麻州長簽行政命令設立清潔能源基礎設施局

 Governor Healey Creates Commission to Accelerate Siting and Permitting of Clean Energy Infrastructure 

Commission on Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting will make recommendations for regulatory and legislative reform to streamline clean energy siting next spring 

  

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today signed an Executive Order creating the Commission on Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting (CEISP) and swore in Commission members. To meet the emissions limits outlined in the Clean Energy and Climate Plans (CECP), Massachusetts will need to site a significant amount of new energy infrastructure, including new solar and wind generation, storage, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. The CEISP brings together stakeholders to swiftly remove barriers to responsible clean energy infrastructure development.  

 

“The clean energy transition can’t wait,” said Governor Healey. “This commission represents our administration’s efforts to bring people together and build consensus to tackle one of the most complex issues of our time. We are looking forward to receiving a strong slate of recommendations that will deliver clean, affordable energy to our communities and all the economic growth that will come with it.” 

 

“The clean energy transition is going to transform our communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re going to need a lot of new infrastructure, and we’re going to need it fast. With these stakeholders at the table, we’re going to build serious consensus on how to tackle this challenge in a way that ensures environmental justice communities don’t bear a disproportionate burden, greenspace and other development priorities are protected, and we can all share in the benefits of clean energy.” 

 

“We’re thrilled to have a robust and diverse group of leaders to lead the Commission on Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We worked intentionally to ensure that we would have representation from every sector of the clean energy space – from labor, to environmental justice leaders, to energy experts. With these members leading this effort, we are confident that the recommendations will be smart, balanced, and ready for action.” 

 

The CEISP will be tasked with reducing permitting timelines, ensuring communities have input in the siting and permitting of clean energy infrastructure, and ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition are shared equitably. Secretary Tepper will order every relevant agency housed within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to evaluate existing permitting processes impacting energy infrastructure and identify potential areas of improvement. The Commission will also be instructed to make recommendations on administrative, regulatory, and legislative changes to existing permitting and siting procedures by Spring 2024.     

 

Those appointed to the Commission include: 

 

State Agencies 

• Mike Judge, Undersecretary of Energy, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Chair of the CEISP 

• Nick Rose, General Counsel, Division of Labor Standards within the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development 

• Ashley Stolba, Undersecretary of Economic Foundations, Executive Office of Economic Development 

• Amy Stitely, Chief of Programs, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities 

 

Municipalities  

• John Mangiaratti, Acton Town Manager and member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association 

• Dorothy McGlincy, Executive Director, Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions 

• Lizzi Weyant, Deputy Executive Director, Metropolitan Area Planning Commission 

 

Environmental Justice Organizations 

• Mary Claire Kelly, Attorney, Alternatives for Community and Environment 

• Eve Rodriguez, Task Force Member, Lawrence Pa'lante Resident Task Force 

• Eddie Rosa, Community Programs Director, Groundwork Lawrence 

• Member of Arise for Social Justice in Springfield to be announced 

 

Climate, Environmental, and Land Use Advocates  

• Steve Long, Director of Policy and Partnerships, The Nature Conservancy 

• Michelle Manion, VP of Policy and Advocacy, Mass Audubon 

• Caitlin Peale Sloan, VP for Massachusetts, Conservation Law Foundation 

 

Electric Utilities   

• Alexandra Blackmore, General Counsel for New England, National Grid 

• Catherine Finneran, VP for Transmission Project Development, Siting & Project Service, Eversource 

• John Tzimorangas, President and CEO, Energy New England 

 

Agricultural Interests  

• Nathan L'Etoile, National Farm Viability Managing Director, American Farmland Trust 

 

Tribal Organization 

• To be announced 

 

Youth Climate Council Representative 

• To be announced 

 

Energy Siting Practitioner 

• Mary Beth Gentleman, Chair, CEISP Siting Practitioner Advisory Group 

 

Clean Energy Industry 

• Carrie Cullen Hitt, Senior Director for Grid and Transmission Policy, Vineyard Offshore 

• Jeremy McDiarmid, Managing Director and General Counsel, Advanced Energy United 

• Jessica Robertson, Director of Policy & Business Development for New England, New Leaf Energy 

• Mark Sylvia, Chief of Staff, Bluewave Solar 

 

Housing and Real Estate 

• Matthew Teague, President, Reef Realty, Ltd.  

