Will Brownsberger -- State Representative, Democrat, 24th Middlesex District

In this legislative session in Massachusets, we are not expecting much new legislative progress on energy issues, but at the federal level legislation is front and center. Congressman Ed Markey and Energy Secretary Chu seem to be leading us in a good direction.

Smaller housing units in high density areas are more efficient from both the building carbon use perspective and the vehicle miles travelled perspective.

Over the 2007-2008 session, I have spoken out and taken positions on many larger issues, but some of my most satisfying accomplishments have come from lower profile legislative work.

Our goal should be to create an economy susbstantially independent of the burning of fossil fuels.

Greenhouse gases in Massachusetts come in roughly equal parts from power generation, homes and buildings (mostly from heat, but also industrial processes), and transportation. Currently Massachusetts is moving forward very strongly on the first two sectors.

Pursuant to the Global Warming Solutions Act, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has begun to produce Massachusetts Greenhouse Gas estimates which appear to be authoritative.

Summary of legislative and regulatory initiatives in Massachusetts as of November 2007.

Long before global warming began to be recognized as a major threat, we had compelling reasons to end our economic dependence on burning of fossil fuels.