Stepping Into the Office of the Secretary of Energy

Unlike many learning experiences, energy policy is a concept that can be both taught in class and in practice. As an environmental science major, I have a solid grasp on the importance of policies and treaties in forcing action and sector growth and the role of federal bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency. During my internship at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), I developed an in-depth understanding of the importance of state and local governmental bodies in the growth of the clean energy sector. MassCEC is a quasi-public agency that aims to accelerate the “success of clean energy technologies, companies and projects in Massachusetts” through investment. They receive their funding from the Renewable Energy Trust Fund, which was founded by Chapter 23J of the General Laws. Both electric ratepayers of MA utilities and municipal electric departments—who elected to participate in the program—pay this charge, with the average MA family contributing $0.32 per month. MA Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Matthew Beaton, also plays a large role in expanding “Massachusetts’ nation-leading clean energy and environment accomplishments.” Our exciting visit to the office of the Secretary of Energy for the State of São Paulo was a chance to observe specifically how the municipal government impacts the energy mix for a state and the tremendous success both the state and Brazil has had in implementing renewable energy into their matrix.

When we arrived to the office of the Secretary of Energy and Mining, João Carlos Meirelles, we were greeted by his staff and brought to a conference room containing folders with the São Paulo State Energy Plan and plaques of our name. This authentic experience began with the Secretary’s warm welcome and depiction of Brazil has a leader in renewable energy and goal to be entirely reliant on renewables in the next twenty-five years. Following this, Antonio Celso de Abreu Jr, Undersecretary of Renewable Energy, presented the goals, actions, scenery, incentives, potentials, and challenges facing the state in their aim to distribute renewables inside the entire state of São Paulo. While their goals deeply resemble those of the state of Massachusetts, São Paulo has managed to integrate renewable energy tremendously into their energy mix. While renewables make up 14.3 percent of the global energy matrix, it makes up 41.2 percent of Brazil’s and 58 percent of São Paulo’s, as of 2015. Furthermore, the state predicts to expand this to 70 percent by 2020.

Undersecretary Celso outlined Brazil’s leadership in various renewable areas, described the energy potentials, and briefly covered the projections for the state of São Paulo. As a leader in biomass and hydroelectricity, 27.6 percent of the state’s energy stems from biomass and 15.8 percent comes from hydroelectricity. According to the São Paulo State Energy Plan, these renewables are expected to increase to 46 percent and 18 percent, respectively, by 2020. It was explained that the largest energy potential for São Paulo stems in the conversion of sugarcane into biomass energy. While energy stemming from sugarcane byproducts will drastically increase, hydroelectricity is expected to remain somewhat constant. When asked about the role of global climate change and droughts in this decision, the Undersecretary explained that the Brazilian government has discouraged expanding hydroelectric production. Furthermore, despite the large potentials of solar energy, the sector is currently miniscule and only expected to increase to 5 percent by 2025.

While the Undersecretary and his colleagues covered other forms of renewables, such as energetic forests, wind and landfills, it was clear that growth would be smaller in these areas for the future. The challenges discussed were quite familiar, although the intermittency differed from that of my current research. In Brazil, wind intensity, solar energy, and sugarcane production is highest in the winter, while hydroelectricity is highest in the summer. Despite the difficulty of translation, I feel the office was excited to have this discussion and hear our tough questions. It was truly an educational experience and I will not forget this opportunity.