Our crunchy, leafy governor

By Nicole Jones

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Nestled among an assortment of leafy potted plants and manicured flower arrangements that apparently boosted his green cred, Gov. Deval Patrick spoke about "Clean Energy in the Commonwealth" to an enthusiastic crowd of hippies, students and yuppies at MIT's Kresge Auditorium on Earth Day.

"The age of clean energy is here," Patrick declared, before rattling off a laundry list of good environmental deeds accomplished by his administration and touting Massachusetts as a national leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The House and Senate have both passed a comprehensive energy reform bill backed by the governor that will increase the fixed sum companies spend on renewable energy upgrades and alters the way utilities charge customers to encourage efficiency.

"We estimate that the energy efficiency requirements of the pending energy bill ... will yield annual savings to consumers of $430 million in their monthly electricity bills," Patrick beamed, "resulting in 1,800 new jobs within a year of the bill's passage."

Patrick emphasized that increased investment in solar, wind and battery power, as well as advanced biofuels would boost the failing economy. "Clean energy technology spawns new jobs too, and not just in the lab. It's also jobs for manufacturing workers, installers, electricians, sheet metal fabricators and mechanics," he said. "Green collar jobs come in shades of both white and blue."

He mentioned the recent revamp of Deer Island's wastewater treatment plant to include a new solar energy system designed, manufactured and built by Massachusetts-based companies. He also brought up the much protested Cape Wind project, a proposed offshore wind farm that currently sits in permitting limbo.

"If we get this right," Patrick said, "the whole world will be our customer."