The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is set to welcome Ben Downing, a former state senator from Western Massachusetts, as its new CEO. Downing, a native of Berkshire County, brings a wealth of experience from his time in the state legislature and the renewable energy sector. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is a quasi-public agency tasked with promoting clean energy initiatives to meet climate goals and improve energy affordability.
Downing’s legislative career spanned from 2007 to 2017, during which he chaired the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. His professional journey also includes working with a solar company and engaging in the tech industry. Notably, Downing ran for governor in 2021. As he prepares to assume his new role in April, Downing, who is the son of the late Berkshire District Attorney Gerard Downing, shared insights with WAMC.
Connecting Local Innovation with State Resources
DOWNING: “First, the work that we do in supporting climate tech doesn’t, could not, should not end simply saying, oh, we’ve got an idea out of the lab, and then who cares where it grows? What I have found in working at [MIT-founded tech nonprofit incubator] The Engine is that when founders know all of the resources that Massachusetts has — and I mean that, resources, in the broadest sense, the potential partnerships, the innovative manufacturers that are in the state — they’re incredibly excited at the opportunity to grow here.”
Downing emphasized the importance of connecting early-stage founders with the innovative manufacturing sector in Massachusetts, particularly those in the Berkshires. He highlighted the work of organizations like the Berkshire Innovation Center and 1Berkshire in fostering local innovation and noted the potential for growth when state resources are fully leveraged.
Challenges and Opportunities Amid Federal Opposition
Despite opposition to clean energy at the federal level, Downing sees this as an opportune moment to advance Massachusetts’s clean energy agenda. He stated, “I’ve had folks say, well, why would you want to do it now? This is the perfect time.” Downing underscored the importance of focusing on state-level initiatives to deploy clean energy technologies efficiently, targeting areas like offshore wind, solar, and battery storage.
Balancing Clean Energy with AI Integration
Massachusetts’s recent embrace of artificial intelligence, a sector known for its significant energy demands, presents a complex challenge. Downing remarked on the necessity of using AI “in an efficient and impactful way,” and highlighted the role of clean energy deployment in ensuring an abundant energy future.
Goals for the Clean Energy Center
Downing outlined his objectives for the Clean Energy Center, emphasizing the growth of clean energy jobs and the deployment of megawatt hours of clean energy. He also expressed a desire for MassCEC to be recognized as a supportive entity for clean energy companies and innovators in Massachusetts.
WAMC: “Ben Downing, thank you so much. We really appreciate it.”
Downing: “Thanks so much. Josh, great to talk to you.”
Original Story at www.wamc.org