2022 MA Governor's race: on Energy & Oil
Ben Downing:
As state senator, focused on clean energy & climate change
As a Pittsfield native, Downing said he lived through the "legacy of industry that created jobs, but sacrificed our environment and public health, then left us to clean up." He forged an environmentalist reputation in the state
Senate with a focus on clean energy and climate change. Downing chose not to seek a sixth term in 2016 and joined the solar energy company Nexamp, continuing to advocate for increased investment in renewable energy.
Source: The Boston Globe on 2022 Massachusetts Gubernatorial race
Feb 8, 2021
Ben Downing:
Transition to clean energy economy means jobs
[On climate change]: "We need more of a sense of urgency," said Downing. "We know communities like East Boston, Chelsea and even Pittsfield were targeted for the development of fossil fuel infrastructure and have the asthma rates and other public
health indicators to reflect that. We know a transition to a clean energy economy and the spillovers from that are positive. We have more jobs to create by putting solar on roofs, building energy storage, doing energy retrofits of homes, building
offshore wind.""A big part of addressing climate change issues is making transit more reliable and you look at governor Baker's record of cutting the budget at the MBTA," said Downing. "We need to increase ridership and make it more reliable but we
need to do the same with the Bus Rapid Transit. We need people to see that as a viable option that gets them out of their cars. It is a significant undertaking but it's that much tougher to do without leadership from the corner office."
Source: Charlestown Bridge on 2022 Massachusetts Gubernatorial race
Feb 11, 2021
Ben Downing:
There is no time or excuse for incrementalism
Our state has an opportunity to set an ambitious and aggressive climate agenda that can right the environmental injustices that many of our communities have suffered while investing in the clean energy economy that benefits all residents.
There is no time or excuse for incrementalism, especially when Massachusetts' once thriving clean energy sector is slowing, and the consequences of underinvesting in energy-burdened communities has been laid bare.
Source: Commonwealth Magazine on 2022 Massachusetts Governor race
Dec 10, 2020
Ben Downing:
Clean energy push left out communities of color & low-income
By failing to guarantee inclusion for low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, the Bay State's much-touted clean energy revolution effectively left these communities out. Moreover, the revolution itself has stalled. Recent years have seen
the state's solar workforce shrink by a third--nearly 4,400 jobs, as new solar installations have dropped by half. Last year, the least amount of solar energy was installed in Massachusetts since 2013--a 40 percent decline since 2017.
Source: Commonwealth Magazine on 2022 Massachusetts Governor race
Dec 10, 2020
Ben Downing:
Increase solar net metering cap, ensure future growth
Downing announces that his amendment to increase the state's solar net metering cap and promote future solar development was adopted. Net metering allows residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity from solar power to
receive a credit for the unused electricity they feed back to the grid. Notably, Downing's amendment seeks to ensure the future growth of virtual metering and community shared solar.
Source: 2022 Massachusetts Governor campaign site SenatorDowning.com
Jul 23, 2015
Geoff Diehl:
A vocal critic of the Transportation Climate Initiative
Carbon-pricing bills have been filed for years on Beacon Hill but have not gathered the necessary momentum to become law. Gov. Baker last month was forced to scrap Massachusetts's participation multi-state cap-and-trade program known as the
Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) as political support in other states eroded. Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl has been a vocal critic of TCI, which would have bumped up the price of gasoline.
Source: Dorchester Reporter on 2022 Massachusetts Gubernatorial race
Dec 23, 2021
Maura Healey:
Will harness all the levers in combating the climate crisis
We have never seen so much coming into the state in terms of funding as we do right now. I think there is an incredible opportunity to deploy that and think about it, particularly when it comes to climate--and I have said that
I will be the most aggressive and insightful and innovative governor harnessing all the levers when it comes to combating the climate crisis right now. I've also talked about the economic imperative and opportunity that that provides--not just for jobs.
Source: WBUR (NPR Radio) on 2022 Massachusetts Gubernatorial race
Feb 3, 2022
Maura Healey:
Create a cabinet-level Climate Chief & electrify everything
Maura will create a cabinet-level Climate Chief who will be responsible for driving climate policy across every Massachusetts agency & ensuring that climate change is considered in all relevant decision-making. The state will lead by example by achieving
net-zero emissions by 2030 across state operations and rapidly transitioning the state fleet to electric vehicles.Maura will reinvigorate the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC) to spur clean tech job growth. With its strong relationships in the
private sector and with our world-class academic institutions, the CEC has helped boost the clean energy sector in Massachusetts, which has grown 68% since 2010, with over 100,000 people employed as of 2021.
In the next two decades, we need to
electrify everything--including our buildings and transportation system. We can do this. Our state is home to industrious & innovative workers who can lead this swift transition. Doing so will create jobs, improve public health, & strengthen our economy.
Source: 2022 Massachusetts Governor campaign website MauraHealey.com
Jun 7, 2022
Page last updated: Jun 08, 2024