Press Release: 2024-07-03
Healey-Driscoll Office of Energy Transformation Announces Advisory Board and Focus on Peaker Plants, Everett LNG Terminal, and Affordability
The Energy Transformation Advisory Board will include utilities, fossil fuel workers, business groups, technology providers and innovators, and environmental justice advocates, among others
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
7/03/2024
MEDIA CONTACT
Maria Hardiman, Communications Director
Online
Email Maria Hardiman, Communications Director at Maria.B.Hardiman@mass.gov
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the formation of the Energy Transformation Advisory Board to advise and guide the state in the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. The Advisory Board will include a broad range of stakeholders, including labor, business, finance, environmental justice advocates, utilities, technology providers, building owners, developers, and generators, among others. This group will advise the newly established Office of Energy Transformation (OET), which is charged with affordably, equitably, and responsibly accelerating the gas-to-electric transition and readying the electric grid to meet the state’s climate and clean energy mandates. OET also announced today its first three priority focus areas: transitioning away from the Everett Marine Terminal liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, decarbonizing how we meet peak electric demand, and establishing alternative mechanisms to finance the clean energy transition.
“The clean energy future will not happen if we operate in silos,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The Office of Energy Transformation and this newly-created Advisory Board is an invitation to everyone impacted to come to the table, bring solutions, and make real commitments to move us forward. This is an opportunity for coordination between our utilities, for targeted workforce development for our gas workers, and for climate and environmental justice advocates to ensure we’re moving swiftly and equitably. These are challenging issues, but I’m confident that Massachusetts can continue our climate leadership as a team.”
“With the establishment of the Energy Transformation Advisory Board, we can ensure that our gas workers and impacted businesses have a seat at the table in the clean energy transition,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This transition is bigger than flipping a switch – it’s thousands of workers and businesses that rely on fossil fuels for their livelihood. By coming together, aligning on solutions, and investing in workforce development and climatetech, we can ensure that workers and their families will have good-paying careers in our clean energy future.”
To ensure compliance with the legal mandates and policies in the Global Warming Solutions Act, the Clean Energy and Climate Plans, and the Department of Public Utilities’ (DPU) Order 20-80, Massachusetts must achieve a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. The primary mechanism to accomplish this task will be the electrification of buildings and transportation to be powered by new clean energy sources. OET’s mission is to ensure that the electric grid is affordably enhanced, that the state is making steady progress toward moving away from fossil fuels, and that the workers and businesses dependent on fossil fuels for their livelihood are supported in the transition. The Advisory Board will serve as an opportunity for the Healey-Driscoll Administration to hear directly from climate solution providers and impacted stakeholders and create the venue for them to work together to advance the clean energy transition.
“DPU’s Order 20-80 set the stage for the transition from gas to electricity, making Massachusetts the first state in the country to require its utilities to prioritize electrification. Now it’s time to execute on that vision,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We launched the Office of Energy Transformation and Advisory Board to take on this big challenge. We’re grateful that so many stakeholders are rising to meet it. The three focus areas outlined today are tangible next steps in ending our reliance on some of the most costly and dirty fossil fuel infrastructure, and ensuring that our ratepayers and environmental justice communities are kept at the heart of this transition.”
“No single sector, entity, or organization can transform an energy ecosystem that took more than 100 years to build,” said OET Executive Director Melissa Lavinson. “But, together, with the guidance of the Advisory Board and focus of the Office of Energy Transformation, we can find a better way that works for all communities across Massachusetts. We’re going to get to work to advance our competitiveness, ensure a just transition for workers and businesses, create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators, and continue our proud position as a climate leader and model for others.”
Priority Areas
OET has established three focus areas for its work aligned with its mission and that will result in tangible, demonstrable and transformative change. Members of the Advisory Board will advise on the priority focus areas and provide strategic guidance to OET as it conducts its work in collaboration with stakeholders from across the energy ecosystem.