• JD Chesloff, President and CEO, Mass Business Roundtable 

 

Labor 

• Frank Callahan, President of the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions 

 

Chairs of the Joint Committee Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (Non-Voting Members) 

• State Representative Jeffrey Roy 

• State Senator Michael Barrett 

麻州政府將斥資35萬元設立防止服藥過量熱線

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces First-of-Its-Kind Investment in Overdose Prevention Helpline

 

Partnership with Boston Medical Center and RIZE Massachusetts provides 24/7 access to overdose detection services and peer-to-peer support

 

BOSTON (September 26, 2023) – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced a partnership with Boston Medical Center and RIZE Massachusetts to fund and expand the Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline. With this $350,000 investment, Massachusetts becomes the first state in the nation to fund an overdose prevention helpline – an easily accessible and life-saving overdose detection resource for people who use drugs. This is the latest step in the administration’s efforts to reduce overdose deaths in Massachusetts, which reached a record high in 2022.

 

The Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline uses a spotting model to prevent fatal overdoses. Trained helpline operators stay on the line while people use, alerting authorities if the caller becomes unresponsive. Previously a volunteer effort, this investment will enable the helpline to hire paid staff, resulting in stronger statewide coverage and shorter wait times. The funding will also support promotional efforts to increase awareness of the helpline’s services among individuals at risk of overdose.

 

“I’ve met too many grieving families whose lives have been torn apart by overdose deaths. This trauma and heartbreak are preventable,” said Governor Maura T. Healey. “By providing people with an alternative to using alone, the Overdose Prevention Helpline saves lives. Massachusetts is committed to growing our role as a national leader in harm reduction and prevention efforts, and we will continue to do everything in our power to reduce overdoses and save lives.”

 

“The opioid crisis has devastated every community in Massachusetts and fatal overdoses are continuing to increase,” said Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll. “Last year, overdoses reached a record high, highlighting the critical need for harm reduction tools like this one. By having this free helpline accessible for everyone in Massachusetts, we are making our state a safer and healthier place to live. I’m thrilled to move one step forward in this seemingly endless fight against overdose.”

 

Massachusetts continues to advance access to harm reduction, treatment, recovery, and prevention services. Since taking office, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has distributed more than 120,000 doses of naloxone to almost 30,000 individuals, resulting in at least 2,080 overdose reversals. The administration has also distributed over 347,000 fentanyl test strips at no cost to consumers and expanded the statewide network of DPH-funded peer recovery support centers to eliminate gaps in coverage. Last month, Governor Healey signed a FY24 operating budget investing more than $700 million to combat substance use disorder.

 

Since its grassroots inception in 2020, the Overdose Prevention Helpline has been operated solely by volunteers. With this investment, the helpline will be able to hire several full-time employees including a full-time operator and call center coordinator, as well as a part-time medical director, research director, data analyst, and program assistant. The investment also includes more than $30,000 in stipends for volunteers, as well as funding for promotional efforts to increase awareness of the helpline among people who need it. This includes the distribution of 30,000+ wallet cards, direct outreach to people at Mass and Cass through a partnership with Commonwealth Land Trust, billboard advertisements, presentations to community organizations, and more.

 

“Across Massachusetts, far too many families are grieving loved ones lost to preventable overdose deaths,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh. “Naloxone reverses overdoses and saves lives, but it only works if someone is there to administer it – that’s why we need the Overdose Prevention Helpline. To win the fight against the opioid crisis, we need innovative solutions driven by people with lived experiences, and this helpline is yet another example of that.”

 

"This expanded program is more than just a helpline – it’s a lifeline,” said Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health Robbie Goldstein. “A compassionate and understanding voice on the other end of the phone can provide the kind of reassurance and support someone struggling with substance use disorder needs at a vulnerable time. That caring voice also serves as a reminder that help and hope are right there, within reach.”

 

“The Overdose Prevention Helpline is an important tool in our toolbox, providing a trained, compassionate, experienced resource on the line to intervene if the person becomes unresponsive,” said DPH Director of Substance Addiction Services Deirdre Calvert. “If we want to turn the tide and decrease overdose deaths, we need to support bold, innovative programs like the Overdose Prevention Helpline. DPH is proud to be a partner in this effort.”

