Discussing Massachusetts' 2025 climate report card
Discussing Massachusetts’ 2025 climate report card
HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY. STATE OFFICIALS RELEASING THE 2025 MASSACHUSETTS CLIMATE REPORT CARD. IT’S THE THIRD ANNUAL SELF-ASSESSMENT RELEASED BY THE STATE LOOKING AT THE CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE GOALS. JAY WILLIAMS WITH THE BAY STATE BANNER JOINS US NOW. BRIDGET, GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS. NICE TO SEE YOU. OVERALL, THE STATE IS REPORTING MIXED RESULTS HERE. WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT? YEAH. THE REPORT SHOWS PROGRESS IN SOME AREAS BUT SLOWER MOVEMENT AND OTHERS. FOR EXAMPLE THE STATE SAYS MORE THAN EXPECTED RESIDENTS ARE INSTALLING HEAT PUMPS, WHICH HELPS REDUCE EMISSIONS. BUT ELECTRIC VEHICLE ADOPTION IS STILL FALLING SHORT OF STATE TARGETS. SO YOU’RE SEEING MOMENTUM IN SOME CLEAN ENERGY EFFORTS, WHILE OTHER CLIMATE GOALS ARE STILL LAGGING BEHIND. WHAT DID THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SECTION OF THE REPORT CARD SHOW? THAT’S WHERE SOME ADVOCATES SAY PROGRESS HAS BEEN SLOWER. THE REPORT SHOWS INCREASED FUNDING GOING TO MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES AND WORKFORCE GRANTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES. BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS IS ENERGY COSTS. SO THAT HASN’T REALLY IMPROVED. IT’S ABOUT 19.5% OF MASSACHUSETTS HOUSEHOLDS THAT STILL SPEND MORE THAN 6% OF THEIR INCOME ON ENERGY BILLS AND AMONG LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, THAT NUMBER JUMPS TO NEARLY HALF. SO A LOT OF IMPACT THERE. THAT IS A HUGE CHUNK OF MONEY. WHAT REACTION HAS THERE BEEN TO THE REPORT CARD? REACTION HAS BEEN MIXED. YOU KNOW, SOME ADVOCATES SAY THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS A LACK OF PROGRESS BECAUSE THERE AREN’T CLEAR BENCHMARKS. AND MANY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CATEGORIES. BUT OTHERS SAY THE STATE IS ACTUALLY MAKING MEANINGFUL POLICY CHANGES LIKE IMPROVING HOW COMMUNITIES ARE INVOLVED IN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS. BUT BUT MANY AGREE FUNDING CUTS AND FEDERAL SUPPORT DRYING UP COULD MAKE PROGRESS HARDER GOING FORWARD. FOR THIS IMPACT. COMMISSION. HOPEFULLY, PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON IT WILL HELP IMPROVE EVERYBODY AT THE POCKETBOOK ISSUES OUT THERE. BRIDGET WILLIAMS WITH THE BAY STATE BANNER, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING.
Discussing Massachusetts’ 2025 climate report card
State officials have released the 2025 Massachusetts Climate Report Card, marking the third annual self-assessment of the state’s clean energy and climate goals.Breje Williams from the Bay State Banner discussed the report, noting that the state is reporting mixed results overall.Williams also highlighted findings from the environmental justice section of the report card.
State officials have released the 2025 Massachusetts Climate Report Card, marking the third annual self-assessment of the state’s clean energy and climate goals.
Breje Williams from the Bay State Banner discussed the report, noting that the state is reporting mixed results overall.
Williams also highlighted findings from the environmental justice section of the report card.