Green Guide to the Massachusetts Governor’s Race

As I did prior to the Special United States Senate election in Massachusetts in January, I have put together a green election guide to the candidates for Massachusetts Governor, based on statements they have made on the issues of energy and the environment. The four candidates running are incumbent Democrat Governor Deval Patrick, Republican Charles Baker, Democrat turned-independent State Treasurer Tim Cahill and Green-Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein. I have a personal preference in this race but I will not be endorsing any of the candidates in this space. I wanted to provide a source of information on where the candidates stand on issues surrounding Green and Sustainable principles. The information I used for this guide is from the candidates’ websites, news articles and campaign literature. Each candidate’s website is hyperlinked and you can be directed to the sites by clicking on each candidate’s name. As we all know, there is a lot at stake in this election, here in Massachusetts, and nationally, so whomever you choose to vote for, please don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, November 2!

Charles Baker, Republican For Governor

Charlie Baker “believes we have a responsibility to protect and preserve our natural resources for future generations” and believes Massachusetts “can and must be a leader in promoting strong environmental policies.”

Baker, who says he is concerned about the effects of climate change, would take a deliberate, measured approach to investing in renewable energy sources. His would be a two-pronged approach, that first focuses on getting the state’s fiscal health in order and then investing in new green technology jobs and working to reduce energy costs.

“I believe that renewable energy is an important investment in our future. Massachusetts is uniquely poised to take advantage of alternative energy sources, which have the potential to save taxpayers and businesses money on their electric bills and will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Cutting energy costs is another way to make Massachusetts more affordable for families and businesses.”, Baker states on his website.  Baker points out that the cost of electricity in Massachusetts is double the national average. Because of the higher cost to ratepayers and businesses, Baker cautions against moving too quickly toward more costly alternatives, but sees a measured strategy where wise investments in wind, biomass, and solar power alternatives will steadily slow the reliance on fossil fuels. “The price of these energy sources can not make Massachusetts’ already uncompetitive energy picture even worse.”, Baker states.

Baker also says he is committed to strong public support for aggressive energy efficiency advocacy and Green technology. He does oppose the wind farm project off of Nantucket known as Cape Wind that has the support of incumbent Governor Patrick.

Summing up his message on the topic, Baker states, “We need a balanced approach to energy policy that includes a reliable, cost-effective portfolio of conventional and renewable energy sources. We must do whatever we can to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and to reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy sources.”

Timothy Cahill, Independent For Governor State Treasurer Tim Cahill believes that the “green” sector of the economy could help Massachusetts move past these tough economic times, but he cautions that too much government activism in support of costly alternative solutions should lead the citizens to ask the question, “how much will it cost?” Cahill believes that market driven growth of renewable energy and government support for a diverse portfolio of alternative options is the way to go. Cahill criticizes the 2008 “Green Communities Act” filed by Governor Patrick because he believes Massachusetts taxpayers are already overburdened enough and that the Green Communities Act has tacked on hidden increases in consumers’ utility bills. He points out the significant added cost of renewable energy and claims that currently energy companies are allowed to hide the extra cost on utility bills. Cahill, referring to that extra cost to consumers, as a “Green Tax”, believes that it will cost consumers in the several millions of dollars over the next few years and continue to skyrocket in the years to come. Calling it Governor Patrick’s, “pet project”, Cahill labels the Cape Wind project a perfect example of an “irresponsible approach” to renewable energy investment. Cahill points to the estimated $2 billion to construct the project and the cost to transmit the power from the wind farm to the consumers and concludes that it will likely cost consumers close to $5 billion over what they would pay without Cape Wind.  ”The contract between National Grid and Cape Wind ultimately leaves the ratepayers footing the bill for a project that simply can’t compete with conventional energy.”, Cahill states.  He also said, “We must strive to seek common sense solutions to answer questions involving renewable energy diversification. The focus must be placed on maximizing return on investment rather than pursuing pet projects. Each taxpayer investment must be undertaken with a keen eye on total cost and total return. We should not tolerate wastefulness.” Cahill says he supports an approach that focuses on natural gas and nuclear power as alternatives to fossil fuels and says he supports the relicensing of the Pilgrim Nuclear plant in Plymouth. He accuses the Patrick Administration of dragging its feet on renewing the license while pursuing costly alternatives to nuclear power. Cahill states, “Economic and geopolitical realities suggest that nuclear energy and natural gas must be integrated into our renewable energy portfolio. We must strive to seek out solutions that provide the state with both clean and cheap energy. We cannot afford to settle for one without the other.” Deval Patrick, Incumbent Democrat Governor Governor Patrick has used his focus on energy policy and the environment as a highlight of his campaign and a way to distinguish himself from his opponents.  He points to several accomplishments, including the successful passage of the Cape Wind project. Patrick is the only candidate to support Cape Wind, which might not have won passage without the support and assistance of the governor. “We ought to drive toward a new industry in Massachusetts to become a global center around alternative and renewable energy. The technologies and the products and services, I believe if we get that right, the whole world will be our customer. We have all the capability here in terms of the concentration of brain power and venture capital and that whole innovative tradition and it is one of the reasons why I do support the wind farm in Nantucket sound.”, Patrick has said. Patrick points to exponential increases in the usage of solar and wind power in Massachusetts and his Administration’s advocacy on behalf of those alternative energy sources as an accomplishment of his first term and vows to continue to foster a friendly environment for the growth of those sources. ”Solar power is a key component of our clean energy future.” The project is, “an innovative new model to bring renewable energy–and the jobs that come with it–across the state at the lowest cost possible.” Patrick’s website states that Massachusetts has become the national leader in clean energy policy and touts the nation’s strongest laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Governor also claims that his energy efficiency programs will invest $2 billion over three years, and provide $6.5 billion in savings for consumers. Governor Patrick also points out his commitment to preserving the Commonwealth’s open space. In 2008, he signed an environmental bond bill that allocated over $100 million per year for the next decade toward state forests and created the largest land conservation program in the history of Massachusetts, protecting 75,000 acres of open space. Jill Stein, Green/Rainbow for Governor Dr. Jill Stein says she favors solar, wind and hydropower energy and some forms of geothermal and ocean energy as alternatives to fossil fuels. She supports wind based energy solutions in theory but says she opposes the Cape Wind project off of Nantucket Sound because of the size and cost of the project. On her website, Dr. Stein focuses a great deal on her opposition to existing and proposed bio-mass power plants, stating, “logging wood for electricity is neither clean, nor green,” and further states, “Biomass energy is not carbon neutral, contrary to the claims stemming from faulty accounting. And claims of its climate benefits have not considered the extremely short time period in which we must reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to avert climate catastrophe. The period is too short to permit forest regrowth to restore neutrality after a forest is burned.” Dr. Stein has been campaigning on a platform that includes a call to foster an attitude that promotes the economy and the environment by creating green jobs. “A jobs bonanza is there for the taking in new jobs in weatherization, conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable local food production, and recycling  - among other areas. And as we reduce energy costs to families and businesses, a multiplier effect takes hold,  because our dollars start circulating within the local economy rather than being sent abroad to import oil.”, Stein said. In a campaign brochure, Stein charges the Patrick Administration with promoting sham solutions for climate action and states that the Patrick climate bill, “has no firm targets or teeth.” and criticizes Patrick for initiating harmful biomass, clean coal, incineration, and sprawl projects in his first term as governor.