Mass. joins other states to fulfill US pledges on carbon

“Massachusetts and other RGGI states now have an opportunity to recommit to climate leadership by strengthening the program to deliver deep reductions in carbon pollution,” said Peter Shattuck, director of the Acadia Center in Massachusetts, an environmental advocacy group.

Read the full article from the Boston Globe here.

State and Regional Climate Action Critical as the Trump Administration Turns Its Back on a Clean Energy Future

BOSTON — Today, as President Donald Trump announces he will pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement, Acadia Center is calling for redoubled action at the state and local level to counter the damaging effects of this move by the administration. Studies, including a recent report by Acadia Center, show that the states have the capacity to build a low-carbon energy system that empowers consumers and advances economic growth. As the federal government increasingly turns against consumer-friendly climate policies, the states must act to advance this clean energy future.

“The economic and environmental future of the United States depends upon growing a clean energy economy,” stated Daniel Sosland, president of Acadia Center. “Advancing clean energy technologies improves public health, lowers energy costs, makes the U.S. more energy independent, keeps energy dollars here at home, builds jobs in this booming industry and reduces climate pollution. While the Trump Administration’s decision to leave this historic multi-national agreement will disadvantage the U.S. economically and cede leadership of the clean energy economic powerhouse to China, India and other nations—state, regional and community leadership can and must fill the gap left by this ill-informed decision,” Sosland said.

“The Northeast region has successfully proven the benefits of pursuing a clean energy, low polluting economy: states have reduced climate pollution while enjoying greater economic growth, job creation and public health benefits. This significant progress on clean energy under both Republican and Democratic leadership at the state and federal level serves as a prime example of what is possible across the nation.”

From increasing investments in energy efficiency that reduced energy bills to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the Northeast’s cap-and-invest program to reduce climate pollution, states have acted to embrace the clean energy future through regional cooperation. Since 2008, RGGI has helped the region reduce emissions nearly 40% and supported over $2 billion in clean energy programs that have allowed consumers to save billions in energy costs as well as from avoided health costs associated with emissions.

Acadia Center’s recent analysis of the Northeast’s energy system, EnergyVision 2030, shows that the states can achieve a clean energy future for all of their residents and dramatically reduce emissions by embracing available technologies. If states follow the recommendations in EnergyVision 2030, they will reduce emissions 45% by 2030 and be on track to cut emissions 80% by 2050—roughly the same target with which the U.S. was set to comply under the Paris accord.

Media Contacts:
Dan Sosland, President
dsosland@acadiacenter.org, 207-236-6470

Krysia Wazny, Communications Director
kwazny@acadiacenter.org, 617-742-0054 x107

Letters: Tesla Doesn’t Threaten Dealers

Recent publications in The Courant have highlighted a common concern that the direct sale of electric vehicles from manufacturers to consumers will result in job losses at car dealerships [May 23, Letters, “Dealerships Matter“; May 23, courant.com, “Auto Dealers Fighting Tesla Pitch to Sell Cars Directly to Customers“]. Analysis done by Acadia Center, however, demonstrates that this suspicion is unfounded.

Acadia Center demonstrated that no jobs have been lost at car dealerships in its report “Direct Sales of Electric Vehicles in Connecticut: Assessment of Employment Impacts at Existing Car Dealerships.” The analysis looked at all major occupations within the auto dealership employment sector in nearby states that allow for electric vehicle direct sales, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the New York Department of Labor.

Read the full letter to the editor in the Hartford Courant here.