A new technical report from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) shows some encouraging news: within the next ten years, the Bay State can expect to see greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fall more than 18 percent below 1990 levels. Governor Deval Patrick’s focus on growing the state’s clean energy economy is partly to thank, a focus in which solar power plays an enormous role, as are renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

Technically, this 18 percent reduction should meet the goals set forth in the Global Warming Solutions Act, which mandates a 10 to 25 percent GHG emissions reduction (from 1990 levels) by 2020–but we hope Massachusetts solar and clean energy development won’t slow down.

Where does the data come from, you ask? According to the press release:

For the 2020 “Business as Usual” projection, MassDEP extrapolated out to 2020 based on 1990-to-2005 historical emission trends.  This projection showed total emissions as relatively flat during that period, prompting the agency to project 2020 “Business As Usual” (BAU) emissions at 94 million metric tons.  Today’s draft report shows the Commonwealth on track to reduce emissions significantly below the BAU level – to 77 million metric tons, an 18.6 percent reduction – based on laws and policies now in place.

…”This is the promise of a clean energy economy – the same measures that help us meet our climate obligations also help us create jobs and economic prosperity,” said Nick d’Arbeloff, president of the New England Clean Energy Council.

If you’re interested in more details of the report itself, check out the full report here (PDF).