Second Formal Meeting: February, 2024
Thanks to the outstanding group of MA sustainability leaders across corporate, academic, grassroots advocacy, and local government sustainability who helped host MA Climate Chief Hoffer.
The CCC is missioned to move the Commonwealth to leadership in the global clean energy revolution, beginning with helping MA understand the advantages of 100% clean power before 2035.
In light of our mission, CCC delegates and friends joined in conversation with Chief Hoffer on the specific question we posed: What three things can the CCC help you with over the next two years to help MA move to leadership in the global revolution to 100% clean power?
Highlights from Chief Hoffer's response include:
An incredibly important decision came out of the DPU in December, highlighting a pathway to unwind utility gas service. This legislation, and public opposition to it, underscores the status quo bias inherent in climate decision-making. In addition to making administrative changes, you must shift public perceptions and socialize positive acceptance of the clean energy transition on a broader scale.
MA has never gone through the exercise of understanding the needed investment to get to Net Zero and lacks the in-house analytic capacity. Strategic researchers and MA's leading universities could work to define this investment in partnership with the state.
Renewables, including networked geothermal, present one of the biggest opportunities for workforce development. There is a 30,000-40,000 person shortage in the MA clean energy workforce. Leading MA corporations can incentivize the clean energy transition by realigning business models with climate science and offering relevant internships and job opportunities.
Thank you for helping the CCC build and deliver new and needed coalition value between MA growth economy leaders, MA labor, MA universities, MA local governments, and nonprofits in the transition to the Commonwealth's global leadership on healthier, more affordable, and more reliable clean power.
On Tuesday evening we began a vitally important agenda-setting discussion with Gov Healey's administration about what, together, we can do to educate our Commonwealth to the advantages of leading with ambition, speed, and needed change. Jim has invited Sec of Energy & Environment Tepper to continue this conversation with us in the near future.
Finally, we'd like to thank Chief Hoffer for her service in developing and implementing MA's climate response. The CCC is committed to continuing to accelerate the Commonwealth's progress in the move to leadership on the national and global stage.
