Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Seeking Public-Private Partnership for Clean Energy Economy

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The following piece was originally posted by Jean Gulliver on the blog of the Progressive Business Leaders Network (PBLN) at www.pbln.org

According to a recent report from the Brookings Institute, in terms of overall size, the clean economy in the Boston metropolitan area ranks 8th among the largest metro areas in the US.  The report, “Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Regional Green Jobs Assessment” estimates that Boston currently boasts 41,825 clean economy jobs (with 4,300 alternative energy jobs), making up 1.7% of all the jobs in the region. Additionally, it is estimated that between 2003 and 2010, the Boston region added 7,793 clean jobs, representing a 3% annual growth in the sector.  (The Brookings Institute’s profile of the Massachusetts clean economy is available here).   The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center estimates that the alternative energy sector is even larger than the data put forth by the Brookings Institute; they count 400 companies in manufacturing, energy efficiency services, and research and development in the sector employing roughly 11,000 workers – a 65% increase from 2007. Whatever the specific numbers are, one thing is certain: Massachusetts is punching far above its weight, joining the ranks of states like California and New York as a national leader in fostering the growth of a clean energy economy.

Massachusetts has shown impressive leadership and foresight in putting together the state’s Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 and adopting innovative policies such as the Green Communities Act and the Global Warming Solutions Act that are stimulating great economic development and helping to grow the clean-tech cluster. Supporting alternative and renewable energy initiatives will not only yield environmental benefits, it will drive long-term sustainable economic growth and has the potential to create thousands of jobs.

Roger Freeman, Energy Entrepreneur (Solventerra LLC )

The critical importance of the moment was evidenced by a packed hearing room in Boston this week. The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, co-chaired by Senator Ben Downing,  andRepresentative John Keenan was reviewing a wide range of bills addressing a range of issues from increasing renewable gas development and biomass production to promoting greater transparency in energy costs and increasing home energy efficiency.

Roger Freeman, Co-Chair of PBLN’s Energy/Environment Working Group ensured his place in the conversation by presenting testimony to the Committee on behalf of his company, Solventerra LLC. He also offered testimony on behalf of PBLN (Roger’s testimony is available here). He eloquently urged the Committee to adopt H.1776, a bill that would expand the availability of Net Metering Tariffs for both private and publically owned Net Metering Facilities up to 3% of the distribution companies’ maximum load.
PBLN presented its own testimony (available here) to the Committee as well, making the business case for a public-private partnership and greater collaboration between government and the business community. As the legislature looks to focus more closely on the Green Communities Act and Global Warming Solutions Act this year, it will be especially important to make the business case for long-term investment and total cost accounting. There are always business arguments against change, and in favor of the cheapest possible approach to an issue. What is harder to persuade some parties on, especially in the tough times we are all experiencing, is that short term cost of energy is not the whole picture. Equally if not more important are price volatility with our current energy supply and the grim long term cost curve (rising); then there is the outflow of revenue as well as the danger of import dependence from not-so-friendly places. The Brookings study and others being done within regional economies are showing that the prediction of a green jobs trend where we invest in clean energy is very much a reality. All of these business arguments need to be considered when the subject of renewables comes up. Particularly against the dramatic consequences that will result from doing nothing.
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Comments

  1. Great job by an important smart and savvy constituency newly organized and ready to move into action.

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