An Act relative to the protection and development of the thermal commons of the Commonwealth
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
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.
Bill text
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
2 on record
Primary sponsor
Steven Owens
Cosponsor
Steven Owens
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