Thermal energy consumption comprises more than one third of world energy use, representing a significant driver of fossil fuel-based emissions and import dependence. Renewable thermal energy technologies - like solar thermal, biomass thermal, advanced biodiesel, or heat pumps - can mitigate energy, economic, and environmental challenges, presenting policy-makers with a cost-effective opportunity to drive a large-scale energy transition. Renewable thermal energy is a crucial next step to powering the world with renewables. Unlike Europe, renewable thermal markets remain underdeveloped in the US. In spite of a few promising developments, integrated renewable thermal policy support in US states has been modest. With this in mind, this paper evaluates opportunities and impacts for policy to drive US renewable thermal market growth, focusing specifically on Massachusetts. The paper assesses renewable thermal barriers, economic, and greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts. It also considers how policies could promote more rapid development of the renewable thermal market.
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