 

Governor Healey first announced the administration’s intention to fund a free statewide overdose prevention helpline in June 2023, as part of the state’s immediate strategic response to increased overdose deaths. There were 2,357 overdose deaths in Massachusetts last year – a 2.5% increase from the previous year, with Black, non-Hispanic residents making up the largest jump. Additionally, in 2021, 92% of all overdose deaths occurred in private settings, with drug use entirely unwitnessed in 90%. By decreasing the frequency of unwitnessed overdoses, the Overdose Prevention Helpline reduces the number of overdose deaths.

 

So far in 2023, the helpline has supervised 581 use events, 483 of which have happened since July 1. In that same period, helpline operators detected and successfully facilitated the reversal of nine overdoses, and the average hold time is currently less than 15 seconds – down from four minutes at the beginning of the year.

 

“This collaboration marks a new day in our mission to prevent fatal overdoses across Massachusetts,” said Stephen Murray, Director of the Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline. “All overdoses are preventable - naloxone and rescue breathing work. Yet the great majority of people who die from overdose, die alone without someone present and ready to rescue them. This overdose prevention line makes sure that people using alone get help in time.”

 

“RIZE is dedicated to seeding solutions to end the overdose crisis, and the hotline is representative of our role in funding and launching projects that are then scaled up by other funders or government entities,” said RIZE Massachusetts President and CEO Julie Burns. “So much innovative and impactful work is being done by providers who are on the front lines fighting this epidemic and working to save lives every day, and it is an honor to be able to support them.”

 

To contact the Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline, call 800-972-0590. For more information, visit massoverdosehelpline.org.

