Herald exclusive: Natural gas targeted in Massachusetts Senate climate bill

A climate bill the state Senate is scheduled to release in the coming days could target Massachusetts residents’ legal right to natural gas and a program to replace old pipes for the service, according to its chief author. Sen. Michael Barrett, a Lexington Democrat who co-chairs the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee, said the legislation will require that petitions to extend natural gas service into new areas must first consider the climate impacts of such a move and whether there are “less costly or less polluting alternatives.” If there are...