The Massachusetts Clean Energy bill (H.3288/S.2136) is to transition to 100% energy for electricity by 2035 and 100% clean energy for the building and transportation sectors by 2045.
This should be an easy-reach standard for Massachusetts utilities to move away from fossil fuels for generating electricity because 20% by 2035 can still be the burning of natural gas, releasing much methane. It will be more challenging to achieve 100 percent clean energy for the building and transportation sectors.
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This bill will establish The Council for the Clean Energy Transition. It names and the governor may appoint more representatives of various state agencies/departments dealing with buildings and transportation to come together to reduce electricity generation to net zero emissions.
This is an Apollo 13 space-mission moment with new and old technological tools spread across the table. Council members will be challenged to assemble, implement, and administer robust clean energy solutions to the climate crisis, specific to the workings of each state agency and department. (Not a small task with 151 government departments in Massachusetts using electric energy.)
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There are many positive spin-offs when managers work across boundaries that separate agencies into silos. We are confident that once the bill becomes law and the Council for the Clean Energy Transition is engaged in their work that Massachusetts will be cleaner sooner than just 80% renewable electricity generation by 2035 and 100% clean for the building and transportation sectors by 2045.
If you live outside of Massachusetts, your signature and most especially your comment carries much weight as testimony to where the nation looks for leadership. Your words might just make the difference for a legislator. Local leaders are also concerned with their national reputation and long for more constituents.