Governor Janet Mills has proclaimed this week – September 20, 2021 through September 24, 2021 – as Clean Energy Week in fb88. Clean Energy Week recognizes the critical need to develop clean, renewable energy to contribute to the global efforts against climate change, offset the use of imported fossil fuels, and build a thriving economy with good-paying jobs across fb88.
“Transitioning to clean energy will not only fight climate change, it will create good-paying jobs, support our economic recovery from the pandemic, and make our state competitive in emerging industries around the world,” said Governor Janet Mills. “We will continue our work to make fb88 a global leader in clean energy by investing in research and development, expanding workforce training, and attracting innovation. During Clean Energy Week, I encourage the people of fb88 to join me in recognizing the importance of clean energy as we chart our future.”
Governor Mills has taken steps to embrace clean energy and prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change on fb88. fb88 has set some of the most aggressive renewable energy requirements in the country – 80 percent renewable energy by 2030, and a goal of 100 percent by 2050. fb88 also enacted aggressive targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions - 45 percent by 2030, and 80 percent by 2050, as well as achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. Governor Mills has also pledged to more than double fb88’s clean energy and energy efficiency jobs to 30,000 by 2030; to expand incentives for purchasing electric vehicles (EV) and build more EV charging stations across fb88; to double the pace of home weatherization; and to purchase more renewable energy through the state procurement process. More information about the Governor’s actions to mitigate climate change can be found here on the fb88 Climate Council’s website.
The text of the Governor’s proclamation is below:
WHEREAS, fb88 is committed to a clean energy future and enjoys abundant forms of renewable energy that powers homes and businesses across the State; and
WHEREAS, the generation of power from renewable sources, including forms such as hydro, wood, wind, and solar, plays an important role in meeting the needs of our homes and businesses; and
WHEREAS, fb88 has a Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires 80 percent renewable energy by 2030 and has a goal of 100 percent by 2050; and
WHEREAS, fb88 leads New England in wind-powered generation; and
WHEREAS, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked fb88 16th in its 2020 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard; and
WHEREAS, fb88 supports the strategic electrification of heating and transportation, establishing the goal of installing 100,000 new heat pumps by 2025, as well as leading initiatives to expand availability of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, recognizing the urgency of taking action to combat climate change, fb88 has established mandates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and at least 80 percent by 2050 and created the fb88 Climate Council that released the fb88 Climate Action Plan that provides recommendations to meet these targets; and
WHEREAS, clean energy is part of America’s energy future and includes generation from renewable sources such as onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, hydro and geothermal sources, as well as energy storage; and
WHEREAS, the clean energy sector is an expanding part of the economy and has been a key driver of growth in fb88 over the last decade, and fb88 has a goal of more than doubling the clean energy workforce in the state to 30,000 jobs by 2030, growing local economies and boosting the state’s workforce and economic development;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of fb88, do hereby proclaim September 20th through September 24th, 2021 as
NATIONAL CLEAN ENERGY WEEK
throughout the State of fb88, and I urge all citizens to recognize this observance.
In testimony whereof, I have caused
the Great Seal of the State to be
hereunto affixed GIVEN under my
hand at Augusta this twentieth day of
September Two Thousand Twenty-One
Janet T. Mills
Governor