H3543
An Act relative to the protection and development of the thermal commons of the Commonwealth
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Bill overview
This bill aims to establish and protect the ‘thermal commons’ of Massachusetts, which refers to the shared use of heat resources, particularly from data centers and other industrial facilities. It seeks to encourage the development of systems that capture and reuse this waste heat for beneficial purposes, such as heating buildings or greenhouses. The bill intends to promote a more sustainable and efficient use of energy resources within the state. It establishes a framework for managing and utilizing this previously underutilized resource.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘thermal commons’ as the shared use of waste heat.
- Encourages the development of heat reuse systems.
- Supports the capture and utilization of heat from data centers and industrial facilities.
- Promotes the use of waste heat for heating and other applications.
- Establishes a process for managing and coordinating thermal commons projects.
Who is affected
- Data center operators
- Industrial facilities
- Utilities
- Building owners
- The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Notable changes
- Introduces a formal framework for managing waste heat as a shared resource.
- Potentially reduces reliance on traditional heating sources.
- Could lead to new economic opportunities related to heat reuse technologies.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Steven Owens
Cosponsor
Steven Owens
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.3543 194th (Current)
An Act relative to the protection and development of the thermal commons of the Commonwealth
By Representative Owens of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3543) of Steven Owens relative to thermal commons of the Commonwealth. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenter: Steven Owens Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Tabs
Bill History Petitioners Committee Vote Hearing Attendance
Bill History
Displaying 5 actions for Bill H.3543
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 10/17/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 10/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 |
| 12/4/2025 | House | Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| 3/23/2026 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
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