Photo by Kenny Truong, Sierra Club Massachusetts volunteer.
In 2008, Massachusetts passed the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), committing the state to reducing emissions 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. To effectively implement the GWSA, Governor Charlie Baker is required to establish a Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP) that includes interim targets for 2030 and 2040 every five years detailing the policies and frameworks needed to achieve those targets.
We know that to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, we must have strong climate targets for 2030. The 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report says that a global emissions reduction of at least 50 percent by 2030 is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. So if we’re going to continue to tout ourselves as climate leaders, it’s imperative that we have a comprehensive and aggressive climate action plan now; Massachusetts and the world cannot wait.
The Baker administration is now working to establish the 2030 emissions reduction target and writing the CECP, which is due at the end of this year. The state government under Governor Baker has taken minimal steps to meet the GWSA’s initial emissions reduction goals -- and only after losing a 2016 lawsuit over its failures to take action (see Kain v. DEP). Baker has yet to enact any meaningful emissions controls in the buildings or the transportation sectors, and the most recent emissions data shows that Massachusetts’s greenhouse gas emissions are in fact rising. Unfortunately, the Baker administration has declined to even consider climate impacts when approving new energy projects and infrastructure, resulting in a glut of fossil-fuel-related projects throughout the state.
This March, Massachusetts passed the Next Generation Climate Roadmap, an update to the GWSA that requires the Baker administration to plan for a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2030. But as always, the devil is in the details. The Clean Energy and Climate Plan is Massachusetts's best opportunity to act on climate right now and lay the foundation for a clean and equitable climate future. And we can decide what the future of our state looks like by engaging in the process.
But before we talk about policies, we must center all of our work in equity. Equity in this context means a fair distribution of energy benefits and burdens from production to consumption. For example, in the town of Acton, the median household income tops $120K, and a majority of residents are English speakers. Almost half of the homes (46 percent) in Acton have benefitted from energy efficiency and saving services, according to their utility’s report. Fall River, on the other hand, where the median income is about half the statewide average, has seen only 13 percent of its residents take advantage of these price-reducing services.
True equity means prioritizing benefits for communities that have suffered from disproportionately high levels of exposure to toxic pollution and the associated health impacts. And it’s no secret that these communities tend to be low-income and predominantly home to Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. As Massachusetts works to cut emissions, it must prioritize the needs and input of environmental justice communities, low-income communities, and energy-burdened residents.
Here’s what a strong CECP for Massachusetts would look like:
Transportation Sector
Right now, the transportation sector is the largest emitter of climate-change-exacerbating pollution in the state. Yes, you read that right. Wouldn’t it be great if we expanded and improved transit opportunities through the CECP to make our options more climate-friendly? That should include ensuring that school buses are powered by 100 percent clean energy by 2030, with commuter rail and municipal and state vehicle fleets also transitioning to clean energy by 2035.
Upgrades to local transit are vital, especially in rural communities where having a car is a necessity. Developing transportation emissions-reduction policies specifically tailored for rural communities will be essential, as will increasing access to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). If we implement and expand rebate programs for moderate- and low-income residents, we could expand access to new and used zero-emission vehicles by the end of this year.
Buildings & Heating Sector
The building sector is currently responsible for 33 percent of the Commonwealth’s greenhouse gas emissions—the second-largest source of emissions in Massachusetts after transportation. But the Bay State does not have any greenhouse gas emissions reduction limits specific to the building sector. Setting mandatory caps statewide by 2022 with enforcement starting in 2025 will help get the ball rolling. And by no later than 2022 we absolutely must stop providing fossil fuels incentives through the MassSave program, which supports energy efficiency upgrades.
As of now, new buildings are essentially an untapped opportunity to reduce emissions. We can promote higher energy efficiency standards by establishing a net-zero opt-in stretch building code by 2022. But electrifying homes isn’t just good for the climate: It protects our health from the impacts of burning gas in our homes. It can also help create good-paying, union-certified jobs through workforce development and training programs in clean building technologies.
Electricity Sector
How we get and generate electricity has always been the top-most concern when we talk about switching to clean energy. To start, we must raise the clean energy standard to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035, and install at least 6 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind and 9300 MW of solar capacity by 2030. Additionally, we need to stop allowing woody biomass and solid waste combustion companies to benefit from clean energy incentives -- neither are clean alternatives and both are huge polluters for the local communities.
We must ensure that low- and moderate-income energy-burdened households and environmental justice communities are benefitting from the transition to clean energy. This could take shape as targeted incentive programs for local renewable energy in those communities, and ensuring that they receive at least 50 percent of statewide clean energy investments. Localities should also consider whether a municipally-owned energy system is right for them. These systems help ensure that the benefits of large solar arrays and renewable infrastructure stay local.
When we consider the scale and breadth of change necessary to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels, we must remember that the next decade represents a significant and unique opportunity. The world is moving to embrace sustainability. Our state has a chance to be a climate leader, and grow our local and regional economy now by creating family-sustaining jobs. Massachusetts cities and towns are ready for a sustainable future powered by 100 percent clean energy. A strong Clean Energy and Climate Plan can help make that future a reality.