Mass PowerShift lobbied in the Statehouse in Boston (see previous article) to encourage lawmakers to pass the Global Warming Solutions Act before the end of the legislative period. And they did!

A few days ago, right before the summer break, Massachusetts committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by the year 2020 and 80% by 2050. It is a good first step, a statement of intent that allows investors, industry, government, scientists and all citizens to focus their efforts towards a carbon free economy and can make Massachusetts, with its overflow of brainpower and technological capabilities, one of the leaders of new development in the country.

The past few months have seen a veritable rush of legislation here. Governeur Deval Patrick has launched the Commonwealth Solar Rebate program, which, in combination with the Green Communities Act, also signed in July is a much needed boost for, among other things, the advancement of third party ownership/power purchase agreements for solar energy.

This is exciting: it means that it is getting easier to have a solar system built by an investor, on your property and pay them for using the electricity. The investor benefits from rebates, tax incentives, and the profit of selling surplus energy to the grid.....this is a big help for non-profits or municipalities, who could never afford setting up their own PV system.

New tax-exemptions for non-food based bio-fuels, the Cape Wind Project, which got moved along another step, and a Conservation Bill were also on the MA governments tick-list. It is a real buzz. Now we have to make sure the whole country catches it!

(image by Bree Bailey via flickr)