“This legislation builds on the energy, oceans, and biofuels bills passed this session – all positioning Massachusetts as the clear national leader in creating a clean energy economy,” said Governor Patrick. “Massachusetts will lead the way in reducing the emissions that threaten the planet with climate change, and at the same time stimulate development of the technologies and the companies that will move us into the clean energy age of the future.”
The Green Jobs Act will provide support for the growth of a clean energy technology industry, helping Massachusetts to meet goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Backed by $68 million in funding over five years ($43 million from the FY07 surplus and $5 million per year from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust), this legislation gives initial authorization for $5 million in RET funding next year as well as $1 million each in for seed grants to companies, universities, and nonprofits; workforce development grants to state higher ed, vocational schools, and nonprofits; and low-income job training (Pathways Out of Poverty); plus $100,000 for a study of the clean energy sector.
“Massachusetts is leading the way in comprehensive energy reform and all of this session’s accomplishments – from Green Communities and advanced biofuels standards to global warming solutions and now green jobs incentives – make us the envy of the nation,” said House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, who sponsored the bill. “This law will help us create good-paying jobs in an already-thriving clean energy industry that can double or triple in size in the coming years because of our hard work.”
“These initiatives show that Massachusetts is serious about the future of our environment and our economy,” said Senate President Therese Murray. “Promoting our emerging clean-energy sector will create jobs and boost an industry that will work to reach the goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act. By focusing on these green-collar jobs, as well as the reduction of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions, we will help to ensure a healthier future for Massachusetts.”
The Global Warming law requires the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, with a reduction of up to 25 percent by 2020. Gradual reduction of emissions levels will spur innovation and entrepreneurship in clean energy technologies across the economy. To facilitate the innovation and economic development necessary to meet those mandates, the Green Jobs Act will support research-and-development, entrepreneurship, and workforce development in the clean-energy technology industry of the future.
“With passage of the most progressive global warming bill in the nation, Massachusetts has positioned itself as a leader in the clean and renewable energy sector, and secured its position in the emerging green economy,” said Senator Marc Pacheco, chairman of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change. “The Legislature’s approval of the Global Warming Solutions Act was an historic moment that will revolutionize the Commonwealth’s future economy by spurring job growth, sparking innovation, and protecting our environment for future generations. I’m extremely pleased that we were able to take swift action now. The cost of inaction was just too great.”
The law will establish a statewide and regional registry of greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will determine the baseline emissions level of 1990 and calculate the expected 2020 emissions levels if no new controls were imposed after January 1, 2009 (the “business as usual” level). The Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs will set a 2020 emissions limit between 10 percent and 25 percent below 1990 levels and adopt a plan for meeting that limit by January 1, 2011. The Secretary will also set 2030 and 2040 limits, leading up to the required 80 percent reduction by 2050.
These bills follow three other major pieces of legislation signed by Governor Patrick to move Massachusetts toward a clean energy future:
The Green Communities Act remakes the electricity marketplace in Massachusetts to favor efficiency over additional power generation, saving energy and money for consumers, and to support the development and use of renewable energy by residents, businesses, and municipalities.
The Oceans Act, which requires the development of a first-in-the-nation comprehensive management plan for Massachusetts’s state waters, allows for the development of wind, wave, and tidal power as part of a plan that balances new and traditional uses with preservation of natural resources.
The Clean Energy Biofuels Act gives preferential tax treatment to non-corn-based alternatives to ethanol, requires biofuel content in all the diesel and home heating fuel sold in the state, and proposes a new fuel standard for the region that will encourage a range of emissions-reducing technologies for cars and trucks.
“I congratulate Governor Patrick, Senate President Murray, and Speaker DiMasi on launching the most comprehensive and forward-thinking set of clean-energy policies in the nation,” said Hemant Taneja, co-chairman of the New England Clean Energy Council. “The legislation passed this year not only serves as an example to the nation that the United States must take a leadership position in addressing climate change, it will also serve to spur the early development of a low-carbon energy technology industry in Massachusetts, setting it on a path to becoming a global leader in this rapidly growing multibillion-dollar industry.”
