The future may be renewable,
but we must make sure it’s
realistic, rational and reliable.
Transitioning from natural gas to renewable energy presents several challenges that need to be addressed for a successful and sustainable shift.
Key challenges include:
While renewable energy technologies have advanced, there are still challenges in terms of scalability, efficiency, and reliability. Further research and development are needed to improve the performance of renewable energy systems. (Source)
Massachusetts, and Boston in particular, does not have the infrastructure in place to handle an overnight transition.
Deploying renewable energy infrastructure such as solar panels and wind turbines requires land space.
Balancing the need for renewable energy expansion with land use considerations is a challenge that needs to be carefully managed. (Source)
The energy contracts, where developers promise to supply certain amounts of power, have proved to be stumbling blocks. Two companies last year paid tens of millions of dollars to get out of contracts that were created prior to the pandemic, but were no longer economically viable, developers have said. (Source)
Transitioning to renewable energy involves significant investments in new infrastructure, technologies, and products. The switching costs from fossil fuels to renewables can be expensive, requiring substantial financial commitments. (Source)
Furthermore, Massachusetts’ new strategy for getting customers and utilities off of natural gas does not directly address how the state and utilities will ensure that the transition from gas is equitable and affordable for lower-income residents. (Source)
Engaging and educating communities about the benefits of renewable energy and addressing concerns related to visual impacts, noise, or other perceived drawbacks of renewable energy installations is essential for successful adoption.
Across the Commonwealth, towns fight back over solar farm forest destruction. More than half of solar farms built in the state during the last decade required clear-cutting forest; another 16% covered workable farmland.
The destruction of forests and farms has led to considerable opposition to solar farms in Massachusetts, with people in towns from Amherst to Wareham organizing against solar development. (Source)
While renewable energy technologies have advanced, there are still challenges in terms of scalability, efficiency, and reliability. Further research and development are needed to improve the performance of renewable energy systems. (Source)
Massachusetts, and Boston in particular, does not have the infrastructure in place to handle an overnight transition.
Deploying renewable energy infrastructure such as solar panels and wind turbines requires land space.
Balancing the need for renewable energy expansion with land use considerations is a challenge that needs to be carefully managed. (Source)
The energy contracts, where developers promise to supply certain amounts of power, have proved to be stumbling blocks. Two companies last year paid tens of millions of dollars to get out of contracts that were created prior to the pandemic, but were no longer economically viable, developers have said. (Source)
Transitioning to renewable energy involves significant investments in new infrastructure, technologies, and products. The switching costs from fossil fuels to renewables can be expensive, requiring substantial financial commitments. (Source)
Furthermore, Massachusetts’ new strategy for getting customers and utilities off of natural gas does not directly address how the state and utilities will ensure that the transition from gas is equitable and affordable for lower-income residents. (Source)
Engaging and educating communities about the benefits of renewable energy and addressing concerns related to visual impacts, noise, or other perceived drawbacks of renewable energy installations is essential for successful adoption.
Across the Commonwealth, towns fight back over solar farm forest destruction. More than half of solar farms built in the state during the last decade required clear-cutting forest; another 16% covered workable farmland.
The destruction of forests and farms has led to considerable opposition to solar farms in Massachusetts, with people in towns from Amherst to Wareham organizing against solar development. (Source)