MA Senate Committee Hosts Discussion on Clean Energy Future Bill

BOSTON-- The Massachusetts Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change hosted a briefing today to discuss the findings of The Applied Economics Clinic and Sustainable Energy Advantage report which focuses on the impacts of the major electric sector provisions in the 2018 Act to Promote a Clean Energy Future bill which passed the Massachusetts Senate unanimously last month.

The report looked at four specific policies within the Clean Energy Future bill:

1. Renewable Portfolio Standard: The Commonwealth should accelerate the percentage increase of the state’s RPS from one to three percent per year--requiring utilities and competitive suppliers to increase the amount of renewable resources for electricity they sell

2. Offshore Wind: Build 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2035 which is equivalent to over 3 million residential homes

3. Battery Storage: Reach an in-state battery storage goal of 1,766 MW by 2025

4. Lift Net Metering Cap: Remove the cap on “net metering,” which sells energy back into the grid, from small solar installations

The report found that these four policies would bring the following benefits to Massachusetts:

• 1,800 new jobs on average

• $263 million in economic growth per year from 2018 to 2030—totaling $3.4 billion in growth over the 12-year period

• 9,800 MW of total clean energy generation

• A reduction of 600,000 metric tons greenhouse gas emissions for the Commonwealth

• No increase in Massachusetts electric rates and bills

The Massachusetts Sierra Club offered the following responses from Chapter Chair Deb Pasternak and Chapter Director Emily Norton:

“The science is clear, and now the economics are clear - Massachusetts can and must do more to reduce the greenhouse gases that are disrupting our climate,” said Norton. “This report demonstrates clearly what a win these policies are for Massachusetts residents, businesses and municipalities in terms of public health, job growth, and stable electricity bills. We urge swift action by the Massachusetts House before their July 31 deadline.”

“After the unprecedented storms last winter, and last week’s heat wave, we don’t need more reminders of the urgency of this issue. Especially with the chaos in Washington, DC, we need our state to lead,” said Pasternak. “The Senate has taken action, now it is time for the House to vote for a stronger RPS, stronger solar policies, more offshore wind and more battery storage.”