Recently, the Baker Administration released a draft of the roadmap to achieve zero emissions by 2050, part of which includes the 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP). This plan establishes carbon reduction goals of 45% by 2030. We are currently at 22%, meaning this plan will require the building of more renewables and the electrification of sectors. A copy of the Roadmap to Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 can be found here.
The Roadmap presents eight pathways to achieve net-zero emissions, including supportive data such as the analysis of potential energy resources, projected energy demand, that are necessary to limit the emissions established by the Commonwealth. The following are some sections in the Roadmap: Energy Supply; Transportation; Buildings; Land Use; Non-energy; and Economic and Healthy Impacts.
The Roadmap points to the most cost-effective, low-risk path to net-zero emissions, which lies in building significant offshore wind, interstate transmission, and the widespread electrification of transportation and building heat. Achieving net-zero emissions will also deliver other benefits to residents of the Commonwealth, including a drop in air pollution and savings in healthy costs of up to $100M per year by 2030.
Massachusetts is also planning to follow California and require that, by 2035, 100% of new light duty vehicles are zero emission vehicles and provide additional incentives for EV charging systems.
To decarbonize buildings, Mass Save will work with the state’s GHG emission goals and limit the number of incentives for fossil-fuel heating systems.
The Roadmap is allowing for the creation of flexible and realistic goals to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 in a state which is already a leader in this transition.