Massachusetts is basking in the glow of a decade marked by remarkable growth in renewable energy, as reported in the newly released Renewables on the Rise 2023 dashboard by Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center. The state’s transition towards clean energy technologies has seen a substantial increase, with the equivalent of 10% of its electricity consumption being produced from solar, wind, and geothermal power in 2022, compared to a mere 1.2% in 2013.
Lydia Churchill, Clean Energy Campaign Associate with Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center, emphasized, “Massachusetts is wrapping up a decade of great renewable energy growth.” She added, “As state leaders double down on efforts to tap our immense renewable energy potential, Bay Staters can look forward to a greener, healthier future.”
Key findings from the Renewables on the Rise 2023 dashboard for Massachusetts include:
1. Solar Power Surge: In 2022, Massachusetts generated ten times more solar power than in 2013, sufficient to power 441,063 typical homes.
2. Wind Power Advancements: Massachusetts generated 1.1 times more wind power in 2022 compared to 2013, enough to power 20,691 typical homes.
3. Energy Efficiency Milestones: Energy efficiency measures installed in 2021 are projected to save 9,682 gigawatt-hours of power over their lifetimes, enough to power 910,671 typical homes for a year.
4. Electric Vehicles Momentum: In 2022, 22,104 electric vehicles were sold in Massachusetts, marking a twelvefold increase from 2013.
5. Charging Infrastructure Growth: The state boasted 6,068 charging ports for electric vehicles at the end of 2022, a remarkable 38-fold increase from 2013.
Churchill anticipates a significant leap in Massachusetts’ clean energy rankings with the imminent launch of Vineyard Wind, the country’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm. “Vineyard Wind will produce enough clean electricity to power more than 400,000 Massachusetts homes with renewable energy.”
With a codified goal of achieving 40% renewable electricity by 2030, the state is making strides. Governor Maura Healey recently announced a multi-state offshore wind procurement agreement with Connecticut and Rhode Island, coupled with the establishment of a commission to accelerate the siting and permitting of clean energy infrastructure.
Massachusetts currently ranks fifth in the nation for the growth of electric vehicle chargers in the last decade, as revealed by the dashboard. Propelled by robust policies, advancing technologies, and falling prices, clean energy growth is set to continue. The state legislature is currently considering the 100% Clean Act (H.3689) to transition Massachusetts to 100% clean electricity, heating, and transportation.
Institutions of higher learning are also championing sustainability, with the University of Massachusetts Amherst committing to powering its campus with 100% renewable energy by 2032. Additionally, Roxbury Community College and the University of Massachusetts Boston feature solar canopies above parking lots, generating clean energy for the Commonwealth.
As the nation experiences a threefold increase in renewable electricity production from solar and wind since 2013, the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022, promises to sustain this momentum. Federal tax credits for renewable energy have been extended through 2032, and incentives for home efficiency upgrades and the adoption of energy-efficient appliances further support the clean energy agenda.
Churchill emphasizes, “As federal tax credits pave the way for an accelerated clean energy transition, the present moment is opportune for states to actively embrace clean energy initiatives. It’s a pivotal time to turn the vision of achieving 100% clean and renewable energy for Massachusetts into a tangible reality.”
Source: Environment America