波士頓賠償工作小組徵奴隸歷史研究夥伴

MAYOR WU AND CITY OF BOSTON REPARATIONS TASK FORCE SEEK PARTNERS FOR RESEARCH ON HISTORY AND LEGACY OF SLAVERY IN BOSTON

BOSTON - Monday, September 25, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston Reparations Task Force today announced the release of a request for proposals (RFP) seeking researchers to study the history and legacy of slavery in Boston. Through the RFP, the City will select partners to produce a report on the City’s role in and historical ties to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the history and legacy of slavery, including original historical research and a comprehensive review of the secondary literature. The RFP and more information on how to apply can be found here. “To help our communities heal from the legacies of slavery and the systems of exclusion and injustice that persist today, it is essential that the City fully document the City of Boston’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I urge researchers to apply to this RFP and join Boston in our commitment to deliver justice for Black residents and bring equitable solutions to our City.” “The Reparations Task Force is pleased to be able to address its responsibility by issuing the Request for Proposals,” said Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., Chair of the Reparations Task Force. “I have full confidence that the RFP enables us to choose the best research partners who will clearly and honestly document our City’s history. I thank the Reparations Task Force members who were involved in the process of building the RFP, City officials, and the community for assisting us in this effort and look forward to the work ahead.”  “There’s an opportunity with this Request for Proposals not only to identify historically what has been collected and documented in the archive, in plain view, about our history, and prior attempts to erase it,” said L’Merchie Frazier, a member of the Reparations Task Force, “but also to excavate a continuum of identity and a continuum of property relations–one that continues to be complex in nature as we grapple with four centuries of suffering and resistance. This RFP will help us bring in the thinking of people who will rigorously present that historical fact, with the lens of restoration.” The City seeks to award six contracts through this RFP. One contract will be awarded for each of the six (6) “units of study” covered by the report, as follows: Boston and Bostonians' economic growth and involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trans-Atlantic slave economies during (1) 1620-1690, (2) 1690-1750, and (3) 1750-1800; Boston and Bostonians’ economic growth and involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trans-Atlantic slave economies and their legacies during (4) 1800-1860; and the economic, social, and political legacies of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trans-Atlantic slave economies during (5) 1860-1940 and (6) 1940-Present. Candidates may apply to as many units of study as desired, but must submit separate proposals for each unit of study they intend to cover. The City hopes to not only thoroughly review and document historical findings on the City’s role in the history and legacy of slavery, but also to tell this story in a way that has never been told before. Research partners will be expected to produce both an original historical narrative and a comprehensive literature review of major themes and events for each unit of study for which they are awarded a contract. Partners will weave together work across units of study to create a thorough accounting of the City of Boston’s role in the history and legacy of slavery spanning from 1620 to the present.  The City also recognizes the importance of partnering with the community to properly build a shared understanding of the City’s history. In addition to their writing and research work, selected research partners will be expected to present an update about their findings prior to the publication of the report during a meeting of the Reparations Task Force, with the opportunity for community members to engage with that ongoing work.  Candidates will be evaluated based on the quality of their research proposal; the capacity of their plan to complete their research and understanding of the topic area of historical inquiry and relevant source material; their research background, expertise, and experience relevant to the specific time period they have applied to cover, the major themes over the course of the whole history being accounted for, and the specific connections between the history and the legacy of slavery as it relates to their chosen time period(s); past projects relevant to the objectives of the RFP and Task Force; their experience with community-engaged historical methods; their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the composition of their team; and the quality of the candidate’s interview/presentation.  “The impacts of colonization and the dehumanization of people are still experienced by our Black residents in every industry throughout the world,” said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “In Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Wu, we are taking a step towards a more just world by confronting our history. We encourage leaders in other industries to do the same.” “Together, the Task Force and Mayor Wu have taken another deliberate step forward in both acknowledging and addressing Boston's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “As the City played a leading role in advancing the trading of human beings from the African continent and the oppression of their offspring, the launch of this significant request for proposals is an effort to become a model for cities across the nation on how to appropriately move the conversation on reparations forward.” “Today’s announcement is a significant milestone that speaks to the recognition of hate, of harms, of trauma, of oppression, and of economic injustices rooted in slavery,” said Lori Nelson, Senior Advisor for Racial Justice. “It reflects this administrations’ commitment to fully acknowledge these harms and to take bold action that demonstrates truth and reconciliation.  The Task Force and Black residents have begun to write a new chapter in Boston’s history pages.” The City of Boston established the Reparations Task Force in accordance with a 2022 City Ordinance to study the impact of slavery in Boston. Members of the task force were announced in February 2023.  The Task Force’s process in developing recommendations to the Mayor will take place in three phases: 1) Research and document the City’s role in and historical ties to the Transatlantic slave trade and legacies of chattel slavery through the publication of a report 2) Assess the impact of the City’s actions to date to address the legacy of slavery 3) Make final recommendations for the City for Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations addressing the City’s involvement with the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The research partner or partners for the RFP will support the Task Force during Phase 1 through their comprehensive historical report.  An optional bidder’s conference, a public meeting designed such that anyone interested can ask questions about the RFP, will take place on October 12th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.. To join, please use this link: https://bit.ly/3EL9adB (Passcode: 560740). The deadline to submit questions regarding the RFP is October 20, 2023. The deadline to submit proposals for the request is November 6, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Please email reaprations@boston.gov with any questions or communications concerning the RFP. Proposers will need to register with the City as a “vendor” or “supplier” in order to submit an application electronically and, if selected, be paid by the City. Please visit boston.gov/departments/procurement/how-use-supplier-portal for step-by-step instructions to register as a new vendor and more. Additional information, requirements, terms and conditions, and all other related information is set forth in the RFP documents on the City's Reparations Task Force homepage.

大波士頓商會發聲明 揚言持續推動薪酬公平

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 大波士頓商會今 (25)日發表聲明，稱該會為能與麻州政府在薪酬公平上持續合作，推動有意義的改革，加強眾議會法案1849號和參議會法案1191號而感到自豪。

              大波士頓商會會長兼執行長James E. Rooney表示，這法案已通過了委員會流程，該會將繼續和議員們對話，以確保這法案對雇主來說是可行的，實在的，旨在更公平、包容的對待所有人。

Chamber Statement Regarding Pay Transparency Legislation

"We are proud of our ongoing partnership with the Legislature on advancing pay equity in Massachusetts.  The Chamber thanks the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development for working in collaboration with the Chamber on meaningful changes to strengthen H.1849 and S.1191.  As this bill moves through the committee process, we will continue our dialogue with legislators to ensure this legislation is workable and practical for employers with the goal of a more equitable and inclusive business environment for all," said James E. Rooney, President & CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Data Reveals Time Savings from Quick-Build Huntington Avenue Bus Lan

 Data Reveals Time Savings from Quick-Build Huntington Avenue Bus Lanes

MBTA and The City of Boston Announce Upcoming Striping Work to Complete Permanent Huntington Avenue Bus-Bike Lanes to Improve Transit for Thousands of Bus Riders

 

Quick-build bus-bike lanes along Huntington Avenue deployed to support the month-long Orange Line shutdown last fall have resulted in time-savings for bus riders on Routes 39 and CT2; MBTA and City of Boston to complete work on shared bus-bike lanes on Huntington Avenue this fall.

