On Wednesday 10/8/2014 Mass Energy Consumers Alliance “greened”* the standing-room-only Gubernatorial Forum on Energy, the Environment & the Innovation Economy co-hosted by the Environmental League of Massachusetts and several other environmental organizations. At this event Jeff McCormick (I), Martha Coakley (D), Charlie Baker (R) and Evan Falchuk (I) offered remarks and answered a few pre-determined questions regarding where they stand on key environmental and energy issues.

All of the candidates expressed some level of commitment to core issues such as investing in energy efficiency, expanding the state’s energy portfolio to include more renewable energy, reaching the emission reduction goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act and collaborating with other states on climate change. George Bachrach, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts and emcee of the event, speaking for the hosting environmental groups, commented that all of the candidates were “closer to our views  than any slate of candidates, at least I have ever seen before, smart thoughtful candidates that I think are hearing us.” But the candidates were divided on how to achieve these goals.

Below you can check out Mass Energy’s summary of the candidate’s positions on five issues that matter for energy consumers across the state: energy efficiency; the expansion of natural gas pipelines; the Global Warming Solutions Act; Ballot Question 1 Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing; and the possibility of a future carbon tax in Massachusetts.

Watch a VIDEO of the forum. (http://vimeo.com/108407894?utm_source=ELM+Bulletin+10-9-2014&utm_campaign=10%2F10%2F14+bulletin&utm_medium=email)

Listen to AUDIO of the forum. (https://soundcloud.com/environmental-league-mass/gubernatorial-forum-on-energy-the-environment-the-innovation-economy)

Read another event summary report from the Boston Globe

Read responses from each candidate to the Boston Globe’s questionnaire on environmental issues: Baker, Coakley, Falchuck, Lively, McCormick.      

* Mass Energy Consumers Alliance contributed to their New England Wind Friends program to meet the event’s electricity needs with zero-emission renewable energy from Massachusetts projects.