MA Global Warming Solutions Act
Update on Progress & Plans
Aisling O’Shea, GWSA Manager
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
November 5, 2014
Massachusetts Envirothon Coach and Team Workshop
Umass Amherst
What is Massachusetts Doing to
Address Climate Change?
• Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA),
2008


Greenhouse gas ( GHG) reporting requirements and GHG emissions inventory
Emission reduction limits 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (reductions from 1990
baseline levels), and plans to achieve GHG limits
• Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020



CECP (Dec. 2010) identifies 27 strategies for climate mitigation
Policies and programs for Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Transportation, Land
Use and Smart Growth.
Revisions underway for update December 2015
• GWSA 5-Year Progress Report (2008-2013)

December 31, 2013 www.mass.gov/env/gwsa
GHG Emission Targets US/World
20 States in US with GHG reduction targets, includes
• Colorado 20% below 2005 by 2020 and 50% by 2050
• Minnesota 15% below 2005 by 2015, 30% by 2025, 80% by 2050
• California 1990 levels by 2020, 80% below 1990 by 2050
Other Countries/Regions
• Costa Rica – Carbon Neutrality by 2021
• Europe – collective target of 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, 40% by 2030
and 80-95% by 2050
• Australia – 5% below 2005 by 2020, 80% by 2050
Source: Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
UN Climate Summit, Sept 2014 Progress towards Global Climate Agreement
by end of 2015 and phasing out of GHG emissions to net zero by 2050
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Goals and Progress
* Percentage reduction below 1990 baseline level
** Source: MassDEP (2014). Massachusetts Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
MA Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020
www.mass.gov/eea/gwsa
Buildings,
Energy
Efficiency &
Demand Side
Management
Energy
Generation
and
Distribution
Transportation
Smart Growth
and
Land Use
NonEnergy
Emissions
CrossCutting
Policies
2020 Plan - GHG Emission Reduction
Targets by Sector
7.49 MMT CO2e
& Demand-side Management
29%
36%
6%
29%
1.65 MMT CO2e
7.3 MMT CO2e
9.1 MMT CO2e
Emissions from transportation
are projected to grow under
the business as usual scenario
Many sectors must improve to
meet the 25% & 80% goals
Lowering Energy Use in Homes and Communities
Home Energy Audits & subsidies
for energy efficiency measures,
Cost savings and GHG reductions
Urban Tree Canopy – reduces
heating and cooling costs
MA First Zero-Net Energy Building
North Shore Community College, Danvers
Produces as much energy as consumed each
year (geothermal, solar, green roof + more)
Increasing Renewable Energy in Massachusetts
2,000 MW Wind by 2020
107 MW installed
1600 MW solar by 2020
687 MW installed
478 MW of Combined Heat
and Power (CHP) installed
Green Communities Criteria:
Is your community a
designated “Green
Community”?
1. Provide as-of-right siting for
renewable/alternative energy
generation, research &
development, or manufacturing
facilities.
2. Expedite permitting for as-of-right
energy facilities.
3. Establish an energy use baseline
and develop a plan to reduce
energy use by twenty percent
(20%) within five (5) years.
4. Purchase only fuel-efficient
vehicles.
5. Set requirements to minimize lifecycle energy costs for new
construction; (adopt the Stretch
Code).
Do the zoning regulations in your community support smart
growth, GHG emission reduction, conservation?
In Massachusetts, zoning is
the legal basis for future
growth
Why focus on communities?
• Cities & Towns are the
primary decision makers
regarding where & how
growth will occur
• Local regulations heavily
influence energy use by all
living in the community
Zoning in MA
often calls for –
office and
industrial parks,
shopping malls,
apartment
complexes, &
subdivisions of
single-family
homes, all
connected by
miles & miles of
roads
Which leads to
CO2 per household from auto use
Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology
Residents of more walkable communities typically
walk 2-4 times more and drive 5-15% less
Source: Litman, "Can smart growth policies conserve energy and
reduce emissions?"
Three Important Studies
Source: Land Use and Driving: The Role Compact Development Can
Play in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Factors Influencing Driving Behavior
Includes lifestyle choice, employment trends, fuel costs, land
use and growth patterns
A resource that should be useful is the Smart Growth / Smart
Energy Toolkit that covers TOD, TND, & 18 other techniques:
What is the
Toolkit?
• Website that is user friendly,
comprehensive, and MA focused
• Integrated materials on each smart
growth technique to promote
understanding and local passage of
new zoning bylaws
• Case studies show real world
implementation, many in
Massachusetts communities
Each technique includes:
 In Brief

The Problem

An Introduction

Local Success and Benefits

Financial Considerations
Technology for Smarter Choices
Use Smartphone apps, such as
• CO2GO – Calculating your carbon footprint in real
time. Detects mode of transportation while tracking
distance covered (MIT SENSEable City Lab) or other
carbon emissions tracker
• Kill-Ur-Watts or other energy tracker (Alliance to
Save Energy “Top 10 Energy Efficiency Smartphone
apps” article 3/18/13
• Dept. of Energy Competition – Best Apps for Energy
WOTZ – Student Winner Grand Prize, 2012
US Department of Energy “Apps for Energy” Contest
Overall Application Winner - 2012
Project Ideas and Resources
• Green Communities: investigate and support efforts in
your city/town (e.g. energy reduction plan, renewables,
or improvements for walking/biking/transit)
• Technology: explore ways to use apps for tracking and
improving carbon footprint
• Land Use/Smart Growth: how can zoning regulations and
land planning be improved to reduce emissions and
protect natural systems that store carbon?
• Resources: EEA and DOER program contacts and internet
resources will be provided as follow up to workshop
Questions/Comments?
Aisling O’Shea, GWSA Manager
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
(617) 626-1024
aisling.o’shea@state.ma.us
www.mass.gov/eea/gwsa