Massachusetts Plans for Zero Emissions by 2050

The proposal, in part, would require all new cars sold in the state to be electric by 2035.

Boston.
Boston.
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BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts has released a plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which includes in part a requirement that all new cars sold in the state be electric by 2035 and converting 1 million homes from fossil fuel to electric heat.

The plan came in two reports issued Wednesday by the adminisitration of Gov. Charlie Baker — the Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap Report and an interim 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan.

The reports detail policies and strategies to cost-effectively reduce emissions and combat climate change.

As part of the plan, state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides set an interim 2030 statewide emissions limit of 45% below 1990 levels.

“The people of Massachusetts are experiencing record droughts, increased risk of wildfire, severe weather, and flooding in our coastal communities," Baker said in a statement. “The costly impacts of climate change are on display in the Commonwealth, making it critical that we take action.”

The goal of what the state calls a first-in-the-nation roadmap is designed to reach net zero emissions by 2050 affordably while maintaining a thriving economy.

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