The Globe’s May 22 editorial, “Power grid of the future needs hydro and wind,’’ is only partly right. To meet the state’s climate requirements, we need both hydropower from Canada and offshore wind. But the editorial is misleading when it asserts that offshore wind should be the “icing on the cake’’ in the upcoming legislation, that growth of the wind industry could undercut “the Commonwealth’s climate goals,’’ and that “only hydro can meet the state’s goals on the state’s timeline.’’

We need Canada’s hydropower, but Massachusetts does not border Quebec. The Northern Pass line to bring Quebec’s power to Massachusetts has stalled for years, due to opposition in New Hampshire. Massachusetts should do everything possible to procure Canadian hydro, but getting it in time is not a sure thing.

Regarding offshore wind, a study in March from the University of Delaware concludes that for offshore wind to take off here, to create a whole new industry, and to reap the jobs that go with it, we need a legislative requirement that utilities purchase a significant amount of the resource. Contrary to the editorial’s assertion, existing incentives are insufficient. We need legislation this year to give us the tools to get both hydro and offshore wind.

Ann Berwick

Newton

The writer chaired the Department of Public Utilities under the Patrick administration and is a consultant on energy and climate issues.