Transitioning Away from Reliance on the Everett Marine Terminal LNG Facility. The Everett Marine Terminal imports LNG and supports Massachusetts and the New England region by helping to meet energy needs on the coldest of days or if there is a disruption elsewhere in the system. It is one of the longest operating LNG facilities in the United States. The state’s three largest gas utilities executed contracts to maintain the use of the facility until 2030. In its order approving the contracts, the DPU required that the utilities establish plans to move beyond reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure and natural gas, including the Everett Marine Terminal LNG facility, and expeditiously toward electrification and other alternatives, like geothermal. This work group will convene stakeholders to develop a coordinated strategy to reduce and ultimately eliminate the local gas distribution companies’ reliance on Everett Marine Terminal LNG facility, aligned with DPU Order 20-80 and the state’s climate and clean energy mandates, including those established in the Global Warming Solutions Act.
Decarbonizing the Peak. Peaking power plants are facilities that generally run only when there is a high demand for electricity. There are dozens of fossil fuel-fired power plants in Massachusetts, the majority of which are peaking power plants or combined heat and power (CHP) facilities, with many located in or near environmental justice communities. As Massachusetts transitions to an electrified energy system powered by renewables, there is a potential for the state to become more reliant, not less, on these assets. This work group will identify and demonstrate pathways to reduce reliance on and expeditiously eliminate fossil fuels from peaking power plant and CHP facilities, both via alternative demand and supply side options.
Establishing Alternative Mechanisms to Finance the Transition. This work group will identify alternative mechanisms for financing electricity distribution system infrastructure upgrades necessary to achieve Massachusetts’ clean energy and climate mandates that reduce the cost of the energy transition for ratepayers and minimizes bill impacts, while providing the revenue necessary to make the infrastructure investments required to support the energy transition and meet our climate and clean energy mandates.
Energy Transformation Advisory Board
The Advisory Board will provide guidance and recommendations to the OET on strategic direction and areas of focus to execute the energy transition, including in the areas of gas-to-electric transition, electric grid readiness, and the just transition for workers, business and communities. The Advisory Board will be comprised of senior leaders and decisionmakers from across the energy ecosystem, representing labor, industry, technology, supply chain, environmental justice communities, consumers, policymakers and elected officials, housing and real estate developers, energy suppliers and providers, investors, and financial institutions, among others.
The Advisory Board will meet in person on a quarterly basis to advance its priority goals, with meetings open to the public. It will also hold one public listening session each year. Additionally, the OET will hold four additional meetings around Massachusetts to receive public input and share this feedback with the Advisory Board as a whole at its quarterly meetings.
A full list of Advisory Board Members is available LINK TO ADVISORY BOARD
Stakeholder Statements
Mayor Mike Cahill, City of Beverly
“As we in Massachusetts work to successfully transform our energy system to clean, renewable, reliable sources, I am excited at this opportunity to contribute and to bring a local voice and perspective to this critically important effort.”
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, City of Northampton
"I am honored to join the Energy Transformation Advisory Board and contribute to the transition towards a just and sustainable energy future. Northampton has been at the forefront of the energy transition as the first city in the Commonwealth with a dedicated Energy and Sustainability Officer and among the first with a Director-level department for Climate Action. Our city has ambitious decarbonization goals and plans, and collaboration with state and federal government, peer communities, utilities, and the private sector is essential. I look forward to sharing Northampton's insights and working with other climate experts in the Commonwealth to achieve our shared objectives.”
Mireille Bejjani, Co-Executive Director, Slingshot
“It’s exciting to see the Healey-Driscoll administration put the energy and resources into the transition to clean energy that we so desperately need. We have an opportunity to intentionally and comprehensively rethink how we power our lives in order to move toward a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient future. I’m looking forward to participating in the Advisory Board and bringing the voices of those who have been most impacted by our energy system to the forefront.”
JD Chesloff, President & CEO, Massachusetts Business Roundtable
“The Roundtable is honored to be part of the Advisory Board to help think through the complexities of the clean energy transition. We believe in the promise of clean energy to both be an economic driver for Massachusetts while addressing the threats caused by climate change. The newly created Office of Energy Transformation provides a visionary platform to convene members of the state’s energy ecosystem to develop strategies that balance economic growth, clean energy adoption, workforce considerations, and the long-term competitiveness of the Commonwealth. We are thrilled to be part of this conversation.”
Joe Curtatone, President, Northeast Clean Energy Council
“We are thrilled to participate in the Energy Transformation Advisory Board under the visionary leadership of the Healey administration, marking a crucial step towards a sustainable future. With Melissa Lavinson at the helm, we are confident in her ability to guide this diverse group of leaders to provide the insights needed for meaningful change. NECEC is excited to serve as the connective thread, finding common ground among disparate parties to craft solutions, and looks forward to engaging with other members to help advance the Commonwealth's clean energy and climate economy goals.”
