Today, the Baker-Polito Administration released its Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050 (2050 CECP), which provides the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a comprehensive plan to achieve the Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions limit by 2050.

Achieving Net Zero in 2050 requires a level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that is at least 85% below the 1990 baseline level, and that total emissions are equal or less in quantity to the amount of carbon dioxide or its equivalent that is removed from the atmosphere and stored annually by, or attributable to, the Commonwealth.

Furthermore, the Administration established sector-specific emissions sub-limits, set slightly more stringent than the necessary levels to achieve the required 85% GHG reduction target to allow for some margins for error in meeting statewide emissions limit. To guide future efforts, the 2050 CECP includes strategies, policies, and actions the Commonwealth will pursue to achieve the statewide 2050 emissions limit and sector-specific sub-limits, and to enhance carbon sequestration on natural and working lands to achieve Net Zero in 2050.

“Massachusetts has and continues to take an ambitious, proactive approach to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050 will further aid the state as we chart a course for Net Zero,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This plan takes a responsible, balanced approach to decarbonizing the Commonwealth and offers sector specific strategies that will guide ongoing efforts for several decades to come.”

This Plan builds on years of analyses, stakeholder meetings, public hearings, and reports, including the 2050 Massachusetts Decarbonization Roadmap and the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030. It reflects the efforts of executive branch officials, legislators, advocacy groups, scientists, environmental justice (EJ) partners, industry stakeholders, utilities, and residents who care deeply about the Commonwealth’s answers to critical questions facing the state’s climate and energy systems.

“It is critical that as we collectively work together to achieve the state’s emissions reduction goals and that we assess our successes and better understand where we need to focus more attention,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The 2050 CECP takes an in depth examination of where the state is in achieving our climate goals and offers important strategies and policies to reach Net Zero in 2050.”

The 2050 CECP highlights the way Massachusetts will achieve its emissions limit and sublimits through building a 2050 future in which the heat in homes, power in vehicles, and the electric grid can all operate with a minimum reliance on fossil fuels. Sector-based strategies include the transitioning of the Commonwealth’s vehicle fleet to electric vehicles, implementing the Commission on Clean Heat recommendations, the development of a forward clean energy market to support the deployment of large-scale clean energy projects, along with the necessary investments in electric transmission and distribution systems, and expanding state conservation efforts with the goal of protecting from development at least 40% of Massachusetts land and water by 2050.

“Reaching Net Zero in 2050 will take a comprehensive approach, and the Baker-Polito Administration’s Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050 ensures there are key strategies that enable the state to achieve its emissions goals,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “Importantly, the 2050 CECP offers critical guidance to ensure an equitable transition as we work together across all sectors of the economy and make Massachusetts a better place to live and work for generations to come.”

While this plan sets out key policies specific to each of the sectors of the economy, the 2050 CECP recognizes that clean energy technologies across sectors face some common challenges and solutions. These challenges will be addressed through cross sector strategies, such as:

  • Expanding workforce development;
  • Supporting clean energy innovation; and,
  • Ensuring a thriving and just economic transition that will benefit everyone.

The Commonwealth will also ensure that EJ communities and low- and moderate-income residents are not left behind in the energy transition through the prioritization of investments in clean energy in EJ communities, best practices for community engagement, and more.

In addition to the release of the 2050 CECP, the Baker-Polito Administration has developed and published the web-based Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Dashboard, which is a public resource that provides key performance indicators relevant to the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plans. The dashboard features specific webpages that highlight important metrics in each sector of the economy, including transportation, buildings, electricity, non-energy and industrial, and natural and working lands, as well as resources that help municipalities, businesses, and residents to increase adoption of clean energy solutions. The dashboard will be regularly updated with latest available information to track the progress on the implementation of the CECPs.

For more information regarding the 2050 CECP, and the Commonwealth’s strong commitment to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050, please visit EEA’s Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050 webpage.