Massachusetts' Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles has set the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit at 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, the maximum authorized by the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008.
Currently Massachusetts has policies that put them on track to reduce emissions by 18%, and the remaining quarter of the targets will be realized through a “portfolio” approach. The clean energy plan calls for: buildings energy GHG reductions of 9.8%, 7.7% reduction of emissions from the electricity supply; 7.6% reductions in transportation, and 2% reductions in non-energy emissions, according to plan documents on the state’s website.
While there are fresh policies included in the plan, the Boston Globe says it does not include sweeping new regulations that will deeply alter everyday life for most businesses and people.
In order to meet the new environmental targets, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary-Designate Richard K. Sullivan, Jr. named four seasoned members to the EEA leadership team. Philip Giudice as Undersecretary for Energy; Steven Clarke as Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy; Frank Gorke as Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency; and Mark Sylvia as Commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER), according to the state’s website.
