Interim Clean Energy and Climate Report for 2030
The Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) sets out a series of requirements for how the Commonwealth is to achieve emissions reductions by mid-century. One of the requirements is for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to set an emissions limit for 2030 and develop an implementation plan to achieve said limit. In setting the limit, the Secretary of EEA is to both ensure that it maximizes the Commonwealth’s ability to meet the emissions limit for 2050 and consider the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and enforceability of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions measures, along with their co-benefits, for achieving said limit.
To inform the setting of the 2030 emissions limit, the development of the 2030 CECP, and help the Commonwealth meet the ambitious Net Zero by 2050 emissions limit, EEA commissioned a large research effort analyzing pathways to cost effectively and equitably achieve net zero over the next 30 years. EEA’s 2050 Roadmap study commenced in July of 2019, focusing on the necessary transformations in how we heat our buildings, power our vehicles, and generate and supply electricity to significantly reduce emissions. The study also looked at other sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and assessed how much emissions our natural and working lands can potentially remove in 2050. Additionally, the study analyzed the economic and health impacts of achieving net zero emissions. These findings have been published as part of the 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap report as well as several accompanying technical reports. Please visit www.mass.gov/2050Roadmap for more information and to access the full reports.
On December 30, 2020, Secretary Kathleen Theoharides set the 2030 emissions limit at 45% emissions reduction below the 1990 baseline, and released the Interim 2030 CECP for public comment. The Interim 2030 CECP was built upon the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 (2020 CECP) published in 2010, as well as the Update to the 2020 CECP (Updated 2020 CECP) published in 2015. The Interim 2030 CECP is available in: English; Español; 中文; Português; Kreyòl ayisyen; Tiếng Việt.
EEA hosted two public webinars on the Interim 2030 CECP (details below). Comments given during the meeting were recorded and are being considered with the other public comments on the Interim 2030 CECP. :
- Slides from March CECP Public Webinar: 2030 Interim CECP March Public Webinar Slides
- Recording for Interim 2030 CECP Webinar #1 (English), Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 3-4:30pm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYcKlu31dMk
- Recording for Interim 2030 CECP Webinar #2 (English), Monday, March 15, 2021, 6:30-8pm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6ZQzFtaf2c
Since the release of the Interim 2030 CECP, Governor Baker signed into law An Act Creating A Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy, which establishes the 2030 limit of at least 50% emissions reductions below the 1990 baseline and requires the EEA Secretary to set interim emissions limit and sector-specific sublimits every 5 years. It specifies July 1, 2022 as the deadline for the adoption of the 2025 emission limits and sublimits, the 2030 emission sublimits, as well as the release of a comprehensive plan to achieve those limits. In compliance with the new law, EEA will develop and finalize a CECP for 2025 and 2030 by the deadline. As we develop and finalize the 2025 and 2030 CECP, the Administration is continuing implementation of the strategies, policies, and actions outlined in the Interim 2030 CECP. Meeting our aggressive interim emissions reduction targets and achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 requires that we press forward with policy implementation while continuing to plan.
Additional Resources
Public Engagement
The necessary transformations to achieve Net Zero in 2050 touch lives across the Commonwealth, and the actions in the next decade are critical to ensure a least cost, strategic, and equitable transformation. To help ensure an equitable and strategic transition towards Net Zero, EEA worked with stakeholders across the Commonwealth to ensure that development of the 2030 CECP is an inclusive policy planning effort.
EEA has been convening the GWSA Implementation Advisory Committee (IAC) since 2012 as a primary public body for advising EEA on greenhouse gas reduction measures. The IAC has several Work Groups, including Climate Justice, Buildings, Natural and Working Lands, Transportation, and Electricity. In 2019 and 2020, the IAC and associated Work Groups contributed policy recommendations and guiding principles towards the development of the 2030 CECP. The Climate Justice Work Group, in particular, provided a memo on February 26 2020 and on August 7 2020. These recommendations and principles, in addition to the policy evaluation criteria in the GWSA, were important considerations in the development of policies for the 2030 CECP.
In addition to engagement with the IAC, EEA sought the public's feedback on the Interim 2030 CECP from January 7 to 5pm on March 22, 2021. EEA reviewed all submitted comments and summarized them at the GWSA Implementation Advisory Committee meeting on April 12, 2021.
As part of the development and finalization process for the 2025 and 2030 CECP, EEA will offer additional opportunities for stakeholders and members of the public to engage with the Administration:
- This Fall: Public meetings around the 2025 and 2030 emission limits, sublimits, and carbon sequestration baseline and goals.
- This Winter: Public meetings and process around the proposed interim emissions reduction targets and carbon sequestration goals for 2025 and 2030 and the proposed plan to achieve those targets and goals.
Please sign up here to receive announcements about the upcoming meetings or the 2030 CECP generally.
Additional Resources
Public Comments on Interim 2030 CECP
Over a thousand comments on the Interim 2030 CECP were submitted to EEA in multiple ways. These comments have been compiled and are posted below.
- 325 Comments submitted through the online Formstack: Interim 2030 CECP Public Comments: Formstack Submissions
- 5 voicemails and 673 comments emailed to gwsa@mass.gov, including form letters: Interim 2030 CECP Public Comments: Voicemail and Email Submissions
- 150 comment letters that came in as attachments (through formstack or email): Interim 2030 CECP Public Comments: Letter Attachments
- Additionally, we received 43 oral comments from public meetings held on March 9th and March 15th.
Thank you to all who commented. EEA is working to incorporate these public feedback into the final CECP for 2025 and 2030. Questions can be emailed to gwsa@mass.gov.
Additional Resources
2030 Emissions Limit
The 2030 emissions limit was set on December 30, 2020, in accordance with Executive Order 569. 2030 GHG Emissions Limit Letter of Determination
Additional Resources
Feedback and Resources
For additional information on Heat Pumps, please visit: https://www.masscec.com/learn-about-air-source-heat-pumps
For additional information on Electric Vehicles, please visit: https://driveelectricus.com/explore-electric-cars and https://massdriveclean.org/
For additional information on a clean energy home, please visit: https://goclean.masscec.com/