Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (Massachusetts)
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| Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (Massachusetts) | |
|---|---|
| Post | Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs |
| Body | Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
| Incumbent | Rebecca Tepper |
| Incumbentsince | 2023 |
| Department | Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs |
| Reports to | Governor of Massachusetts |
| Appointer | Governor of Massachusetts |
| Formation | 2007 |
Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (Massachusetts) is the cabinet-level official who leads the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Secretary advises the Governor of Massachusetts on matters related to energy and environmental protection, coordinates policy across state agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, and represents the Commonwealth in regional and federal forums including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and interactions with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The office interfaces with legislative actors like the Massachusetts General Court and judicial bodies such as the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on statutory and regulatory matters.
Role and Responsibilities
The Secretary oversees administration of statutory programs under chapters of the Massachusetts General Laws pertaining to energy and environmental protection, advises the Governor of Massachusetts on appointments to boards such as the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and leads interagency coordination with entities including the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Massachusetts Port Authority, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. The Secretary represents the Commonwealth in multistate initiatives like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and policy coalitions such as the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program while engaging with federal officials from the United States Department of Energy and the United States Department of the Interior. Responsibilities include regulatory oversight with the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board, grant administration tied to programs from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and litigation strategy before courts including the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
History and Establishment
The office was created during the administration of Mitt Romney and reorganized under subsequent governors including Deval Patrick, Charlie Baker, and Maura Healey to consolidate energy and environmental functions formerly dispersed among agencies such as the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Energy Resources. Its establishment reflects state responses to events like the Northeastern blackout of 2003 and policy developments following the adoption of the Global Warming Solutions Act by the Massachusetts General Court. The office’s evolution has been influenced by regional climate litigation, municipal initiatives in cities such as Boston, Massachusetts and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and federal developments under administrations of Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Organizational Structure and Agencies
The Secretary heads the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs which comprises agencies including the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources for certain conservation programs. Subordinate commissions and authorities include the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, and advisory bodies such as the Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Report Working Group. The office coordinates with quasi-public entities like the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and engages with research partners at institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Officeholders
Notable Secretaries and acting heads have included appointees from administrations of Mitt Romney, Deval Patrick, Charlie Baker, and Maura Healey. Individuals serving in the post have previously held roles at agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency. Officeholders frequently transition between state posts and positions in nongovernmental organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and academic appointments at institutions such as Tufts University and Boston University. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts and confirmed consistent with processes overseen by the Massachusetts Governor's Council.
Policies and Major Initiatives
Major initiatives under the Secretary include implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act mandates, administration of the Commonwealth’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, coordination of offshore wind procurement with developers like those associated with projects in the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area, and resilience planning for coastal communities impacted by sea level rise and Nor'easter. The office manages programs funded through federal sources such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 while implementing statewide programs like energy efficiency partnerships with utilities regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. Policy efforts have targeted greenhouse gas reductions in sectors covered by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and advanced clean transportation through collaborations with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and regional planning agencies such as the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
Relationship with State and Federal Entities
The Secretary maintains formal relationships with the Massachusetts General Court for statutory authorizations, consults with the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts on enforcement and litigation, and coordinates with municipal leaders in cities and towns including Springfield, Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts, and Lowell, Massachusetts on local implementation. Federally, the office negotiates grants and regulatory waivers with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and technical programs with the United States Department of Energy, and participates in interstate compacts with states like New York (state), Connecticut, and Rhode Island through mechanisms such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The Secretary’s work interfaces with private-sector partners including regional utilities like Eversource Energy and National Grid, and with nonprofit stakeholders such as Mass Audubon and the Sierra Club.