On September 29, 2015, the MA Legislature's Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy held hearings on several vital proposed energy bills.
Those testifying included Governor Charlie Baker, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton, Representative Patricia Haddad, BOEM Director Abigail Hopper, environment groups and advocates and many others. The proposed Community Empowerment legislation was positively mentioned in several testimonies throughout the day, including Representative Patricia Haddad, Former DPU Chair Ann Berwick and Mass Energy. Click here to read an article summarizing the events of the day.
Representative Timothy Madden, Richard Andre, President of Vineyard Power and Tobias Glidden, Selectmen for the Town of Nantucket testified as a panel in support of Representative Haddad's offshore wind legislation (H. 2881) and Community Empowerment (H. 2895).
A letter of support, signed by several environmental advocacy groups including the Conservation Law Foundation, Environment Massachusetts, Union of Concerned Scientists, Mass Energy, Environment Massachusetts, Clean Water Action, Self Reliance and the Climate Action Business Association, on behalf of Community Empowerment was also formally submitted to the Co-Chairs of the TUE Committee, Representative Golden and Senator Downing.
We would like to thank all of the individuals and organizations who gave a positive mention to Community Empowerment during the hearings.
(L-R) Nantucket Selectman Tobias Glidden, Representative Tim Madden and Vineyard Power President Richard Andre, give a positive testimony in favor of Community Empowerment