Ronald C. DeCurzio, CEO, Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company
“I am honored to serve on this advisory board tackling critically important issues for our clean energy future. Municipal utilities offer unique, innovative decarbonization programs and play an essential role in this transition. I look forward to working with my peers to develop strategic solutions and ensuring the transition to the future grid results in equitability, affordability and reliability.”
Dan Dolan, President, New England Power Generators Association
“Generating companies are committed to reliably powering a clean, electrified economy, which will require huge investments in new clean-power sources as well as improvements and reinvestments at existing facilities. New England today boasts one of the cleanest generating fleets in the country, with a remarkable track record of reliability. But more can be done. As the businesses and families of Massachusetts increasingly rely on electricity, reliably meeting peak demand in both summer and winter weather will become all the more important. NEPGA members look forward to partnering with the Healey-Driscoll Administration in identifying opportunities for innovative solutions for peaking facilities in communities across the Commonwealth.”
Aisha Francis, President & CEO, Franklin Cummings Tech
“I’m excited to be part of a group focused on finding the solutions necessary to meet our climate, clean energy and equity imperatives. We have the plans, we have the people, we have the urgency, now we have to make it happen.”
Hudson Glimer, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, LineVision
“As a Massachusetts resident and CEO of a Boston-based technology company, I am deeply committed to advancing our state’s energy transition. I am honored to be joining the Massachusetts Energy Transformation Advisory Board to contribute to the essential work of guiding our state’s energy transition. Maximizing the efficiency and reliability of our electric grid, decarbonizing our peak energy usage, and financing the transition are all pivotal steps in this journey. I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members to drive impactful change and innovation for Massachusetts’ energy landscape.”
Glynn Lloyd, Executive Director, Mill Cities Community Investments
"It's an honor to be selected for the Energy Transformation Advisory Board, and I'm grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their leadership in moving Massachusetts toward a more sustainable future. Reducing emissions and achieving environmental justice will take a holistic effort, and I look forward to working with my fellow board members to safeguard our vision of climate resiliency for all."
Michael Monahan, Vice President, IBEW Second District
“The approach the Office of Energy Transformation is taking to create a shared understanding of the facts surrounding the current state of the energy system, the practicalities of the various pathways to decarbonization, future supply and demand needs, and the role that thousands of men and women play today in delivering safe and reliable energy 24x7x365 is both commendable and necessary. I look forward to being part of this solutions-based approach and laud the Healey-Driscoll administration for ensuring all voices and perspectives are around the table as we drive toward solutions.”
Tom Meissner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Unitil
“I am excited for the opportunity to represent Unitil on this important and first-of-its-kind task force. Our company remains a firm supporter of the Commonwealth’s climate goals and I look forward to working within this broad coalition to ensure energy remains affordable and reliable for our customers as we continue to navigate the Commonwealth’s energy transformation.”
Joseph Nolan, Chairman, President and CEO, Eversource
“Massachusetts’ commitment to collaboration and leadership on the clean energy transition continues to set an example for states across the country, and we’re proud to work hand-in-hand with the Healey Administration in advancing just, equitable, and cost-effective solutions that maximize the benefits of this transition for all residents and communities of the Commonwealth. We are committed to supporting the important work of the Office of Energy Transformation and look forward to continued collaboration with the administration, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders across Massachusetts to meet the urgency of the moment and achieve our shared decarbonization and energy equity goals.”
Heather O’Neil, President & CEO, Advanced Energy United
"With this effort, Massachusetts has an opportunity to solve difficult challenges blocking clean energy and create national models for accelerating the path to a decarbonized economy. We look forward to rolling up our sleeves with the Healey-Driscoll Administration on supporting the energy transition."
Nicole Obi, President and CEO, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts
“I’m proud to join the Commonwealth’s Energy Transformation Advisory Board and get to work alongside colleagues across sectors to promote collaboration, recommend solutions, and accelerate execution of our decarbonization strategy. BECMA has a strong focus on environmental justice and economic development, and I look forward to representing the best interests of small, diverse businesses to ensure we’re all working together and no one is left behind in the state’s transition to clean energy.”
