Current:Home > InvestNew panel charged with helping Massachusetts meet its renewable energy goals -MoneySpot
New panel charged with helping Massachusetts meet its renewable energy goals
View
Date:2025-04-14 23:40:16
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced the formation this week of a new panel charged with guiding the state’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
The Energy Transformation Advisory Board includes representatives of labor, business, finance and environmental justice advocacy organizations as well as utilities, building owners and developers.
The board will advise the newly established Office of Energy Transformation, which has been given the task of affordably and responsibly accelerating the state’s gas-to-electric transition and readying the electric grid to meet the state’s climate and clean energy mandates.
The office has already announced three of its top goals: transitioning away from the Everett Marine Terminal liquefied natural gas facility, decarbonizing how the state meets peak electric demand, and establishing alternative mechanisms to finance the clean energy transition.
Massachusetts has set a goal of a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The best way to meet those goals will be the electrification of buildings and transportation powered by new clean energy sources, according to the Healey administration.
The Office of Energy Transformation’s mission is to ensure that the electric grid is affordably enhanced, that the state is making steady progress toward moving away from fossil fuels, and that workers and businesses dependent on fossil fuels for their livelihood have support during the transition.
“The clean energy future will not happen if we operate in silos,” Healey said in a written statement. “The Office of Energy Transformation and this newly-created Advisory Board is an invitation to everyone impacted to come to the table, bring solutions, and make real commitments to move us forward.”
The announcement follows last week’s approval by the Massachusetts Senate of a bill aimed at expanding the adoption of renewable energy in a bid to help Massachusetts meet its climate goals, including reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Supporters say the proposal will help lower utility bills by directing providers to offer discounted rates to consumers with low and middle incomes and give the state more flexibility to negotiate contracts with providers.
The bill would also ban “competitive electric suppliers,” which cost Massachusetts consumers more than $577 million over the past eight years, according to a report from the state attorney general’s office.
veryGood! (24)
Related
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Opinion: Child care costs widened the pay gap. Women in their 30s are taking the hit.
- Fed Chair Powell says the US economy is in ‘solid shape’ with more rate cuts coming
- Inside Frances Bean Cobain's Unique Private World With Riley Hawk
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- 'It was really surreal': North Carolina residents watched floods lift cars, buildings
- Harris, Trump shift plans after Hurricane Helene’s destruction
- ‘SNL’ 50th season premiere gets more than 5M viewers, its best opener since 2020
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Gymshark Sale: Save 70% on Workout Gear With $20 Leggings, $12 Sports Bras, $14 Shorts & More
Ranking
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Cardi B Details Getting Another Round of Her Butt Injections Removed
- Man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump will appear in court
- Photos and videos capture 'biblical devastation' in Asheville, North Carolina: See Helene's aftermath
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- 2 ex-officers did not testify at their trial in Tyre Nichols’ death. 1 still could
- Helene's brutal toll: At least 100 dead; states struggling to recover. Live updates
- Justice Department will launch civil rights review into 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Recommendation
Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
Jeep urges 194,000 plug-in hybrid SUV owners to stop charging and park outdoors due to fire risk
Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma marry in Italy
MLB ditching All-Star Game uniforms, players will wear team jerseys
Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
'I hate Las Vegas': Green Day canceled on at least 2 radio stations after trash talk
Cardi B Reveals How She Found Out She Was Pregnant With Baby No. 3
No arrests in South Africa mass shootings as death toll rises to 18