Dive Brief:
- Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker last week signed an executive order establishing a "comprehensive approach" to tackling greenhouse gas emissions, and an "integrated climate change strategy" for the state.
- Under the order, the state's Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs will develop recommendations for greenhouse gas emissions limits in 2030 and 2040. The state has a goal of reducing emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, but has yet to set interim targets.
- The state will also publish within two years, and then update every five, projections of Massachusetts' energy demand and resources, along with a plan to prioritize conservation and energy efficiency and other demand reduction strategies.
Dive Insight:
Massachusetts has an initial goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, ramping up to the much larger 80% goal over three decades. But Baker's executive order now gives some idea of how the state will go about reaching its aggressive target, developing a framework that will prioritize efficiency over the building of new resources.
The Department of Environmental Protection will work with stakeholders, examine emission limits from a range of sectors, and outline a timeline to to develop new regulations. Baker's office said his administration will also work with state and regional transportation leaders, and environment and energy agencies, to begin development of regional policies to reduce transportation sector emissions. Those efforts will happen alongside work to reform of regional electric energy markets.
Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton, in a statement, said the order ensures the state is working in a "proactive, strategic manner."
The order also directs the Energy and Environmental Affairs office and Public Safety and Security to develop and implement a "statewide comprehensive climate adaptation plan." Each executive office in the administration must designate a Climate Change Coordinator to develop a vulnerability assessment for each office and implement mitigation plans.
The state has taken steps to ensure a cleaner grid, exemplified by its storage mandates and support for wind energy. But methods to encourage solar energy growth, including community solar, have fallen short as utilities continue to hit caps on net metered systems.