Massachusetts

==Environmental issues==
===Climate change===
{{Main|Climate change in Massachusetts}}
Climate change in Massachusetts will affect both urban and rural environments, including forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and coastal development.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|
title=What climate change means for Massachusetts|author=EPA|url=https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-ma.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/climate-change/effects-of-climate-change|title=Effects of Climate Change in Massachusetts|website=Mass Audubon|access-date=April 23, 2020|archive-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703180806/https://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/climate-change/effects-of-climate-change|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="natlclimate">{{cite report|title=Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II|author1=Dupigny-Giroux, L.A.|author2=E.L. Mecray|publisher=U.S. Global Change Research Program|doi=10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH18|pages=669–742|author3=M.D. Lemcke-Stampone|author4=G.A. Hodgkins|author5=E.E. Lentz|author6=K.E. Mills|author7=E.D. Lane|author8=R. Miller|author9=D.Y. Hollinger|doi-access=free|author14=C. Caldwell|chapter=Northeast|author13=A.B. MacDonald|editor1=Reidmiller, D.R.|editor2=C.W. Avery|editor3=D.R. Easterling|editor4=K.E. Kunkel|editor5=K.L.M. Lewis|editor6=T.K. Maycock|editor7=B.C. Stewart|author12=P.E. Sheffield|place=Washington, DC, US|author11=G.A. Wellenius|author10=W.D. Solecki|year=2018}}</ref> The Northeast is projected to warm faster than global average temperatures; by 2035, according to the U. S. Global Change Research Program, the Northeast is "projected to be more than 3.6°F (2°C) warmer on average than during the preindustrial era".<ref name="natlclimate"/>{{Update after|2035}} As of August 2016, the EPA reports that Massachusetts has warmed by over two degrees Fahrenheit, or 1.1 degrees Celsius.<ref name="EPA Climate Change for Massachusetts">{{cite report|url=https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-ma.pdf|title=What Climate Change Means for Massachusetts|publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency|date=August 2016|format=PDF file|access-date=December 16, 2020}}</ref>

Shifting temperatures also result in the shifting of rainfall patterns and the intensification of precipitation events. To that end, average precipitation in the Northeast United States has risen by ten percent from 1895 to 2011, and the number of heavy precipitation events has increased by seventy percent during that time.<ref name="EPA Climate Change for Massachusetts" /> These increased precipitation patterns are focused in the winter and spring. Increasing temperatures coupled with increasing precipitation will result in earlier snow melts and subsequent drier soil in the summer months.<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate Change Made Summer Hotter and Drier Worldwide, Study Finds |url=https://www.carilec.org/climate-change-made-summer-hotter-and-drier-worldwide-study-finds/ |website=CARILEC |date=October 5, 2022 |access-date=December 4, 2022}}</ref>

The shifting climate in Massachusetts will result in a significant change to the state's built environment and ecosystems. In [[Boston]] alone, costs of climate change-related storms will result in $5 to $100 billion in damage.<ref name="EPA Climate Change for Massachusetts" />

Warmer temperatures will also disrupt bird migration and flora blooming. With these changes, deer populations are expected to increase, resulting in a decrease in underbrush which smaller fauna use as camouflage. Additionally, rising temperatures will increase the number of reported [[Lyme disease]] cases in the state. [[Tick]]s can transmit the disease once temperatures reach 45 degrees, so shorter winters will increase the window of transmission. These warmer temperatures will also increase the prevalence of [[Asian tiger mosquitoes]], which often carry the [[West Nile virus]].<ref name="EPA Climate Change for Massachusetts" />

To fight this change, the [[Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs]] has outlined a path to [[low-carbon economy|decarbonize]] the state's economy. On April 22, 2020, Kathleen A. Theoharides, the state's Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, released a Determination of Statewide Emissions limits for 2050. In her letter, Theoharides stresses that as of 2020, the Commonwealth has experienced property damage attributable to climate change of more than $60 billion. To ensure that the Commonwealth experiences warming no more than 1.5&nbsp;°C of pre-industrialization levels, the state will work towards two goals by 2050: to achieve [[net-zero emissions]], and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent overall.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Theoharides |first1=Kathleen |last2=Polito |first2=Karyn |last3=Baker |first3=Charles |title=Determination of Statewide Emissions Limit for 2050 |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/final-signed-letter-of-determination-for-2050-emissions-limit/download |website=Official websites of Massachusetts |access-date=May 20, 2022}}</ref>

===Power Initiatives===
{{main|Solar power in Massachusetts|Wind power in Massachusetts}}
{{see also|Plug-in electric vehicles in Massachusetts}}
The State of Massachusetts has developed a plethora of incentives to encourage the implementation of [[renewable energy]] and efficient appliances and home facilities. The Mass Save program, formed in conjunction with the State by several companies that provide power and gas in Massachusetts, provides homeowners and renters with monetary incentives to [[retrofit]] their homes with efficient HVAC equipment and other household appliances. Appliances such as water heaters, air conditioners, washers and driers, and heat pumps are eligible for rebates in order to incentivize change.<ref>{{cite web |title=Massachusetts Energy-Saving Rebates |url=https://www.masssave.com/rebates |website=MASS SAVE |access-date=May 20, 2022}}</ref>

