Massachusetts launches Office of Energy Transformation

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced, on Friday, the establishment of the nation’s first Office of Energy Transformation (OET). The Office, which is charged with managing Massachusetts’ transition to clean energy, is tasked with ensuring the readiness of clean energy infrastructure, coordinating with utilities, and overseeing the workforce transition necessary for phasing out fossil fuels. 

OET will be headed by Executive Director, Melissa Lavinson, and housed within the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).

This announcement comes a few months after the Department of Public Utilities released a historic regulatory order to move utilities away from polluting fossil fuels. Massachusetts is mandated to meet net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Massachusetts needs to go full-speed ahead to phase out polluting energy sources,” said Lydia Churchill, Clean Energy Campaign Associate with Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center. “Creating an office to coordinate that work should pay off in terms of faster deployment and fewer stumbles on the road to 100% renewable energy.”