MA Gov. Deval Patrick Calls for ‘Future Free of Fossil Fuels,’ and Zero Coal in Four Years

Deval Patrick is finishing up his second term as Governor of Massachusetts this year, but instead of fading into the role of a lame duck, he said something on Friday that it’s possible no sitting governor has said before.

Speaking to the UMass Amherst’s boisterous graduating class of 2014, Patrick detailed how “Massachusetts should finally end all reliance on conventional coal generation” in four years, and called for “a future free of fossil fuels.”

While Patrick began his speech with the importance of citizenship, he devoted the majority of his time to climate change and clean energy.  He highlighted the recent National Climate Assessment and how climate change was affecting New England.  He then laid out the steps Massachusetts has taken over the last decade and a half to cut carbon emissions, invest in clean energy, and adapt to a changing climate.

“Between 2000 and 2012, the electricity generated from coal in New England dropped from 18 percent to 3 percent; electricity generated from oil is down from 22 percent to less than 1 percent,” Patrick said.

“Three of the so-called ‘filthy five’ coal burning power plants in Massachusetts have been retired in the last few years.  Two remain: Brayton Point in the South Coast region and Mt. Tom, just down the road.  Within the next four years, both should shut down and Massachusetts should finally end all reliance on conventional coal generation.”

Coal power has been waning in Massachusetts, replaced by renewable energy and natural gas.  The coal-fired Salem Harbor Power Station will shut down in June, though the operator is trying to convert the old facility to natural despite local opposition.  Patrick made clear that natural gas, though, was not a perfect bridge fuel, saying “we should be mindful of the hazards of pipeline leaks” and calling for passage of legislation to crack down on methane leaks.

Fellow climate hawk Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA) directed his administration to work with utilities to get his state off coal-fired power in an executive order last month.  Patrick took his position a step further, calling for a future free of all fossil fuels.  He described the pathway to this transition via a Clean Energy Standard that moves Massachusetts “from good to better to best.”

MA Gov. Deval Patrick Calls for ‘Future Free of Fossil Fuels,’ and Zero Coal in Four Years