Lori Trahan, regional leaders discuss impact of recent climate legislation

FITCHBURG — With the passage of recent climate-related legislation, several federal, state and local leaders have a reason to celebrate and are optimistic for a greener, cleaner future.

That’s what brought U.S. Rep Lori Trahan, state Undersecretary of Energy Judy Chang and the Environmental League of Massachusetts’ Legislative Director David Melly together for a conversation in the Kent Recital Hall at Fitchburg State University on Wednesday night.

Throughout the evening, the trio spoke about the environmental impact of recent federal and state bills including the Inflation Reduction Act and the Massachusetts Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind. The event was hosted by the North Central Massachusetts chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby, a grassroots, non-profit and non-partisan organization focused on climate policy.

Chang referred to the aforementioned pieces of legislation as “transformative” in how they can enable further climate-related action in Massachusetts and across the country. Likewise, Trahan celebrated the “years of work by activists and our partners in the fight against climate change” while Milly stressed the need for continued action from the federal and state legislatures.

“It’s tremendous to see legislative action like this, given how long overdue climate-related action has been,” Trahan said. “And, of course, we’re excited — we’re launching these programs with unbelievable anticipation — but we know, at the local, state and federal level, that this is just the first step of what’s to come in order to mitigate climate change and accelerate our transition away from fossil fuels.”

“(Legislative action) is critical,” Milly said. “Right now, as a nation, we aren’t on track to reach a lot of our climate goals and, to get there, we need continual progress, we need to continue to prioritize environmental advocacy at all levels of government.”

The legislation, as well as other acts mentioned throughout the informational forum, have dedicated billions of dollars in recent months to fight climate change, promote a “green economy” and create incentives to promote the adoption of clean energy across the country.

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law back in August and described as historic action in regard to climate change, offers numerous rebates and credits to families to reduce the cost of the transition to clean energy. Further, the act is set to lower energy costs, promote environmental justice — protection of public spaces, environmental restoration and conservation, etc. — and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts’ Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, which built on 2021’s Act Creating a Next Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy, will invest in wind, solar and other sources of carbon-free energy, expand access to electric vehicles and further decrease the state’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Other legislation mentioned included the CHIPS and Science Act, also signed into law back in August, has prioritized the domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors, strengthening supply chains and creating jobs in the manufacturing field.

Both Trahan and Chang made note of the economic impact of each piece of legislation in terms of future job creation and stressed the importance of a properly trained workforce for the future.

“With a longer-term goal or plan in mind, we know we can’t get there without people to do the actual work,” Chang said. “So we need to start with our education system, create career pathways for younger generations into clean energy and technology to ensure a consistent, dependable future workforce.”

Trahan said it was “hard to overstate” the “incredible potential” for job creation as she touted labor provisions and protections included in the various pieces of legislation as a “pipeline to green energy jobs” and a display of the Biden administration’s “dedication” to a dependable workforce in the energy, environmental and manufacturing fields.

Later, Trahan, Chang and Milly each referred to Massachusetts as a “leader” in those fields and the fight against climate change. Melly said the state has made it clear that the climate and environmental issues are a priority and simply “not partisan,” while Chang described the state’s efforts as “our contribution to the world.”

“I think the state has shown that climate change and clean energy are not partisan issues,” Melly said. “They are areas where we can work together, where everyone is committed to meeting the gravity and urgency of the moment with bold and thoughtful action.”

“If we can recreate that at the federal level, if we can dedicate ourselves and show the world that the climate and the future are a top priority, I think that could make a huge difference,” he said.

“Being a leader, it’s not only about past policies or programs and recognizing the seriousness of climate change,” Chang said. “It’s about looking to and investing in our collective future on this planet.”

In closing, the panel made it clear that, despite significant progress at every level of government, the work is far from over. Chang said the “necessary” transition ahead “won’t be easy for anyone,” while Trahan made it clear that the country “can’t afford to backslide” at such a critical juncture.

“We’re already behind and we’re trying to play catch up, so we have to keep that momentum going — at this point, we can’t take anything for granted,” she said. “These policies matter and they’re going to thrust us into the future and ensure the planet is vibrant and healthy for generations to come.”