QUINCY, Mass. (WHDH/AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker says a new environmental infrastructure law will help make Massachusetts more resilient to climate change.
The bill ceremonially signed by the governor in Quincy on Tuesday authorizes the state to borrow up to $2.4 billion for environmental projects in the coming years. About $500 million is earmarked specifically for helping communities prepare for extreme weather events that many scientists believe will become more frequent with global warming.
The plan calls for shoring up seawalls along the coast and inland dams to prevent flooding, while also implementing a statewide climate adaptation plan.
“Part of it’s going to be about hot spotting where the biggest problems are in communities, either from the coast or from drainage or rivers and lakes,” Baker said.
Baker, a Republican seeking a second term in November, says Massachusetts is a “national leader” in addressing the challenges posed by climate changes.
“It’s not just about drainage and all the flooding, but it’s about all the trees, the storm damage and what that does to electricity, the distribution lines and all the rest,” Baker added.
Under the new law, the state needs to come up with a plan for dealing with climate change, meaning each city and town has to determine how vulnerable they are to extreme weather, flooding and droughts.
The bill was approved by the Democratic-controlled Legislature last month.
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