 

Photo caption: Crew member installs roadway markings for initial phase of Huntington Avenue shared bus-bike lane near the intersection of Vancouver Street in October 2022. Crews will be completing the bus-bike lane striping this fall. Photo credit: MBTA

 

BOSTON – The MBTA and City of Boston today announced upcoming roadway striping to complete the Huntington Avenue shared bus-bike lanes between Brigham Circle and Gainsborough Street in Boston. An initial phase of striping work, which was expedited last year to help mitigate regional mobility impacts from the MBTA’s month-long Orange Line closure last year, has already yielded considerable time-savings for bus transit riders.

 

In a preliminary evaluation of the shared bus-bikes lanes along Huntington Avenue between Brigham Circle and Gainsborough Street, the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and the MBTA found that Bus Route 39 and CT2 riders are saving up to two minutes per trip during evening and morning rush hours compared to the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an MBTA analysis. This adds up to a total time-savings of 125 hours for bus riders every work week along the approximately mile-long corridor, providing better mobility for nearly 5,000 daily trips. The City of Boston and MBTA expect that the completion of the shared bus-bike lane markings this year should make the lanes more clear to road-users and improve overall compliance.

 

“This project shows how the MBTA can efficiently and effectively implement meaningful measures that improve bus service and reliability for thousands of transit riders in partnership with municipalities,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “I want to thank the T’s Bus Transformation staff for their dedicated efforts on this project, and BTD and the City for continuing to collaborate with us on bus lanes and improvements, which benefit so many.”

 

In addition to the time savings for bus riders, the evaluation showed that the quick-build lanes have coincided with improved traffic safety conditions. Project implementation has coincided with slightly lower speeds along the corridor, providing safer conditions for all road users. While bus riders are experiencing time savings of up to two minutes per trip since the first wave of implementation last year, BTD’s analysis found that the average one-way automobile travel times on the corridor have increased by less than 45 seconds.

 

“This project demonstrates the benefits of rebalancing our street space to prioritize transit,” said Boston Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge. “Dedicated bus lanes save bus riders time and are one of the most effective ways that the City can improve transit and make it a more convenient and reliable option for our residents.”

 

The MBTA and City of Boston will be completing the roadway markings for the new lanes during this fall’s construction season by finishing painting the existing bus-bike lanes with additional red paint. Work is expected to start imminently and is expected to last several weeks, weather depending. Additionally, the City of Boston will be finalizing bus lane markings for several streets around Copley Square, which Mayor Michelle Wu announced after the end of the Orange Line shutdown last fall.

 

Building on the successes of the Huntington Avenue bus-bike lanes, BTD, in partnership with the MBTA, is leading a process to look at the entirety of the Route 39 bus from Forest Hills Station to Back Bay Station. The Route 39 Transit Priority Corridor Project will further identify other opportunities to improve transit reliability and pedestrian safety along the route with a first phase of implementation slated for sometime in 2024. Community engagement will begin over the next few months and will be key to informing the study’s findings and recommendations.

 

The building of infrastructure to support public transportation and bicyclists builds off of Mayor Wu’s commitment to reimagining City streets and making all forms of transportation safer and more convenient. Late last year, Mayor Wu announced a 9.4-mile expansion of bike lanes providing key connections within the City’s existing bike network and the launch of a Citywide design process to bring safer streets to every neighborhood.

 

The MBTA Transit Priority Group is part of the Better Bus Project which aims to transform bus service throughout the MBTA system and is responsible for designing and implementing bus priority infrastructure. The group works closely with the City of Boston, other municipal partners, and fellow state agencies. To date, the group has delivered over 40 miles of bus lanes and activated transit signal priority at 85 locations in 12 municipalities.

 

The BTD Transit Team works within the Policy and Planning group in the Streets Cabinet to improve transit service wherever it hits City streets. Their work spans from quick-build, targeted interventions to full-scale corridor redesigns to ensure that all Bostonians, regardless of how they travel, are able to get around safely, efficiently, and equitably.

 

For more information, please visit mbta.com/BetterBus, or connect with the T on X (the site formerly known as Twitter) @MBTA and @MBTA_CR, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta.