Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
An energy plan released by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs on Dec. 29 calls for Massachusetts to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent within the decade.
The “Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020” outlines more than two dozen initiatives, including energy efficiency requirements, advanced building codes, a renewable portfolio standard, fuel efficiency standards, incentives for purchasing more efficient vehicles and reducing driving miles, and smart growth policies.
Municipalities could see some new financial incentives through the Green Communities program, which began in 2008. The state has committed $2 billion over three years for the program.
The Green Communities Act requires electric and gas utilities to pursue cost-effective energy efficiency measures, including conducting energy assessments on buildings, providing financial incentives for energy efficiency improvements, and providing technical and financial assistance to developers of new buildings.
The state’s Green Communities Division has developed a local-option “stretch code” that has been adopted by more than 60 municipalities.
The new energy and climate plan would expand existing state programs to ensure a complete transition to performance-based energy codes by 2020. It would also implement “deep” energy efficiency improvements in buildings, including retrofitting buildings with much higher levels of insulation, better windows, and better protection against drafts and heat loss.
The plan calls for a utility pilot program that will include rebates as well as training and technical support for energy improvements made to residences.
The new plan would also provide incentives to plant new trees in communities around existing housing and to retain trees when building new housing developments.
Massachusetts is a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which establishes a cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants. Emissions allowances are sold at quarterly auctions, and the state has invested more than 80 percent of its auction proceeds in energy efficiency, renewable energy and other programs.
Two Massachusetts utilities are currently developing a transmission line to import Canadian hydroelectric power, which could meet up to 15 percent of the state’s electricity demand. The state has pledged to support the utilities in the project.