Mike Phillips, CEO, Sense
“The path to a low carbon energy future requires innovation and collaboration, and Massachusetts is setting the standard for what it takes to tackle this challenge. Through the combined efforts of policy makers, regulators, utilities, business leaders, and the emerging local climate tech industry we can ensure a reliable, affordable, and equitable energy future. The leadership of the Healey-Driscoll administration and appointment of Melissa Lavinson to lead the Office of Energy Transformation is going to accelerate these efforts. I’m looking forward to working with Melissa and the other members of the advisory board on delivering solutions to meet the needs of Massachusetts.”
Sharon Scott-Chandler, President and CEO, Action for Boston Community Development
“I am pleased to join the Energy Transformation Advisory Board, an inclusive and solutions-oriented group focused on making clean energy accessible to every Massachusetts resident. For over 30 years, ABCD and its Community Action partners have helped lower-income households statewide make the switch to energy efficiency and a green future. I look forward to collaborating with other members of the energy ecosystem in the effort to help inform and strategize ways to realize the vision for the Commonwealth’s clean energy transition.”
Bryan Stevens, SVP, NAM Strategy & Commercial Operations at Schneider Electric
“On behalf of Schneider Electric, I commend Governor Healey, Secretary Tepper, and Executive Director Lavinson for their leadership in advancing the Commonwealth into a leading climate tech capital. Schneider's purpose is to make an impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability. We look forward to putting our expertise at work in support of the Office of Energy Transformation’s mission, which will benefit communities and create economic opportunities for people across the state.”
Tamara Small, Chief Executive Officer NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Association
“I am honored to serve as an inaugural member of the Energy Transformation Advisory Board. The commercial real estate industry recognizes the urgent need for utilities, government, business, and community members to come together to find ways to accelerate the gas-to-electric transition while achieving our housing production and economic development goals. Together, we can work to ensure a sustainable and reliable energy future for all.”
Elizabeth Turnbull Henry, President, Environmental League of Massachusetts
“Massachusetts has the potential to envision and build a clean, resilient, and affordable energy system. This is one of the most urgent and important opportunities we face, and that’s why I am so pleased to partner with the Healey Driscoll Administration as a member of the Energy Transformation Advisory Board.”
John G. Tzimorangas, President & CEO, Energy New England
“I am honored to be part of the first Office of Energy Transition Advisory Board and assisting the Commonwealth in shaping the manner in which we address the complex issues surrounding our transition to a more electric driven system. The municipal utilities we are involved with and the work they are doing to decarbonize their portfolios is a great background to bring to this Board.”
Heather Takle, President & CEO, PowerOptions
"Transforming our grid requires transformational system-wide coordination and collaboration of the whole ecosystem, from community members and building owners to the grid and power plant operators, and everyone in between. I am excited to join this comprehensive group lead by the Office of Energy Transformation to envision and design a realistic path to 2050 that balances energy users' needs with the mandate we have to decarbonize."
Rosemary Wessel, Program Director, Berkshire Environmental Action Team
“Having actively advocated for transitioning fossil fuel peaker plants to storage and renewables for five years, we’re thrilled to see the issue being addressed at the state level and are happy to be at the table to discuss alternatives. There are multiple studies which show that distributed renewable energy and storage at the right scale can erase peak events, completely eliminate ramp-up time and supply ancillary services that strengthen grid resilience. The time is right for a thorough investigation.”
Ted Wiley, President and Chief Operating Officer, Form Energy
"Form Energy is honored to serve as an inaugural member of the Energy Transformation Advisory Board. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and a diverse group of stakeholders to help establish the Commonwealth as a global clean energy innovation leader and to support our state's economic security by enabling a more reliable and resilient electric grid. We appreciate the administration’s focused, urgent and collaborative leadership on this work and look forward to lending our voice and expertise at this critical moment."
Rebecca Davis, Chief Operating Officer, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership
"The Massachusetts Competitive Partnership applauds the Healey-Driscoll Administration's creation of the Energy Transformation Advisory Board. The clean energy transition is not just essential for creating a sustainable future for the Commonwealth; it is crucial for maintaining and enhancing Massachusetts' competitiveness on the national and global stage. By collaborating on this vital transformation, we are building resilient energy infrastructure that will benefit businesses, workers, and communities across our state. I am excited to contribute to this effort and help position Massachusetts as a leader in the clean energy sector."