Governor Patrick Discusses Massachusetts Nation-Leading Climate Change Efforts with US Secretary of State Kerry and UK Secretary of State Hammond

Press Release

Governor Deval Patrick today joined U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom Philip Hammond to discuss global climate change and highlight the Commonwealth's Nation-leading efforts to mitigate and prepare for its impacts.

"Massachusetts has led the way in securing our clean energy future to make the Commonwealth more energy independent, lower costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions for generations to come," said Governor Patrick. "But we know that climate change is not just a challenge for the future; heat waves, coastal flooding, intense precipitation and more extreme storms are here today and will only worsen. We must continue to invest in innovative programs in Massachusetts that increase the resiliency of our communities and infrastructure right now."

Secretaries Kerry and Hammond joined Governor Patrick to tour the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's (MassCEC) Wind Technology Testing Center, the largest facility in North America designed to test land-based and offshore wind blades.

"As governor, Deval Patrick has made absolutely certain that Massachusetts is leading the way with respect to clean energy, future energy, renewable alternative, and together, we are setting the trend," said Secretary Kerry. "I'm very proud as a Massachusetts citizen that Governor Patrick has set the next big step of helping to move us forward by setting the goal for ending all reliance on conventional coal generation in the next four years, and that is something I don't believe any other sitting governor in the United States has had the foresight to do."

Last month, as part of the Massachusetts-UK Innovation Partnership Mission, Governor Patrick addressed European offshore wind industry leaders and government officials at a forum in London to discuss opportunities to grow the global offshore wind industry, including the emerging industry in Massachusetts. Commonwealth officials met with officials from the United Kingdom to share best practices on how big data is being utilized in Massachusetts and the United Kingdom to address climate change.

In January, the Patrick Administration announced a coordinated plan for climate preparedness to increase resiliency of communities and infrastructure across the Commonwealth. As part of this initiative, $50 million in capital and trust resources were allocated to programs that directly assist municipalities facing the impacts of climate change. This includes his $40 million Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative, which utilizes clean energy technologies to improve resiliency at critical municipal facilities.

In addition to the energy resiliency initiative, the plan includes funding for critical coastal infrastructure and dam repair, including two new municipal grants offered by the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). The CZM Community Resiliency Program offered $1 million in the first round for municipal grants to reduce or eliminate risk associated with coastal storms and sea level rise. As natural solutions have often proved to be the best defense against nature, CZM also implemented a program for Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience pilot project, offering $1 million in the first round. Both of CZM's programs are currently accepting applications for a second round of funding, totaling $3 million.

In an effort to improve our environment and shape our energy for the long-term, Governor Patrick in 2008 crafted a clean energy plan for Massachusetts and, with the support of the Legislature, passed three progressive clean energy laws the Green Communities Act, the Green Jobs Act and the Global Warming Solutions Act. These ambitious policies sought to transform the energy marketplace to create clean energy business opportunities and jobs.

In 2007, Massachusetts had 3 megawatts of solar capacity and 3 megawatts of wind capacity. Today there are 664 megawatts of solar and 106 megawatts of wind installed. Massachusetts is number one in the Nation for energy efficiency for a third consecutive year, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. Additionally, Massachusetts has developed a Nation-leading ocean management plan, is investing in clean water technologies and has conserved more than 125,000 acres of land in Massachusetts.

The clean energy industry in Massachusetts is already yielding economic benefits as a result of the Patrick Administration's progressive clean energy policies and strategic investments with 10.5 percent job growth in the last year and 47 percent job growth since 2010. Currently, there are 88,000 clean energy sector workers and 6,000 firms in the Commonwealth.

In 2007, Governor Patrick made EEA the first state Cabinet-level office in the country to oversee both energy and environment, setting a course to a clean energy future that would grow the economy while protecting the environment for future generations.

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