UNDER GOV. MAURA HEALEY’S leadership, climate action, environmental, and energy justice have rightly emerged as key priorities. However, to ensure a truly just and equitable energy system transition in Massachusetts, she must implement an environmental and energy scorecard.
At the federal level, the Biden-Harris administration has established the Justice 40 initiative, which established a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable, and sustainable housing dollars flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. As a leader in climate action, Massachusetts needs to establish a similar initiative with firm targets and scorecards that inform the public on how well or poorly we are doing when it comes to the orchestration of a just and equitable transition.
The targets and scorecard should provide a comprehensive evaluation of the Commonwealth’s performance on environmental justice metrics. Are we receiving our fair share of federal environmental justice and clean energy funding? How much of these funds are reaching our environmental justice communities? Have environmental burdens in these communities been reduced? How many people of color have been trained and secured green jobs? What portion of the state’s environmental justice and clean energy spending is directed toward BIPOC-owned businesses?
Given Healey’s background as attorney general, and with Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s understanding of a Supreme Court that has been wary of affirmative action, they are well-positioned to craft and advocate for robust goals, targets, objectives, and mandates in our legislation and regulations without running afoul of federal laws.
The governor can achieve the targets the state needs via regulations, program design, or department mandates. This is essential to ensure that tens, if not hundreds of billions, of dollars in climate, environmental, and clean energy funding reach those most in need. An environmental justice scorecard is key for ensuring accountability and transparency.
A recent disparity study conducted by the MassSave utilities for the period from 2016 to 2021 illustrates the point. The report released to the public on August 5, 2024 revealed alarming findings, particularly concerning the percentage of MassSave spending allocated to minority business enterprises, or MBEs. Of the $533.7 million amount spent in the four categories of planning and program administration, marketing, sales, technical assistance and training, and evaluation and research, in three of the four categories, the amount spent was zero and in the fourth, it was .04 percent.
The report clearly identifies a disparity that needs to be addressed and presents an opportunity to establish measurable targets with the upcoming MassSave three-year plan, with a proposed budget of $5 billion. At a minimum, this plan should include a commitment to allocate a specific percentage of funds to MBEs. It is within the power of the Department of Energy Resources to insist that firm targets and quarterly reporting on MassSave spending with MBE’s are incorporated into the proposed plan as a condition of its final approval.
Without intervention from the citizens of the Commonwealth and the governor, procurement from Black MBEs will remain near zero. It’s not too late to change this status quo. We need a collection of methods and processes to assess the performance of energy efficiency activities incorporated into the next MassSave three-year plan so that diversity investments can be benchmarked against. Without transparency and measurable performance reporting that quantitatively assesses how programs are advancing diversity objectives, the dismal state of MBE spending will only perpetuate the current legacy of disparity.
The pursuit of environmental justice demands more than rhetorical commitments; it necessitates concrete, enforceable measures that address systemic inequities and prioritize diversity in policymaking and regulation. Governor Healey’s administration must translate these principles into laws that not only set ambitious targets for environmental justice but also embed mechanisms to ensure fairness and inclusivity throughout their enforcement.
Studies have consistently shown that marginalized communities, including low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, bear a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution and health risks. Without regulatory protections, these disparities are likely to persist or worsen.
In the absence of legislative backing, the risk looms large that disparities in environmental impact and access to clean resources will persist or even worsen. Communities already burdened with environmental degradation and health risks cannot afford further delays in legislative and regulatory protections that safeguard their rights and well-being. Moreover, without clear legal frameworks, initiatives aimed at promoting renewable energy adoption and reducing carbon emissions may overlook or exacerbate existing inequalities. Of the approximately 4.5 gigawatts of solar generation deployed in Massachusetts over the last 15 years less than 2 percent are in an environmental justice community.
Massachusetts has set legally binding targets for renewable energy adoption and carbon emissions reductions. These targets provide a clear roadmap for action and ensure that progress towards climate goals is measurable and accountable.
Massachusetts can lead by example, demonstrating how a state can effectively integrate equity goals into its environmental justice policies. This entails not only setting benchmarks for clean energy adoption but also establishing pathways for marginalized communities to benefit equitably from these advancements. By codifying environmental justice principles into law and regulation, Healey’s administration can lay a robust foundation for sustainable development that prioritizes both environmental stewardship and social equity.
Ed Gaskin is executive director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets.
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