Many of us in the Merrimack Valley are concerned over current trends in energy consumption and what they are doing to our planet. The United States makes up only 5 percent of the world’s population but consumes 25 percent of its energy, and emits 20 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. In the U.S. alone, total electricity consumption, one of the biggest uses of oil and other fossil fuels, will increase by 25 percent between now and 2030.

Meeting the forecasted demand for energy will require growth in both the capacity of our energy infrastructure and in renewable energy sources. Here in Massachusetts, our electricity prices are rising. We rank fourth in the country for overall electricity prices — a cost that burdens residents and drives out local businesses. These costs present a challenge to our state, one that we must meet by focusing on conservation, efficiency, and the use of renewable energy. We are off to a great start in addressing these issues with the Green Communities Act, which was passed last year and saves hundreds of millions of dollars through increased energy efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.