Mass. governor candidates clash over cleantech

The two main challengers for Gov. Deval Patrick’s job say they would change the state government’s approach to supporting the clean energy and clean technology industry if elected.

In a statement, Republican Charlie Baker criticized the economic policies of the Patrick administration around cleantech, which Baker said has involved picking winners and losers. "Governor Patrick’s tunneled vision focus on one sector is not what is needed to help the 312,000 people who are out of work find a job," Baker said in the statement.

Baker's campaign declined to offer specifics on how he might change the state's policies toward cleantech, which have led to financing and other assistance for dozens of cleantech firms during Patrick's four years in office.

In an interview, independent candidate Tim Cahill emphasized his philosophy that government should have a limited role in picking or investing in specific companies or industries.

"My preference is to create broad tax reform and lower taxes across the board, so that entrepreneurs can flourish," Cahill said.

He pointed to the state's financial backing of Marlborough-based Evergreen Solar Inc. as a case where state support "may end badly." The maker of solar panels and cells has said it would move its panel assembly operation from its Devens factory to China next year — though the company has pledged to maintain the number of jobs required for Massachusetts as part of the state’s more than $40 million financing package.

Cahill, the state treasurer, added that he believes Patrick has been exaggerating the job growth potential of the cleantech sector.

If elected, Cahill also said he would consider seeking to amend the state's renewable portfolio standard, which requires utilities to get an increasing percentage of their power from renewable sources, reaching 25 percent by 2020. "I would want to analyze it to see if it is helping us to grow jobs or hurting us," he said.

Patrick has frequently highlighted clean energy and technology as a key part of his job creation strategy for the state — backing bills that bolster the cleantech sector, setting aggressive goals for solar and wind power generation and paying frequent visits to key companies in the industry.

In an interview, Patrick said the election of Baker or Cahill would be a "giant step backward" for the state’s cleantech industry.

Read the full story in the Boston Business Journal.