First Formal Meeting Updates: December, 2023
Thanks to those who were able to join us on December 5th for the 1st Formal Meeting of the CCC. We were pleased to hold a productive discussion on educating MA legislators and climate leaders on setting a Zero-Based target to accelerate to 100% Clean Power for 100% of MA, as well as to move a flagging MA to leadership in the global green transition.
Senator Mike Barrett, Chairman of the MA Telecommunications, Utilities, & Energy Committee, offered remarks, including three top priorities of his own that align with the CCC's goal: (1) smoothing the path for renewable energy development (particularly offshore wind), (2) modernizing the grid towards a bidirectional, intelligent power system, & (3) demonstrating decisive leadership on RE in today's uncertain political climate.
CCC participants heard from delegates across MA leadership, from large energy developers, academia, corporate sustainability, grassroots activism, innovation economy leaders, political strategists, & utility representatives. Some informal renderings of more articulate in-person remarks from delegates:
A leading large-scale energy developer spoke on the need for a simple, strong leadership statement from MA legislators to continue to drive the robust large scale generation industry and tap into massive workforce opportunities.
A climate action leader in academia discussed the need for scientific literacy among legislators and community members, as well as for low carbon transportation.
A former leader of top relevant statewide grassroots activist groups & now innovation economy leader shared on workforce development initiatives in clean energy working to uplift residents from justice communities in NYC and soon Boston.
An accomplished statewide political strategist discussed the need to express the affordability of the green transition in plain language (in municipalities, there is a lack of administrative capacity and understanding)
An accomplished strategist at an MA utility echoed Senator Barrett's commitment to grid modernization and workforce development, particularly as one out of two of the field workers needed to meet our doubling electric demand over the next 10-14 years will retire.
A leading relevant foundation executive reminded us of the importance of considering environmental justice from the very beginning; in the transition to the clean energy economy, communities everywhere will experience opportunities and costs, as MA communities like New Bedford and Nantucket already have.
The CCC shared on the need for strategic research in MA, in the spirit of Bob Pollin at PERI UMass's Colorado Green Transition report, which shows that strong investment in renewable energy could enable the creation of 100,000 good paying jobs in the state annually over nine years, & reduce the average energy consumer's bill by 36% annually, from $4600 to $2900.
We were energized by the productive discussion , and look forward to continuing to make strides as we prepare for our Jan 2nd Second Formal Meeting, with Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer confirmed as a participant.
Thanks to Senator Barrett for his more-than-decade of service in developing MA's climate action legislation. The CCC is committed to accelerating the Commonwealth's progress in the move to leadership on the national and global stage.
