NECEC Statement on Massachusetts Governor-Elect Baker's Appointment for Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs
NECEC (the New England Clean Energy Council) congratulates Representative Matthew Beaton on his appointment to the important role of Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs. NECEC President Peter Rothstein released the following statement regarding the appointment announced today by Governor-Elect Charlie Baker.
“We look forward to collaborating with Secretary-designate Beaton and Governor-Elect Baker to accelerate the transition to a clean energy system that has been shown to be an engine for economic growth,” said NECEC President Peter Rothstein. “In recent years, the Commonwealth’s energy policies and the actions of thousands of clean energy companies have come together to show that Massachusetts can lead the nation with a strong and balanced approach to making clean energy a driver to job and overall economic growth, to regional competitiveness, and to more reliable, predictable and cost-effective energy.”
The Commonwealth’s clean energy industry has seen 47 percent job growth in the last four years through both deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency across Massachusetts as well as the development of a world-class industry creating technologies and products to serve a rapidly growing regional, national and global clean energy market. The combined influence of renewables and efficiency investments have contributed to lower consumer energy bills in recent years. Today, many of the policies that have spurred such growth are at a critical juncture, and must be updated to continue the success of the economic engine that is clean energy in Massachusetts.
Rothstein continues: “NECEC looks forward to working with the new administration to set policies that will diversify the New England’s energy supply collaborating regionally and leading in Massachusetts to improve the energy efficiency of the system; to increase renewable energy; to enhance competitive clean energy markets, and to modernize the electricity system. Efficiency, renewable energy, competition and a modern grid are needed to help Massachusetts keep more of its energy dollars in the region, grow our economy and allow energy customers to secure stable energy bills that are not subject to the price volatility of fossil fuels.”
“The policies set by the new administration and legislature are crucial to expanding the clean energy sector in Massachusetts, which delivers significant economic, energy and environmental benefits to the Commonwealth’s citizens, businesses and industry.”
About NECEC (New England Clean Energy Council and the NECEC Institute)
NECEC is a regional non-profit organization representing clean energy companies and entrepreneurs throughout New England and the Northeast through programs and initiatives that help clean energy businesses at all stages of development to access the resources they need to grow. NECEC includes the New England Clean Energy Council, which is the lead voice for hundreds of clean energy companies across New England, influencing the energy policy agenda and growing the clean energy economy, and the NECEC Institute, which leads programs that support Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Cluster and Economic Development and Workforce Development. NECEC’s mission is to accelerate the region’s clean energy economy to global leadership by building an active community of stakeholders and a world-class cluster of clean energy companies.