§ 29 — Office of environmental justice and equity

[ Text of section added by 2024, 239, Sec. 5 effective February 18, 2025.]Section 29. There shall be an office of environmental justice and equity within the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, which shall be administered by an undersecretary of environmental justice and equity who shall be appointed and may be removed by the secretary of energy and environmental affairs. The office shall be responsible for implementing environmental justice principles, as defined in section 62 of chapter 30, in the operation of each office and agency under the executive office. The office shall develop standards and guidelines governing the potential use and applicability of: (i) community benefit plans and agreements; and (ii) cumulative impact analyses in developing energy infrastructure with input from representatives of utilities, the renewable energy industry, local government, environmental justice community organizations, environmental sectors and other representatives as deemed appropriate by the office.