In order to secure a healthy and livable planet, our level of legislative ambition must reflect the latest science and data available to us, including the findings in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2021 Report. As we ask ourselves how to prioritize, operationalize, and resource climate efforts, we need to consider not just what it costs to take these measures, but what it will cost to not take them, because we are living in a climate emergency.

In Massachusetts, we possess the resources and institutions to become the tip of the spear in humanity’s efforts to combat the rise of CO2 in our atmosphere. Massachusetts has made significant progress in recent years, most notably by passing legislation to require a statewide net-zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But our work is not done, and our current timeline is insufficient. The Town of Acton has set a net-zero goal of 2030, and the rest of the Commonwealth should do the hard work necessary to accelerate our net-zero timeline.

As we seek to meet and exceed the goals that have been established on Beacon Hill, we need watchdog legislators who possess the know-how and desire to make legislative adjustments that enable us to reach our goals faster, more equitably, and with greater efficiency. And we need creative thinkers who will consider and address the potentially disparate impacts that these changes — and climate change writ large — will have on our communities across the Commonwealth. As your State Representative, I will bring my background in Environmental Science and Chemistry to Beacon Hill, and apply all of my energy and experience to our generation’s most pressing challenge.

Below are some of the greatest opportunities I see to advance our climate agenda while improving the quality of our air and water in Massachusetts. I hope you will fill out our Priorities Survey to let me know how our team can further develop its environmental platform.

Eliminate PFAS From Our Water Supply

We have a major water quality problem in various communities within the 14th Middlesex District arising from polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are synthetic chemicals that have been used since the mid-20th century in a variety of commercial applications. Importantly, PFAS break down extremely slowly over time, and are linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. In our District, the problem has surpassed a level at which localities can afford to remediate PFAS contaminations in drinking water, to the point that residents in the district have begun to purchase bottled water out of fear of negative health effects. Our towns should not be left to deal with our PFAS levels alone; state resources must be deployed to protect our health. I would work to bring funding to our District to assist with PFAS contamination, and would advocate for legislation to ban PFAS-containing substances from household products and plastics in Massachusetts.

Increasing Local Renewable Sources

We need to invest in local sources of renewable energy like solar, ground source heat pumps, and networked geothermal. Towns, citizen groups, and residents in the 14th Middlesex District are at the vanguard of renewable energy initiatives.  Meanwhile, renewable energy technologies are increasingly market-ready and available in our District and across Massachusetts. A recent feasibility study by HEET demonstrates that the networked geothermal could “[r]educe emissions for the connected buildings by 60% immediately and by over 90% as the electricity grid becomes renewable.” Additionally, a combination of rooftop solar (residential and commercial) and solar plants could supply about a quarter of Massachusetts’ electricity demands. Our District should become a leader of innovation.

Offshore Wind

Massachusetts coasts possess ten times the amount of power we need to meet the demands of our electric grid. Offshore wind is the low-hanging fruit of our renewable energy production equation, and it exists right here in the Commonwealth. Developing offshore wind infrastructure would also produce thousands of jobs, which, with tailored incentives and an appropriate legislative framework, could advance our economic agenda and provide job opportunities to minorities and economically disadvantaged populations. As your legislator, I will work to promote the development of offshore wind by securing more offshore wind procurements and augmenting funding for research and development of offshore wind.

Fossil Fuel-Free Buildings

When I wrote my thesis on the thermodynamics of residential energy in 2008, we already possessed the construction technology to make our new buildings fossil fuel-free, and to vastly reduce the energy consumption of existing buildings. Over a decade later, our legislation and building codes lag behind existing building science and technology. For starters, we need a moratorium on new fossil fuel-dependent building construction. Home Rule petitions are a good place to gain momentum so reps. can provide local proof points that show an effort is economically practical as well as environmentally sound. But, our state legislators should be working quickly towards a statewide mandate.

For existing buildings, we need to vastly expand the reach and offerings of programs like Mass Save and MassEnergize, which is led by residents in the 14th Middlesex District, in every community in the Commonwealth. Every Massachusetts resident should have access to professional consultation on how to increase the efficiency of their homes and in turn reduce their utility bills (and by extension, their carbon footprint), followed by free or affordable opportunities to actualize any recommendations.

Delineate Between Green and Dirty Fuels

Progress on environmental causes has historically been hindered by our collective inability to distinguish between clean and dirty energy sources. Biomass energy is being promoted as a “renewable” fuel, but burning biomass for fuel degrades air quality and will not advance our climate goals. Biomass plants do not warrant clean energy incentives through the Renewable Portfolio Standard or the Alternative Portfolio Standard. As a legislator, I would actively seek out and oppose any measures that amount to mission creep against environmental progress.

Conserve Our Forests and Open Space

The 14th Middlesex District is home to some of the most treasured open spaces that can be found anywhere. Our forests and open space harbor irreplaceable carbon sinks, are home to our treasured ecological diversity, and provide publicly accessible recreation for all of our residents, in addition to numerous other benefits. On Beacon Hill, I would work to advance legislative existing proposals to ensure that there is no net loss of lands or easements protected under Article 37 (S.524/H.851), require municipalities to develop reforestation plans (S.504/H.905), and expand designations of wildlife reserves to make permanent the protection of more acreage in Massachusetts (H.1002).