Lung Association and other sources were cited to show persistent elevated asthma burdens in parts of Hampden County. Witnesses described mechanisms: microscopic particulates penetrate deep into the lungs and have been associated in epidemiological studies with asthma exacerbations, cardiovascular disease and other conditions.

Environmental groups and climate coalitions urged the committee to close what they called a loophole that would allow companies to rebrand wood-burning facilities as qualifying clean energy. Conservation Law Foundation, Sierra Club, Mass Power Forward and other groups filed testimony urging repeal of biomass eligibility in both the MLP standard and the APS.

Proponents of clean modern wood-heat technology testified on a narrower point: Chris Egan of the Massachusetts Forest Alliance said modern pellet and chip systems with emission controls (for example, electrostatic precipitators) can sharply lower particulate emissions compared with older stoves, and that incentives could be tailored to systems with effective controls. Egan also said the number of APS-eligible modern wood-heat systems is small and that their total cost to ratepayers would be minimal if properly targeted.

Several witnesses drew a distinction between small controlled modern systems and large commercial biomass power plants; multiple critics said a commercial-scale plant such as the proposed Springfield facility would emit far larger quantities of PM2.5 and carbon and would disproportionately affect low-income and environmental-justice communities.

No formal committee vote was taken at the hearing. Multiple witnesses asked legislators for prompt action to prevent contracts or subsidies from supporting new woody-biomass projects.","Legislators, municipal officials and public health advocates urged the committee to remove woody biomass from municipal lighting plant greenhouse gas standards and from the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, citing air pollution, public health and climate concerns; proponents said a looming statutory effective date makes action urgent.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193480,"Advocates, municipal leaders and retailers renew push to modernize Massachusetts bottle bill",5597,40000,5637000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867056-de4a92d14c39014cc5a55f7a08b48bad&start=40&end=5637","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867056-de4a92d14c39014cc5a55f7a08b48bad/thumbnail_40000.jpg","/articles/6193480/Massachusetts/Advocates-municipal-leaders-and-retailers-renew-push-to-modernize-Massachusetts-bottle-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193480-76dbb542cba37dcabb64044223d3c3f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770389321&Signature=JvIUEMEQYGOEg2KKmqaBlmyp9CcQSVC48fxrOueyGSOUK2TLMhqXjImIaYq~iW96sTWTVx3wrr2kzBtftgYfbdcNljz-GuNDl6mNfcZl6eoOADdRaVBZA0kt5eRSNlcm~~HcuESZvSR41rixbxWxER3pJkhIPo66fZkTqCEva31AmD1v2CBhZKAD1LFkx6WpZ88eP0RnrEX4JKVN-xn3N4pABSPYiLJ6Ze~8zOEdhQJAQuabt1hqQnMoMYBg7SLe4eXo77VPEUeLoZhC7QmeDW222g-Kcrg-CmJvq0GBEwut1Zz9MF3lYAiWH7HvdobmftZEJavIRrgG9EIIJoWklw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A broad coalition of municipal officials, environmental advocates and some retailers urged the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy to modernize Massachusetts's bottle deposit law by expanding covered containers, raising the deposit and restoring an environmental fund to help cities and towns.

Supporters told the committee that the current 5-cent deposit has not been updated since the law was enacted in 1982 and that redemption rates have fallen in recent years, increasing litter and municipal disposal costs. \"I have two words,\" said Janet Dominitz, director of MassPIRG; \"deposits work.\" She and other witnesses cited studies and local counts showing a large rise in beverage containers not covered under the current statute.

Supporters said the bills before the committee (including House and Senate filings referred to during testimony such as H.3464 and other companion measures) would extend deposits to containers not now included in the 1982 law (for example, water, sports drinks and small alcohol \"nips\"), raise the deposit to 10 cents, increase handling fees for retailers and authorize programs such as convenient bag-drop accounts and universal return at retail to increase access to redemption.

Advocates and municipal representatives described direct fiscal impacts on towns. \"Cities and towns spend money on garbage collection, garbage disposal, tipping fees, litter pickup,\" said Janet Dominitz. Witnesses and submitted figures during testimony estimated municipal savings in the range of $25 million to $36 million annually if more containers were diverted from municipal trash to a deposit return system. Several speakers said Massachusetts's redemption rate has fallen from the roughly 50'plus percent level reported in earlier decades to the mid-30s today; differing witnesses gave recent estimates around 35% to 37% for the percent of containers going through the deposit system.

Representatives of municipal governments and the Mass Municipal Association (MMA) told the committee rising disposal and recycling processing costs are straining local budgets and that an expanded bottle bill, coupled with a restored Clean Environment Fund, would be a net benefit to cities and towns. \"By expanding the number of eligible containers and by increasing the deposit amount to 10 cents, we'd be able to provide cleaner roads, parks, and create savings to city and town budgets,\" Adam Chaplin of the MMA said.

Retail and industry witnesses gave more mixed testimony. Rob Melian, representing independent package stores, said many locally owned retailers support an expanded bottle bill but urged raising the handling fee retailers receive for accepting returns, which has not been adjusted in years. The Massachusetts Beverage Association, represented by Steve Bockzanski, opposed the proposed expansion as drafted and argued that many residents already have curbside or transfer-station recycling access; the association urged investment in improved curbside systems or an alternative producer-funded approach (extended producer responsibility) to support infrastructure improvements.

Opponents also noted the 2014 statewide ballot question on bottle deposit expansion failed by a wide margin and said convenience is critical to consumer participation. Supporters countered that the political and market context has changed, that the deposit level no longer provides sufficient incentive, and that modernizing the system would increase clean recycling and reduce contamination in municipal streams.

The committee heard multiple specific provisions supporters asked for: raising the deposit to 10 cents, expanding covered containers to include bottled water, sports drinks and small alcohol bottles, increasing handling fees to keep redemption centers solvent, exempting very small retailers from the obligation to accept returns (the bill text discussed a threshold such as 2,000 square feet), and reinstating a Clean Environment Fund to direct unclaimed deposits and other program revenues to recycling services and municipal needs.

The hearing produced repeated requests from committee chairs that witnesses who agreed with earlier testimony indicate alignment rather than repeat long statements, because both legislative chambers were in session and time was limited.

Supporters asked the committee to report the modernization bills favorably; opponents urged caution, additional study or consideration of alternative approaches such as extended producer responsibility and improved curbside infrastructure.

The committee did not take formal votes during the testimony session. Written testimony and additional materials were promised by several witnesses and organizations.","Supporters including municipal officials, environmental groups and some retailers urged the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy to expand the state's bottle deposit law, raise the deposit to 10 cents and reinstate a Clean Environment Fund; opponents said curbside systems and cost impacts must be considered.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Industry group urges committee to approve framework for responsible electric-vehicle battery management

Lawmakers weigh bills to bar woody biomass from municipal standards and alternative energy subsidies

Advocates, municipal leaders and retailers renew push to modernize Massachusetts bottle bill