Right now, the Massachusetts Legislature is debating our economic and environmental future. As citizens, we have an unprecedented opportunity to share a holistic vision of how we want our electricity generated. The so-called Omnibus Energy Bill, that will set our path for many years, will be passed before the end of the legislative session July 31.
As Greening Greenfield sees it, our needs are simple, and we think most people would agree we want:
Electricity that is affordable and reliable
Good paying jobs in Massachusetts
Electricity that is clean and healthy, and does not contribute to the climate crisis that would submerge and devastate significant parts of Boston, and other coastal cities around the world.
The options that meet these criteria are energy efficiency, solar electricity (aka photovoltaics or PV), and offshore wind each meet all three of these criteria.
However, the House Energy Omnibus bill that was passed on June 6 proposes that electric plants that are closing be replaced by 1,200 MW of offshore wind, and 1,200 MW of Canadian hydropower. We can do better.
Let’s analyze Canadian hydropower, which is being proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker and the utility companies. It meets the third criteria of being clean and not contributing to the climate crisis, but it is not good for the economy. Jobs will be created to build new transmission lines, but after that, jobs are gone, and we will be sending our utility dollars to Canada.
What about the first criteria of affordability and reliability? According to a study by the Conservation Law Foundation, electricity from Canada will cost more than offshore wind, and reliability is iffy because the First Nations in Canada are fighting expansion of hydro projects, which are on their lands.
Can we meet our needs with energy efficiency, solar, and wind?
Energy Efficiency: The Attorney General’s 2016 report, Power System Reliability in New England, found that implementing energy efficiency is still the most cost effective approach to meeting our energy needs, but it is not even mentioned in the House Energy Bill.
Solar: We could install 5,000 MW of solar electricity in the next 10 years based on the fact that for the past few years, 500 to 600 MW of photovoltaics have been installed in Massachusetts each year. This strategy alone could meet our near-term energy needs.
Wind: As for the long term, offshore wind, as demonstrated in Europe, is key to success. According to a federal study, the area extending 100 miles off the coast of Massachusetts has been called the “Saudi Arabia” of wind. A University of Delaware study shows that if we commit to installing 2,000 MW it would make wind cost competitive and attractive to investors, create jobs in Massachusetts, and establish a wind industry in the U.S.
What do we need to do to foster what we want?
For renewables to become a larger percentage of how our electricity is generated, we need to raise the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) from 1 percent growth/year to at least 2.5 percent growth. Additionally, the utility companies need to invest in energy storage systems, as has been done in Europe, so that the fluctuating nature of wind and solar energy can be smoothed out, and they need to modernize the grid. ISO NE also needs to change its approach to demand response and energy forecasting.
For solar electricity to flourish we need to eliminate the net-metering cap, and give full net-metering credits to projects for low income people, and Community-Shared Solar projects for people without an appropriate solar site.
To increase funds available to implement energy efficiency, solar and wind, we need a Green Bank, which will attract ten times as much private money as public funding, as evidenced by Green Banks in six states including Connecticut and New York.
This strategy also has far reaching health and economic benefits. Health Care Without Harm points out that health care costs caused by emissions from fossil fuel powered power plants are huge compared to our energy costs, and should be taken into consideration when making energy decisions.
The utility companies should also embrace this plan. Cleaner electricity and new technologies are making electricity a more attractive way to heat our homes and move our cars, which will increase demand and utility profits.
As for the Omnibus Energy Bill, on June 6, H4377 was passed. The Senate is putting forth its own energy bill (S 2372). These two bills will then go to a joint House/Senate committee that will craft a final bill to be voted on by July 31.
Please contact Sen. Stan Rosenberg, Sen. Ben Downing, Gov. Baker, and your representatives today, and let them know what you want for your energy future. They need to hear what you think. Our future is in our hands.
Nancy Hazard, former director of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and Pam Kelly, former director of UUs for a Just Economic Community, on behalf of Greening Greenfield who can be reached at info@GreeningGreenfield.org