Statement: Biden visit highlights the power of local action on climate

BOSTON – President Joe Biden will visit the site of the former Brayton Point coal-fired power plant in Somerset on Wednesday and speak about climate change and the transition to clean energy, administration officials announced today.

Ben Hellerstein, state director for Environment Massachusetts, issued the following statement:

“There’s no better example of the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy than the Brayton Point site. This was once one of the dirtiest coal plants in New England, and now it’s a critical piece of Massachusetts’ offshore wind infrastructure. Environment Massachusetts helped launch the ‘Filthy Five’ campaign to clean up Brayton Point and the other dirtiest power plants in Massachusetts more than 20 years ago, and I’m thrilled for President Biden to see the results of our work tomorrow.

“The transformation of Brayton Point from coal plant to offshore wind hub shows that when we take action in our communities, we can make a huge difference for cleaner air, healthier families, and a safer climate.

“Federal climate legislation may have stalled, but there’s so much we can do here in Massachusetts. We can require the owners of large buildings, like offices and apartment buildings, to disclose the amount of energy used in their buildings each year and meet minimum standards for energy efficiency. We can increase requirements for utility companies to supply renewable power from sources like solar and wind, reaching 100% clean electricity statewide by 2035. We can increase the number of electric vehicles on our roads and require new homes to be built fossil-fuel-free.

“The best time to get off of fossil fuels is yesterday, the second best time is today, but no matter what, we’ve got to get it done before the legislative session ends on July 31. Let’s pass a strong climate bill that puts Massachusetts on track to 100% clean energy.”