Mass. lawmakers shift climate plan under Trump

Massachusetts lawmakers are looking for ways to increase the state's energy efficiency under a Trump administration that is cutting clean energy grants and prioritizing fossil fuels. 22 News Statehouse reporter Olivia Ray has a look at lawmakers options. There are two environmental bills in the works at the Statehouse and some senators say they could serve as an opportunity to advance the Bay State's climate goals under Trump. The bills, the governor's energy affordability proposal and an environmental bond bill, could serve as vehicles for clean energy legislation even without federal support. At a Tuesday Energy Committee meeting, one Healey administration official said the state could improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure, set up rebate programs, and continue to work on state-level energy efficiency. In order to meet these goals, state lawmakers will need to keep working on reducing emissions. Even through a presidential administration that has thus far heavily favored switching back to fossil fuels. The Senate's energy point person spoke to the gravity of shifts in energy goals, saying quote, I'm not saying it's an absolute lost cause, but it could be that we will see significantly less clean energy generation at least over the next two or three years than we had hoped for because of President Trump's animosity toward offshore wind in particular. The senator says that Massachusetts may have to change their methods for reducing fossil fuel consumption, but he's hopeful that their goal can remain the same. Even if Massachusetts ramps up state energy efforts, jobs under the state's energy and efficiency office are at risk because of Trump's federal cuts. Working for you from the Statehouse in Boston, I'm Olivia Rae, 22 News.