ENE Lauds MA Speaker of the House Salvatore F. DiMasi for his Release of Major Energy Bill Nov '07 Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 8, 2007
 

Contact: Sam Krasnow, 617-469-6375
Meg Wilcox, 617-319-6457

Environment Northeast Lauds Massachusetts Speaker of the House Salvatore F. DiMasi For His Release of Groundbreaking Energy Bill

Proposed Legislation Advances Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Placing Massachusetts at the Forefront of Efforts to Combat Global Warming

BOSTON-Environment Northeast (ENE) congratulates Speaker of the House Salvatore F. DiMasi for releasing groundbreaking legislation designed to cut the state's energy use and global warming pollution, and urges the Legislature to swiftly pass the bill. An Act Relative to Green Communities would boost energy efficiency and renewable energy, bring transparency to energy planning, and make Massachusetts a leader on global warming.

"Speaker Dimasi deserves commendations for working with all stakeholders to craft this breakthrough, consensus legislation," said Sam Krasnow, policy analyst and attorney at ENE. "The bill contains many innovative provisions that will propel Massachusetts to the forefront of regional efforts to build a clean and sustainable economy."

One of the bill's key provisions is a requirement for electric and gas utilities to use all energy efficiency resources that are less expensive than conventional power generation. This means utilities must invest in energy conservation, such as insulation rebate programs for homeowners, or lighting upgrades for businesses, before signing new power plant contracts.  

At just 3.2 cents per Kilowatt-Hour, or roughly one-third the cost of traditional power plant supply, "nega watts" are the cheapest and cleanest energy source available. By maximizing investments in efficiency, Massachusetts will save consumers billions of dollars over the next decade, while keeping those dollars in the local economy, helping businesses grow, and creating new jobs. The Division of Energy Resources estimates that every $125 million invested in efficiency programs yields $500 million in savings, creates 2,000 non-utility jobs, and generates hundreds of million of dollars in economic growth.

"Implementing the all cost-effective efficiency mandate is one of the wisest moves the state can make to save both energy and money," said Krasnow. "Massachusetts currently spends $6 billion--48 times more -on conventional electric supply than it does on efficiency resources, and yet supply costs three times as much."

To ensure that utilities adhere to the new requirement, the legislation establishes a new publiclyaccountable energy efficiency advisory council that will include businesses, manufacturers, the attorney general, residential consumers, low-income fuel assistance programs, labor, government agencies, environmentalists, and energy efficiency experts. The council will ensure that electric and gas utilities invest in all energy efficiency that is cheaper than supply to maximize cost saving and meet state efficiency, environmental and consumer goals. The council will also review and approve energy efficiency programs and opportunities.

Environment Northeast played a key role in a coalition of utilities, clean energy companies, consumer groups, business associations, and environmental organizations that came together to work with the Speaker to identify key opportunities for energy reform.

Environment Northeast is a non-profit research and policy organization addressing climate change, and other large scale environmental challenges, in the Northeast and eastern Canada with offices in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.