The plan presents a statewide strategy for significant energy savings, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced energy costs for consumers.
BOSTON -- Tuesday, the Department of Public Utilities issued an order approving the 2019-2012 statewide energy efficiency plan which sets energy savings goals and budgets for the Mass Save program offered by utility companies. The resulting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from this plan will provide significant progress towards meeting Massachusetts emissions reductions mandates, established by the 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act. The Department of Energy Resources said the plan is expected to result in more than 35.6 million megawatt-hours of avoided electricity use, and more than 1.19 billion therms of avoided gas use. The plan is expected to return more than three dollars for every dollar of ratepayer money put into the program, with more than $8.56 billion in expected benefits to consumers from a budget of $2.8 billion.
Massachusetts Sierra Club Chapter Director Deb Pasternak issued the following statement:
“Lowering our energy consumption through the new Mass Save Three-Year Plan will help us to reach our state mandated emissions reductions goals and avoid the worst effects of climate change. We are especially supportive of the new incentives for switching residential heating systems from dirty fossil fuels to air source heat pumps. We look forward to working with the Baker Administration to enact additional policies towards an equitable transition to 100% renewable energy to provide clean low cost energy to Bay State residents.”
About Sierra Club:
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
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