Photo: Aldrich, Beatrice (uploader)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — State lawmakers and environmental activist groups united outside the Massachusetts State House Tuesday in support of a 100 percent clean energy bill.
An Act transitioning Massachusetts to clean electricity, heating and transportation (H.3689), otherwise known as the 100% Clean Act, would transition the state to having 100 percent clean energy from sources like solar and wind power by 2035.
11 other states have passed similar legislation, including Maine, New York, California, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Minnesota.
At Tuesday's rally, bill co-sponsors and state representatives Marjorie Decker of Cambridge and Sean Garballey of Arlington joined groups such as Environment Massachusetts and the Union of Concerned Scientists to advocate for the legislation, which is now before state lawmakers on Beacon Hill, but has yet to be scheduled for public hearing.
"I continue to be optimistic," Decker told WBZ NewsRadio. "I believe that most people understand and can feel the impacts of climate change and can see that our wellbeing, our public safety, our security, our health is at stake. So I think that is what’s pushing companies to meet that demand."
"11 other states have passed these target goals. I think we can do just as good as the state of Minnesota, the state of Virginia, the state of California, and so that’s what we’re working on and that’s really what this kickoff was about," Rep. Garballey said. "Will there be challenges? Of course. There’s challenges in every piece of legislation when you try to implement it. We believe we’re going in the right direction, we believe that this bill can only help."
Gov. Maura Healey has pledged to promote clean energy throughout her administration, including a target goal of having all public modes of transportation on 100 percent clean energy by 2040.
WBZ's Mike Macklin reports.
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