The Act requires the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER), to develop a statewide 1990 greenhouse gas emission baseline and a projection of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 in a "business as usual" scenario. These estimates will be used in determining the 2020 and 2050 target reductions. See the 1990 Baseline and 2020 Business As Usual Projection.

Also last year, Governor Patrick signed the Green Communities Act, a comprehensive reform of the state's energy marketplace that will greatly improve the state's ability to meet the GWSA targets. It promotes a dramatic expansion in energy efficiency, supports the development of renewable energy resources, creates a new greener state building code, removes barriers to renewable energy installations, stimulates technology innovation, and helps consumers reduce electric bills. It also created the Green Communities Program, providing all cities and towns with energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities.

MassDEP, EEA and DOER are jointly holding five public information sessions across the state in April and May to:

• Provide an overview of the Global Warming Solutions Act and the Green Communities Act, and how the EEA agencies are collaborating to meet the goals of these important laws; and
• Provide information on the proposed statewide 1990 emission inventory baseline, as well as the proposed 2020 business as usual projection.

A sixth information session, in Boston, will focus on the technical content and calculations that support the proposed statewide greenhouse gas emissions 1990 Baseline and 2020 "Business As Usual" Projection.

Meeting Schedule

April 29, 2009
10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Massachusetts State House, Room A-1
Boston, MA 02133

Presentation from April 29, 2009, Meeting

Massachusetts: National Leadership in Climate & Clean Energy
MS Powerpoint 801 KB | PDF 162 KB

May 4, 2009
6:00-8:00 p.m.
MassDEP Southeast Regional Office
20 Riverside Drive
Lakeville, MA 02347

May 6, 2009
6:00-8:00 p.m.
MassDEP Central Regional Office
627 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608

May 11, 2009
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Springfield Public Library, Main Branch
220 State Street
Springfield, MA 01103

May 14, 2009
6:00-8:00 p.m.
MassDEP Northeast Regional Office
205B Lowell Street
Wilmington, MA 01887

Presentation from May 4, 6, 11 & 14, 2009, Meetings

Massachusetts: National Leadership in Climate & Clean Energy
MS Powerpoint 1.6 MB | PDF 451 KB

Technical Meeting:

Monday, May 18, 2009
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Rooms 2B & 2C
100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114

Presentation from May 18, 2009, Meeting

Proposed 1990 GHG Emissions Baseline & Business As Usual Projection: Technical Issues
MS Powerpoint 728 KB | PDF 193 KB

In addition, MassDEP will hold one public hearing on the proposed Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Level: 1990 Baseline and 2020 Business As Usual Projection. This public hearing will be conducted under the provisions of M.G.L. chapter 30A. The public hearing notice is below.

Public Notice

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
BUREAU OF WASTE PREVENTION
N O T I C E

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Environmental Protection, in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c 111, Sections 142A through 142N will hold a public hearing on the Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Level: 1990 Baseline and 2020 Business As Usual (BAU) Projection.

Chapter 298 of the Acts of 2008, the Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) was signed into law by Governor Patrick in August 2008 to begin to address the challenges of climate change. The GWSA requires MassDEP to, "… determine the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in calendar year 1990 and reasonably project what the emissions level will be in calendar year 2020 if no measures are imposed to lower emissions other than those formally adopted and implemented as of January 1, 2009. This projection shall hereafter be referred to as the projected 2020 business as usual level."

The Act also calls upon the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), in consultation with other state agencies and the public, to set an economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target for Massachusetts of between 10 and 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, with targets for each decade after that, culminating in an 80% reduction by 2050. The 2020 target must be set by January 1, 2011, and must be accompanied by an economy wide plan to achieve that target. The 1990 emissions baseline will be the baseline against which Massachusetts' future GHG emissions reductions targets will be planned and measured.

A public hearing on the proposed 1990 Baseline and the 2020 BAU Projection will be conducted under the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 30A on:

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Hurley Building - Minihan Hall
19 Staniford Street
Boston, Massachusetts

Testimony may be presented orally or in writing at the public hearing. Written comments also will be accepted until 5:00 PM on June 1, 2009. Written testimony must be submitted by e-mail or mail to: climate.strategies@state.ma.us, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection , Bureau of Waste Prevention, One Winter Street 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02108, Attn: Stacy DeGabriele

A copy of the 1990 Baseline and the 2020 BAU Projection is available on MassDEP's web site at http://mass.gov/dep/air/climate/index.htm. Copies also may be obtained by calling Stacy DeGabriele at 617-292-5864.

For special accommodations for these events or hearing information in an alternate format, please contact Donald Gomes, MassDEP's ADA Coordinator at 617-556-1057, BAS/HR, 3rd Floor, One Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108.


By Order of the Department

Laurie Burt, Commissioner