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In my opinion, this legislation will lead to a significant numbewr of jobs and long term economic growth.
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p>To the extent that the energy sources in our state become more diviersified over time, our children and grandchildren will thank us.
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p>Well done Beacon Hill. It is a good feeling to be able to say that – I am sure there will need to be adjustments to this legislation as it plays out over time, but in my opinion – good job.
and this is a minor point, when describing the legislation as “the Speaker’s bill”, it just reminds me and likely others how much of the oxygen the Speaker takes up in his chamber.
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p>I mean there is no doubt the Speaker has been a driving force behind the environmental achievements on Beacon Hill this year – everyone with a clue knows that. But given that, there is no need to describe things as “the Speaker’s bill” – strikes me like credit-mongering, which is unncessary for the Speaker to engage in when he has a hand in every bit of the legislation that passes the House anyway.
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p>I think that credit and responsibility on Beacon Hill – and in each legislative chamber – can be more widely shared and the Speaker (even if he doesn’t mean to hog the spotlight) could do more to direct the limelight at his members. To use a maritime analogy – the Speaker can steer the ship and negotiate the shoals, but he doesn’t have to put his name on every container dropped off in port (even if behind the scenes he has had a huge role in filling the container and getting it to its destination on time) – if you catch my wave.
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p>This matters from a public perception point of view. Why? Because legislative leaders are too often perceived as all-powerful bosses – brow-beating members to follow their will and dictating all major policy decisions in their respective domains. To the outsider, if not outright corrupted (and many think Beacon Hill leaders are corrupt), the legislature doesn’t exactly look a well-spring of functional representative democracy. And all this turns people off to government and politics – which hurts progressive who believe government action can make a difference.
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p>So, I hope to see the Speaker continue to aggressively push a progressive agenda on the environment and other critical issues. We need his leadership. But, I tend to think he would strengthen his institution and our democracy if he pushed his members into the spotlights more often. Let the people see and get to know that Beacon Hill is more than just a three-person show – that there are plenty of talented and inspiring people working hard to collectively address the challenges of our times. Do that and the Speaker’s legacy can only be enhanced over time.
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Fair point, Lanugo, I take the constructive criticism. I added the words “Speaker's bill” almost reflexively – it is part of my job, remember. And, particularly on energy issues, I think it is important to remind people of the leadership role he has personally played. While he has received a lot of credit in public events, from advocates and in some media, some of the mainstream media hasn't always reflected that.
But the Speaker has gone out of his way at each public event to credit the Governor, Secretary Bowles, Senate President Murray, Chairman Dempsey and Chairman Morrissey with contributing greatly to the successes this session and for making the end product far better than when he first filed these bills. In fact, when we passed Green Communities in the House and Senate, the 'thank yous' during the press conference in his office went on so long, reporters complained to me.
But this is clear – without the full force of legislative and executive leadership on these issues this session, we would not have had such extraordinary success.
All the best,
Dave
And again I commend the Speaker’s commitment to making Massachusetts a hub for green technologies and environmental innovation. Without his ideas and leadership much of this stuff wouldn’t have happened. And you are just doing your job and doing it well in supporting him and spreading his achievements.
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p>My comment was more about how Beacon Hill works and how it could be improved than it was about critizing your post. The three powers on the Hill get almost all the attention from the media whether they want to or not. David, you used to write for the Herald and a press statement from Rep.Littleheardof from East Boone probably didn’t move you very much. But something from Finneran or Trav would – partially because they held the cards. Power is very concentrated on the Hill – for better or worse. The media follows power but in so doing also perpetuates the existing power imbalance.
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p>I think its great the Speaker is making sure others get a thank you during his press conferences but I think sharing the credit and spreading the limelight requires more than that. Our legislature could be more than it is.
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p>Earlier this year I posted some ideas for reforming the legislature – maybe you and the Speaker will find some of them interesting. And forgive the negative tone of the opening – it was written during the Cashman controversies so I was under the malign influence of the Globe.
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No worries Lanugo and thanks for the suggestions. I’ll definitely take a look.
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p>All the best.