Climate Rising Governing Climate Action: Massachusetts’ Strategy for Decarbonization and Resilience
Oct 29, 2025
Jonathan Schrag, the Deputy Climate Chief for Massachusetts, sheds light on the state's innovative climate strategies. He reveals how the new Climate Office integrates environmental policy across various state sectors. Discussion topics include ambitious emissions targets, electrification efforts, and local roles in building codes and EV infrastructure. Schrag also tackles challenges from federal rollbacks and supply chain issues while highlighting potential in offshore wind and geothermal projects. Additionally, he shares insights on small modular nuclear reactors and adapting public-private financing for a sustainable future.
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IRA's Hypotheses Remain Ungranted
- The Inflation Reduction Act tested two hypotheses: depoliticizing clean energy and market transformation via braided incentives.
- Schrag says the political reversal prevented the long-term experiment from being fully tested.
Offshore Wind Is Already Scaling In The Northeast
- Northeast offshore wind already includes completed and near-complete large projects delivering hundreds of megawatts.
- Schrag describes Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind as major infrastructure with significant local job and port impacts.
New Federal Reviews Stall Offshore Projects
- Federal actions have introduced new aviation and national-security reviews that pause construction of offshore projects.
- Schrag warns agencies not previously involved are adding questions that stall projects already permitted or under construction.