Bill for 100 percent clean energy a clear win for environment, public health

Environment Massachusetts

Boston – Today, Senator Marc Pacheco hosted a briefing on the benefits of clean energy legislation recently approved by the Massachusetts Senate.

Ben Hellerstein, State Director for Environment Massachusetts, issued the following statement:

“We congratulate Senator Pacheco and his colleagues on the passage of An Act to promote a clean energy future (S.2564), and we look forward to supporting similar legislation in the House.

“We can’t afford any delay in transitioning to clean energy. Every day we continue using fossil fuels is another day that our kids are exposed to unhealthy air pollution. Every day we continue using fossil fuels increases our risk of dangerous heat waves and rising sea levels from climate change.

“Clean energy is a clear winner for our environment and public health. That’s why we urge the House and the Senate to pass strong clean energy legislation, putting Massachusetts on a path to 100 percent renewable energy, before the July 31 deadline.”

In June, the Senate passed comprehensive clean energy legislation to generate 50 percent of Massachusetts’ electricity from solar, wind, and other renewable resources by 2030, and achieve 100 percent renewable electricity by 2047.

At today’s briefing, the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change shared findings from a report by the Applied Economics Clinic that analyzed the effects of key provisions of this bill.

The study found that increasing the renewable portfolio standard by 3 percent per year, eliminating the caps on net metering, and setting ambitious targets for offshore wind and energy storage would result in: 

• 600,000 fewer metric tons of greenhouse gases per year by 2030, equivalent to taking 128,000 cars off the road;
• 9.8 gigawatts of solar, wind, and hydro generation installed by 2030;
• and $263 million in economic growth per year and 1,800 new in-state jobs (on average).

The House of Representatives has not yet taken up clean energy legislation. In order to pass a law this year, the House and Senate must come to an agreement on legislative language before the end of the session on July 31.