Massachusetts Named Most Energy Efficient State for Fifth Consecutive Year

Massachusetts Named Most Energy Efficient State for Fifth Consecutive Year

Commonwealth Tops Scorecard Released by American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

BOSTON – October 21, 2015 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that Massachusetts has earned the #1 ranking for the fifth consecutive year in the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) 2015 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. Energy and Environment Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton joined ACEEE on a nationwide conference call for the announcement of the annual state-by-state scorecard.

“Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective, accessible way for Massachusetts to meet our clean energy and climate goals and help our citizens manage their energy costs” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Being recognized for the fifth year by ACEEE as the nation’s leader in energy efficiency underlines the commitment we have made to reduce ratepayer costs and provide a balanced and diversified energy portfolio for now and the future.”

Through the Green Communities Act (GCA), Massachusetts has a statutory mandate to achieve all cost-effective energy efficiency. ACEEE credits the Commonwealth’s #1 ranking to its ongoing commitment to energy efficiency under the GCA. Energy efficiency is a low-cost and accessible energy resource, delivering monetary savings for businesses, homeowners, institutions, cities and towns.  

“Massachusetts’ leadership in energy efficiency is anchored by the aggressive and achievable goals we set and meet through our statewide energy efficiency programs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “I’m proud to say that our energy savings and benefits goals for the next three years will continue to lead the nation and serve Massachusetts’ energy, environmental and economic goals.”

Energy efficiency is also a powerful economic engine that produces in-state jobs, accounting for a majority of jobs in the strong Massachusetts clean tech industry sector.

“Innovation and a shared commitment to ongoing improvement in energy efficiency policies and programs are hallmarks of Massachusetts national clean energy leadership,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson. “This recognition is the result of collaboration between many public and private stakeholders in transportation, technology, building and energy providers that is setting a higher bar for the future.”

Massachusetts again earned a perfect score in the utility-sector programs and policies section of the ACEEE Scorecard, which accounts for 40 percent of the Scorecard’s 50 points.  These points come from the Mass Save® electric and gas program budgets and savings, created through collaboration among the Department of Energy Resources, the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council, and the Massachusetts energy efficiency Program Administrators - sponsors of Mass Save®.

Improvements in transportation policies and efficient fleets in state government initiatives, along with another perfect score for encouraging combined heat and power as a resource all made a difference in holding onto the top spot. ACEEE’s scores are calculated based on utility efficiency programs and policy, transportation, building energy codes, combined heat and power projects, state government initiatives and appliance efficiency standards.

“For the fifth year in a row, Massachusetts leads ACEEE’s State Energy Efficiency Scorecard,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. “The state’s forward-looking energy savings goals helped drive electricity savings of over 2.4% this past year, an impressive achievement. We look forward to Massachusetts continuing to lead by example and ramp up energy savings in future years, recognizing energy efficiency for the low-cost, clean, and reliable resource that it is.”

The statewide energy efficiency plans for 2016-2018 is currently being finalized by the Massachusetts energy efficiency Program Administrators in coordination with the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council which is chaired by the Department of Energy Resources. This statewide plan is poised to keep Massachusetts in a position to continue to lead the nation in energy efficiency and to provide benefits for consumers in the Commonwealth.

The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to energy efficiency efforts and meeting the standards set forth by the Global Warming Solutions Act, filing legislation for the procurement of cost-effective, hydropower generation. The proposal will position Massachusetts to reach its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets and enable the Commonwealth to achieve over 5 percent of this required emissions reduction – the equivalent of taking approximately 1 million cars off the road, or replacing fossil fuel with renewable energy to power 1.2 million homes.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF 11 ARTISTS FOR BOSTON'S ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF 11 ARTISTS FOR BOSTON'S ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

BOSTON - Friday, October 23, 2015 - The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) today announced the selection of 11 artists for the City of Boston's first artist-in-residence program, Boston AIR. "Boston AIR highlights the City's dedication to finding new ways to incorporate innovative ideas and creative thinking into our work," said Mayor Walsh. "We are excited to have these artists-in-residence on board to help us enhance and integrate our cultural capital into our core city services, for the benefit of all of Boston's residents." The City received over 100 submissions from Boston-area artists in response to a Request for Qualifications. A jury of seven arts professionals, as well as MassArt and City representatives, made their selection in order to create a cohort of artists with a mix of artistic disciplines and experiences, as well as evidence of work in socially engaged practices who demonstrated potential, and who have a connection to the City of Boston. The artists will expand their own civic and social practice, alongside a group of liaisons from city agencies, including: Public Works, Property and Construction Management, Parks and Recreation, Veterans' Services, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Education, Policy, Neighborhood Development, Women's Advancement, Elderly Commission, and the Boston Police Department. "Boston AIR is one of the first new programs we are launching as part of Boston Creates," said Julie Burros, Chief of Arts and Culture. "It exemplifies how partnerships and cross sector collaborations can be incubated within government." Both the artists and City liaisons will attend master workshops and lectures, where they will build partnerships, exchange ideas and ultimately co-design project proposals. Artists will receive $1,000 stipends for capacity development and support as they work with a City Hall liaison to co-design proposals to work with a city department. Three proposals will be chosen for further development, and artists will be awarded $20,000 stipends for six-month residencies within a city department to develop creative approaches that can be incorporated into the work of the city. "MassArt is excited to partner with the City of Boston on the Boston AIR initiative," said Ken Stickland, Interim President of MassArt. "We are proud of our unique heritage as the only freestanding public college of art and design in the country. Our collaboration with Boston AIR offers us the opportunity to demonstrate the power of art and design in many spheres of public life." The artist cohort represents a wide variety of disciplines, including dance, film, street art, and social engagement. Below are the selected artists: Peter DiMuro - Performance artist, Dance Rashin Fahandej - Visual artist, Film Pat Falco - Visual artist, Illustration L'Merchie Frazier - Visual artist, Textiles Georgie Friedman - Visual artist, Film and Photography Shaw Pong Liu - Performance artist, Music and Social Engagement Roberto Mighty - Visual artist, Film Caleb Neelon - Visual artist, Murals Melissa Nussbaum Freeman - Visual artist, Photography Liz Nofziger - Visual artist, Mixed Media Juan Obando - Visual artist, Time-based Media The Boston AIR project is funded in part by an Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Our Town grant program supports creative placemaking projects that help transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. Since the program's inception in 2011 and including these projects, NEA has awarded 325 Our Town grants totaling nearly $26 million. "The City of Boston demonstrates the best in creative community development and whose work will have a valuable impact on its community," said NEA Chairwoman Jane Chu. "Through Our Town funding, arts organizations continue to spark vitality that support neighborhoods and public spaces, enhancing a sense of place for residents and visitors alike." "The Our Town project is another step in the City of Boston's leadership in arts policy," said NEA Director of Design Programs Jason Schupbach. "It's a fantastic example of putting artists at the center of government innovation, and the NEA is excited to see where it leads." About Boston Creates Boston Creates is the City's cultural planning process. When completed, the plan will identify priorities and strategies for how to strengthen the city by leveraging and growing the creative capital of its residents, communities and organizations. For more information, please visit www.cityofboston.gov/arts, or follow@ArtsinBoston and  @PublicArtBoston, #BostonCreates on Twitter.

