MA Governor Healey Defends Controversial Clean Energy Plan

Stung by the reaction of angry voters hit with sky-high energy bills this year, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is scrambling for ways to salvage her version of a "Green New Deal" while lowering costs for consumers. The road ahead won't be easy, as many state lawmakers are also catching flak from voters.

Springfield's WWLP-TV 22 reported, "Governor Healey and her energy team testified on their latest energy bill on Wednesday, defending the bill's ability to lower rates and increase clean energy usage."

"The bill seeks to save taxpayers $10 billion on energy bills over the next 10 years by eliminating charges on bills, reforming the supply industry, and exploring new nuclear technology," according to WWLP.

Remember, this is the woman who, as a candidate for governor in 2022, bragged, "Remember, I stopped two gas pipelines from coming into this state."

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State House News Service reported that Healey faced tough questioning from the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee about rising energy costs and whether she can reduce energy prices while pursuing her clean energy objectives.

Much concern centers around mandatory utility fees to fund programs such as Mass Save, while driving consumer bills higher.

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SHNS reported Democrat committee member Jeff Turco of Winthrop said he "installed a heat pump in his home three years ago and converted his water heater to an electric heat pump six months ago, yet faced combined January and February heating bills of more than $2,700."

"You can't get working-class people to go green, so to speak, and do these projects if we're burying them with electric costs," Turco said.

Healey reportedly responded, "We've got to take the immediate hurt - some of the programs that have served the commonwealth well, where we can scale back right now? Because people have got to be able to put food on the table, especially with the other cuts that we're likely to see from the federal administration."

The committee must act on the legislation by the end of summer.

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Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi

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