By Magdalena Garncarz
Vice President, Government Affairs

It’s 2050 in Massachusetts and 97 percent of light vehicles are powered by electricity.

Eighty percent of homes are powered by electric heat pumps.

And more than half of manufacturing plants run on electricity as the commonwealth rushes to comply with a law that requires it to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

That’s the pathway established in the 2050 Climate and Clean Energy Plan that Melissa Lavinson, Executive Director of the Office of Energy Transformation (OET) outlined for members of the AIM Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee in mid-October. The discussion covered topics such as aligning regional energy markets and improving regional coordination, ensuring cooperation across the Healey Administration’s secretariats, and how the OET plans to approach financing the transition.

Governor Maura Healey established OET on May 1 as the first such agency in the country. The office is charged with the hands-on execution of the clean energy transition, including ensuring the availability and readiness of electrical infrastructure, electric and gas transition coordination, and a just transition for impacted workers and businesses.

The state Department of Public Utilities’ issued an order in December 2023 confirming that Massachusetts will move away from fossil fuels and its supporting infrastructure as quickly as possible toward electrification, including advancing targeted electrification pilots and expanding geothermal. The electric network is projected to be the primary energy delivery mechanism for the entire state by 2050.

Lavinson provided AIM members with an overview of the current state of Massachusetts climate and energy policy and discussed recent regulatory proceedings. She also highlighted the office’s efforts to involve as many interested parties as possible in the process of energy transition, including a newly created Advisory Board on which AIM serves as a member.

OET has also convened what it calls Focus Area Working Groups of experts to solve three critical challenges of the energy transformation: Transitioning Away from the Everett Marine Terminal, Decarbonizing the Peak, and Financing the Transition. AIM will be heavily involved in the work of all three groups to ensure a strong business-community voice. We encourage any interested members to get involved.

The October meeting allowed members of the AIM EES Committee to discuss engagement with the administration and state agencies, how organizations such as AIM can continue to be the conduit that amplifies member concerns, and how the administration can understand the real energy challenges facing businesses in Massachusetts.

Lavinson joined the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs from AIM member National Grid, where she previously served as Head of Corporate Affairs for New England, leading National Grid’s state and municipal government relations, community and stakeholder engagement, media relations, municipal customer management and strategic communications.

Please feel free to contact me (mgarncarz@aimnet.org) with any questions about energy policy.