BOSTON – Former Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone is now president of the Northeast Clean Energy Council. He joined WBZ-TV and discussed challenges faces the clean energy agenda, and what he believes Donald Trump being elected president would mean for the initiatives.

"We need to move to two things on an accelerated pace: One, get off our dependency of fossil fuels, and along the same time, even faster, bring renewables and technologies online and to market as fast as possible to move the clean energy transition," Curtatone said. "We cannot delay because the consequences compound over time."

Challenges facing the clean energy agenda

Curtatone acknowledged that the clean energy agenda faces challenges.

"Cost is always going to be at the forefront of our concerns. Cost to the end user, whether you're a homeowner, renter, a real estate developer or property owner, institution or industry," he said. "To make the clean energy transition happen, it has to be the easy, affordable, transparent, equitable choice for every end user."

Electric vehicle sales decreasing

One area that has stalled recently is electric vehicle (EV) sales, down sharply in the first quarter of 2024.

"It has to be the easy choice," Curtatone said. "And if you can't get an EV because we're not producing enough or charge it, you're gonna say 'It's not easy enough for me.' ,,, And it can't just be for the more affluent folks."

How 2024 election could impact clean energy initiatives

Curtatone warned of the potential impact of this fall's elections on a variety of clean energy initiatives.

Former president Donald Trump, he noted, has said he'll "undo as much as possible from President Biden's administration and their climate action policies."

"The people who will suffer are the most vulnerable population. The people we're sworn to represent. The benefits of the climate economy go to people, places and planets. People in coastlines whose homes are being ravaged every year or in general by severe weather, those who are suffering the negative consequences from the health side as a result of the climate crisis, and those who will not realize the economic benefits of the new climate economy," Curtatone said.

Curtatone, who will participate in the first-of-its-kind ClimaTech Global Conference here in Boston this week, also discussed the role that NIMBYISM (the expression used for people who oppose things on a "not in my backyard" basis) and general resistance to environmental infrastructure like hydroelectric pipeline plays in stalling clean energy progress.

Watch the full discussion by clicking here.