Massachusetts Leads: Protecting the Environment and Greening

Up the Bottom Line

State Senator Marc R. PachecoChairman of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change

Chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and AgricultureClimate Leader for the Climate Reality Project

Massachusetts spends $22 billion annually on energy purchases• $18 billion spent outside the state,

exported to other states and other nations.

• Several years ago, we decided to make some changes to reverse that trend.

A change in mindset• Realized funds spent purchasing energy from

other states and countries could be invested here at home.

• We could support home-grown energy resources that are not only cleaner, but require less energy overall.

“The least expensive KW is the one you don’t use.”

•We implemented policies:• To take control of our energy

resources.• To clean up the environment.• To create jobs.

•This didn’t happen overnight.

The State Legislature passed groundbreaking policies

• We required clean energy procurement.

• We established incentives for communities, residents and businesses.

• We invested in infrastructure.

• We passed a host of clean energy legislation that has made a huge difference today:

• The Global Warming Solutions Act

• The Oceans Management Act

• The Clean Energy Biofuels Act

• The Green Communities Act

• The Green Jobs Act

• The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

The Global Warming Solutions Act: • Most progressive U.S. law of its day• Will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent below 1990 levels

by 2020, and 80 percent below our 1990 levels by 2050• Just had five-year review by EOEEA

The Oceans Management Act: • Lifted prohibitions against the

construction of renewable energy sites, facilities within state waters.

• Science-based planning for long-term protection/sustainability of ocean resources.

• Not intended to alter fisheries policy.

• 17-member commission advises EEA on ocean management plan

• Ocean Science Advisory Council (9 scientists/marine sciences and data management experts)

The Clean Energy Biofuels Act: • Encourages development, manufacture of cellulosic

biofuels.

Preferential tax treatment to non-corn-based alternatives to ethanol.

•Requires biofuel content in all diesel and home-heating fuel sold in the state;

•Proposes regional fuel standard encouraging emissions-reducing technologies for cars and trucks.

• Designed to encourage energy efficiency and the development of clean renewable energy sources that can compete in the state’s energy market.

The Green Communities Act:

• First market-based regulatory program in country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• Includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont

• Teaming up to reduce CO2 emissions, create clean energy jobs and support a regional clean energy economy

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative:

The Green Jobs Act:• Established Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, lead

state entity responsible for promoting and developing the clean energy economy

• Mandated to:

As a result, Massachusetts’ clean energy economy is booming

• 11.8% clean energy job growth since 2012

• 24% growth since 2011• 5,557 clean energy

firms today• 79,994 clean energy

workers today

Marine Commerce TerminalFirst port in the United States equipped to handle the deployment of offshore

wind projects.

Wind energy in the Commonwealth:

• Massachusetts has had one of fastest wind energy growth rates in the nation.– In 2007: 3 MW and three

turbines installed.– Today: More than 100 MW

and dozens of turbines installed.

• Progress reflects that of the nation.

Wind Technology Testing Center Charlestown, MA

In 2007, Massachusetts had 3.5 MW installed solar PV.•Then: Goal to have 250 MW installed solar by 2017.

We met our goal 4 years early.•Now: 463 megawatts installed statewide (enough to power 63,377 homes).

•14,278 installed projects •Projects installed/developed in 349/351 Massachusetts communities

Solar Output in Massachusetts:

• Now, 90 times as much installed solar in Massachusetts as we did when Gov. Patrick took office.

• As of December 2013, SEIA ranked Massachusetts fourth in the country for solar installations, behind California, Arizona and North Carolina (but ahead of Hawaii and Nevada).

• We had more solar installed in 2012 than all other years combined.

• Now more than 283 solar companies in Massachusetts with about 8,400 people working in solar sector (SEIA).

New goal: 1600 MW installed solar by 2020

Solar output in Massachusetts:

2013

Massachusetts has been ranked:

•No. 1 in U.S. in energy efficiency (2011, 2012 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy)

•No. 2 in U.S. in clean energy technology in U.S. (2013 Clean Edge Inc.)

•No. 1 in U.S. in clean energy policy in U.S. (2013 Clean Edge Inc.)

•No. 1 in U.S. in clean energy investments (2013 Clean Edge Inc.)

The Result:

Jobs growth, by sector, from 2012-2013:•Carbon management: 19.7% jobs growth.•Energy efficiency: 15.9% growth.•Renewable energy: 2.6% growth.•Alternative transportation: 2.9% growth.•All other sectors: 26% growth.

Our clean energy jobs are growing:

We’re not done• Commercial food waste ban takes effect Oct. 1 to divert food waste to

energy-generating, composting facilities• Ban aims to reduce the waste stream by 30 percent by 2020; 80 percent

by 2050.• Will require any entity disposing of at least one ton of organic waste per

week to donate/re-purpose useable food waste.• Remaining food waste required to be shipped to AD facility, composting

operation or animal-feed operation.

Food waste, organics make up 20-25 percent of waste stream in landfills and incinerators.

Engine behind the U.S. clean energy economy

• Domino effect taking place from East and West Coasts.• Along with California, more states cleaning

up the environment and greening up the bottom line.

• In Massachusetts, we understand change starts at grassroots, local and state-level.

• U.S. has reached a tipping point of thinking globally when we make decisions at the state and local level.

• Massachusetts’ story is now America’s story.

“All politics is local.”

We must keep moving forward.