Healey names a top AG deputy as energy, environment secretary

Rebecca Tepper, currently the chief of the energy and environment bureau in the attorney general's office, will continue working under Attorney General and Gov.-elect Maura Healey in the new year, joining the incoming governor's Cabinet as energy and environmental affairs secretary.

As EEA secretary, Tepper will oversee the state's six environmental, natural resource and energy regulatory agencies, and oversee the Healey administration's work to electrify buildings and transportation systems as part of an effort to keep Massachusetts on a path to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Tepper joined the attorney general's office in 2015 as head of the energy and environment bureau's energy and telecommunications division, then took over as the full bureau's chief in 2021.

Before starting her work in AG Healey's office, Tepper served as general counsel for the Department of Public Utilities for four years regulating public utilities and implementing and enforcing the state's clean energy policies, according to her LinkedIn. As director of the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board from 2009 through 2011, Tepper adjudicated petitions to construct energy infrastructure such as transmission lines, gas pipelines and electric generating facilities, her LinkedIn says.

"In my time working with Rebecca, I've known her to be a strong leader who cares deeply about our environment and also understands the great opportunity before us to partner with our workforce and businesses to drive our clean energy revolution and preserve our beautiful natural resources," Healey said in a statement. "She's smart, experienced and committed to the cause, and I know that she will be a consensus builder and deliver the results we so urgently need."

In her current position, Tepper serves as Healey's chief advisor on energy and environmental policy — a role that she will continue to fulfill as a Cabinet secretary.

"I'm honored to be chosen as EEA Secretary by Gov.-elect Healey and Lt. Gov.-elect Driscoll," Tepper said. "The challenge of this moment is not lost on me — we have enormous work to do to deliver relief to Massachusetts residents and businesses who are struggling with rising energy bills and aggressively move forward on our climate goals. Our transition to a clean energy economy will create good paying, sustainable jobs and deliver health, environmental and equity benefits to all Massachusetts residents."