This week in clean energy news, the State of Massachusetts continued to establish itself as a leader in renewable energy. New policies were announced, major projects were initiated and thousands across the state celebrated Earth Day. A new study also revealed an astonishing amount of commitment to reduce emissions from Fortune 500 companies. Encouraging predictions were made by the Energy Transitions Commission and finally, Britain achieved a feat not seen in over two centuries!

What news did you been reading last week? Share with us @GreentownLabs!

HUBweek– How Greater Boston is working to save the planet

• With Earth Week winding down, lets take some time to appreciate all the great work being done for our planet right here in Boston! We are proud to work in a region that has so many brilliant initiatives, companies and universities committed to combatting climate change. Take a look at some of the things that make Boston an amazing city for clean energy!

PV- Tech– Massachusetts governor makes a push for solar and low-income access to renewables

• In the spirit of Earth Week, Governor Baker has announced six new measures to promote clean energy in the state. Common to all the new programs is the intention to make renewable energies more affordable in low-income areas. $10 million has been dedicated to the projects and they will be carried out by non-profits and local governments. 

“This suite of programmes will help unleash the full potential of Massachusetts’ clean energy programmes by expanding access at all economic levels.”

Renewable Energy World– Massachusetts Readies for First Offshore Wind Procurement in June

• Massachusetts in on the verge of the first solicitation for an offshore wind facility in state waters. A call for bids is expected in June. The state government is expecting three major energy corporations to compete in the solicitation. This could be a preliminary step in increasing the amount of energy produced from wind power in the state. 

MassLive– Massachusetts carbon fee would save $2.9 billion in health costs over two decades, study finds

• A new state proposed carbon fee could save the state of Massachusetts $2.9 billion by the end of  2040. Researchers predict the pollution diverted by decreasing emissions would have a serious impact on health and the staggering cost of healthcare in the state. In fact, experts predict the measure could save over 300 lives in the time period.

“A good deal of the time people react in a visceral way to threats to their health that go right along with the environmental impacts.”

Forbes– Despite Its Oil-Industry Past, Energy Transitions Commission Foresees A Full-Renewables Future

• Recently, the Energy Transmissions Commission announced their expectation that countless regions across the globe could become entirely powered by renewables in less than 20 years. The report also indicated that clean energy will become cost competitive with fossil fuels. In order for the projection to become a reality, the Commission believes the world needs to change how we finance energy.

“Despite the scale of the challenges facing us, we firmly believe the required transition is technically and economically achievable if immediate action is taken.”

Cleantechnia– More Fortune 500 Companies Are Accelerating Renewable Energy Targets

• We’ve heard a lot about major corporations making renewable energy a priority. The commitment may be even higher than imagined. A new study shows that over 50% of Fortune 500 companies have enacted some sort of environmental policy or renewable energy usage target. Most common amongst these measures is making reducing or eliminating emissions a number one priority.

“American businesses are leading the transition to a clean economy because it’s smart business and it’s what their customers want.”

The New York Times– For First Time Since 1800s, Britain Goes a Day Without Burning Coal for Electricity

• For the first time in over two centuries, Britain went a full day without using any coal to produce energy. The accomplishment is a great first step to meeting the nations goal of using no coal-fired energy by 2025. Britain has been moving away from coal for some time and officials expect to see more “coal free” days moving forward.

“The first day without coal in Britain since the Industrial Revolution marks a watershed in the energy transition.”