The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed an environmental bond bill Thursday that includes funding for many projects in western Massachusetts. The four-year, $1.9 billion plan fund projects aimed at land and waterway conservation as well as clean energy initiatives.
If passed, the legislation would provide nearly $9 million for design and construction of the Hoosic River Restoration project in North Adams.
“You’ve got the flood shutes…we need to be smart about making sure that we keep flood protection in place,” said Democratic Senator Ben Downing of Pittsfield. “But there are certainly parts of that long-standing project that aren’t as necessary now and if we are able to smartly disassemble them can create some great public spaces to attract people to our downtown.”
The Senate and House will form a compromise bill before sending it to Governor Deval Patrick to be signed into law. The legislative session ends July 31.
