Hinds Release Energy & Jobs Platform| 04:29PM / Saturday, August 06, 2016 | |
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Democratic candidate for state Senate candidate Adam Hinds has released his platform on energy and environmental priorities, with a plan to create jobs, save money for cities and towns, individuals, and businesses, and to establish the region as a leader in the green industry, while maintaining its identity as a leader on environmental issues.
Grow the Economy
To develop green energy industry here, I will work to ensure Western Massachusetts is a part of the growth in the green energy industry, which currently employs almost 100,000 people across the commonwealth. I will work to expand incentive programs that elevate local demand through MA Solar Loan and utilize expanded local demand to grow local businesses right here already doing the work, while recruiting energy technology firms and manufacturers to the district. I will work to secure resources for local schools, including BCC, MCLA, McCann Tech and Taconic to grow relevant programs and create a clean energy apprenticeship program.
Save money for individuals and businesses
Massachusetts leads the nation in energy efficiency, but more needs to be done. Tremendous savings to individuals results from investing in energy efficiency and demand response. Fixing methane-leaking pipes in existing natural gas lines statewide will help enhance capacity delivered to businesses and consumers. With my colleagues in the senate, I will work to ensure that electric ratepayers would not pay for new gas pipelines. Investing in off-shore wind, hydro, and solar is critical for diversifying the energy mix.
Energy Leadership
To accelerate investment by the private sector in renewable energy, storage and transmission we need to demonstrate demand and commitment at the state level. To expand the amount of the commonwealth's energy portfolio that draws from renewables I will add a strong voice to the state Senate's legislation calling to increase the Renewable Portfolio Standards that require suppliers of energy to include a percentage from renewable sources that is well beyond the current 1 percent requirement. I will continue to expand investments in renewable sources of energy like wind, while working to establish a long-term framework that will continue to incentivize solar growth at a lower cost to ratepayers. Locally, I will be a leader in drafting a plan to offset carbon output for the district: 100 percent net-zero; secure funds to expand resources for the successful Green Communities program; and ensure the viability of programs for consumer access to electricity savings through things like efficient light bulbs, insulation and weatherization, and more efficient heating and cooling systems.
Protect the Environment
Our region and district is known for its green space and access to nature. We need to protect that. As state senator, I will ensure necessary resources are available to local and state entities working to preserve or keep land accessible, without creating hardship for small towns who need a strong tax base to maintain local services. I will work with the EPA, DEP, the attorney general, and local stakeholders to ensure that any Rest of River remediation plan includes out-of-state disposal and that the Housatonic is returned to its natural state without creating toxic dumps of PCBs in the district. I will work with the attorney general's office to ensure that our protected lands remain untouched by pipeline projects.
Now is the time to create a wide-reaching coalition to make serious investments to modernize our electric grid infrastructure while aggressively investing in renewable sources of energy and forming real solutions to help our region's businesses, while protecting the beauty and splendor of the region that we are so lucky to call home. As your next state senator, I will work to form that coalition based on creating jobs, saving money, establishing the region as a leader in the alternative energy industry, and protecting our environment.
Adam Hinds grew up in the state Senate district town of Buckland, attending Mohawk Trail Regional High School where his parents both worked; his father as a teacher, and his mother as a part-time librarian. He attended Wesleyan University, and from there attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts, before working as U.S. Rep. John W. Olver's campaign manager, and then on U. S. Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign. He worked for nearly 10 years at the United Nations, often in the Middle East, before helping establish the Pittsfield Community Connection, a program that proactively engages at-risk youth. He is currently on leave as executive director of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.
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