The concept of Mass Save was created in 2008 by the passing of the Green Communities Act of 2008, during [[Deval Patrick]]'s tenure as [[governor]]. The main goal of the Green Communities Act was to reduce the consumption of [[fossil fuels]] in the State and to encourage new, more efficient technologies. Among others, one result of this act was a requirement for Program Administrators of utilities to invest in saving energy, as opposed to purchasing and generating additional energy where economically feasible. In Massachusetts, eleven Program Administrators, including [[Eversource]], [[National Grid (US)|National Grid]], [[Western Massachusetts Electric Company|Western Massachusetts Electric]], [[Cape Light Compact]], [[Until (company)|Until]], and [[Berkshire Gas]], jointly own the rights to this program, in conjunction with the [[Department of Energy Resources (Massachusetts)|MA Department of Energy Resources]] (DOER) and the [[Energy Efficiency Advisory Council]] (EEAC).<ref>{{cite web |title=MassSave: A New Model for Statewide Energy Efficiency Programs |url=https://www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2012/data/papers/0193-000169.pdf |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>

The [[Massachusetts State Revenue Service|State Revenue Service]] provides incentives for the installation of [[solar panel]]s. In addition to the Federal Residential [[Renewable energy credit]], Massachusetts residents may be eligible for a tax credit of up to 15 percent of the project.<ref>{{cite web |title=830 CMR 62.6.1: Residential Energy Credit |url=https://www.mass.gov/regulations/830-CMR-6261-residential-energy-credit |website=Mass.gov |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref> Once installed, arrays are eligible for [[net metering]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Net Metering Guide |url=https://www.mass.gov/guides/net-metering-guide |website=Mass.gov |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref> Certain municipalities will offer up to $1.20 per watt, up to 50 percent of the system's cost on PV arrays 25&nbsp;kW or less.<ref>{{cite web |title=Municipal Light Plant Solar Rebate Program |url=https://www.mass.gov/guides/municipal-light-plant-solar-rebate-program |website=Mass.gov |access-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611213114/https://www.mass.gov/guides/municipal-light-plant-solar-rebate-program |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources also offered low-interest, fixed-rate financing with loan support for low-income residents until December 31, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mass Solar Loan |url=https://www.masssolarloan.com/ |website=Mass Solar Loan |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>

As a part of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources' effort to incentivize the usage of [[renewable energy]], the Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) initiative was created. With this incentive, residents may qualify for a state-provided incentive of up to $2,500 for the purchase or lease of an [[electric vehicle]], or $1,500 for the purchase or lease of a [[plug-in hybrid]] vehicle.<ref>{{cite web |title=MOR-EV IS A Massachusetts Program That Issues Rebates to Electric Vehicle Drivers |url=https://mor-ev.org/ |website=MOR-EV |access-date=May 26, 2022}}</ref> This rebate is available in addition to the tax credits offered by the [[United States Department of Energy]] for the purchase of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |title=State and Federal Electric Vehicle Funding Programs |url=https://www.mass.gov/service-details/state-and-federal-electric-vehicle-funding-programs |website=MASS.GOV |access-date=May 26, 2022}}</ref>

For income-eligible residents, Mass Save has partnered with Massachusetts Community Action Program Agencies and [[Low-Income Energy Affordability Network]] (LEAN) to offer residents assistance with upgrades to their homes that will result in more efficient energy usage. Residents may qualify for a replacement of their heating system, insulation installation, appliances, and thermostats if they meet the income qualifications provided on Mass Save's website. For residents of 5+ family residential buildings, there are additional income-restricted benefits available through LEAN. If at least 50 percent of the residents of the building qualify as low income, [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]] improvements like those available through Mass Save are available. Residential structures operated by non-profit organizations, for profit operations, or housing authorities may take advantage of these programs.<ref>"''Income Eligible Programs.''" Mass Save, www.masssave.com/saving/income-based-offers/income-eligible-programs.</ref>

In late 2020, the administration of Massachusetts governor [[Charlie Baker]] released a decarbonization roadmap to aim for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan calls for major investments in [[offshore wind]] and solar energy. It would also require all new cars sold in the state to be zero-emissions ([[Electric cars|electric]] or [[Hydrogen powered car|hydrogen powered]]) by 2035.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/30/science/mass-require-all-new-cars-sold-be-electric-by-2035-part-climate-change-measures/|title=Mass. to require all new cars sold to be electric by 2035 as part of climate-change measures|first=Naomi |last=Martin|work=The Boston Globe|date= December 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/ma-2050-decarbonization-roadmap|title=MA2050DecarbonizationRoadmap_FINAL.pdf &#124; Mass.gov|website=mass.gov}}</ref>