波士頓亞美電影節22日開幕 今晚放映”我在中國的生活“，”好萊塢之東“

波士頓亞美電影節創辦人甄翠嬿(左一)訪談導演Benson Lee及演員。
(周菊子攝)

波士頓亞美電影節創辦人甄翠嬿(左一)和演員曹育倫(右三)等人。
(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子劍橋市報導)波士頓亞美電影節（BAAFF）昨(22)晚在劍橋市布瑞托戲院開幕。不少波士頓華埠民眾抱著支持自己人的心情，更期待今晚（23日）在波士頓愛默生學院派拉蒙中心戲院放映的“我在中國的生活（My Life in China）“，以及短片”好萊塢之東（East of Hollywood）。

            “我在中國的生活”一片是在波士頓南端（South End）出生、長大，現住加州洛杉磯的伍少文（Kenneth Eng）製作，以移民生活為引，啟人深思移民及其後代所面對社會，文化衝擊的紀錄片。

伍少武的這部紀錄片，以他父親伍堯經當年從中國來美，如今由子女陪伴回鄉探親的親身經歷為影片主題，描繪出早年移民的冒險犯難來美，忍受離鄉背井孤單，多半都是為了追尋更好的生活。這麼多年過去以後，才重見親人的心情起伏，感慨，令人動容。

  “我在中國的生活“劇照。（伍少武提供）

伍少文指出，Pew研究中心最近公佈的一份報告估計，到2055年時，亞裔將成為美國最大的移民團體，近年來中國的經濟發展趨勢，社會，政治力量的提升，都將促使更多人思考移民帶給人，帶給社會的種種挑戰。

伍少武（左），伍少文（右）兩兄弟。（周菊子攝）

            目前在美國小企業行政局做經濟發展專員的伍少武也是洪清體育會成員，伍少文是伍少武的哥哥。他們家在波士頓還有不少親友。

            “我在中國的生活（MY LIFE IN CHINA）”一片，將於10月23日（週五）晚7點，在派拉蒙中心（Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston, MA）放映。伍少文及伍堯經將在影片放映後，與觀眾晤談。

            23日晚9點，在同一地點，還將放映7部短片，其中包括曾任亞美社區發展協會董事長，自己創辦有新波士頓金融公司的曹育倫所參演的“好萊塢之東”一片。據悉該一時段的門票，已售罄。

            查詢波士頓亞美電影節詳情，可上網www. BAAFF.org。

“Seoul Seaching"導演Benson Lee。（周菊子攝）

          

            

尚莫維爾市長支持梁秀婷競選昆市不分區市議員

(本報記者菊子昆士市報導)11月3日的昆士大選，還剩不到二週，就迫在眉睫了。昆士市唯一的華裔候選人，競選不分區市議員的梁秀婷（Nina Liang）21日晚請出尚莫維爾市（Somerville）市長柯塔托（ Joseph A. Curtatone）站台。

            梁秀婷的家族成員，不下20，30人，這晚也齊聚昆士市山頭，在放眼幾乎可望昆市全景的“大理石連接篷（Granite Links Pavillion Tent）“裏熱絡交流，為家族成員中的小妹妹助陣。

            柯塔托坦言，自己也是移民後代，礙於當年法令，儘管他父母已婚，卻無法同時來美。母親先於1956年，父親再於1958年，陸續從義大利Gaeta市來到。由於父母都不會說英文，他出生後的第一語言也是義大利文，直到大他3歲的姊姊開始教他英文。

            2003年時首度當選，2014年再第六度當選，連任尚莫維爾市市長的柯塔托表示，這些年來，他見過許多人，深知人性，因此從不輕易為人站台，但梁秀婷不同，不但年輕，聰明，有熱情，更有能力。

            柯塔托說，他第一次認識梁秀婷，是梁戰士帶著她一起來商談JP富士集團在莫維爾市擴展的計畫。那次晤談，讓他認識了梁戰士和梁秀婷的人品，個性，並結為好友。他強調，對人民，對社區有心的人，才會真正服務地方。

            梁秀婷這次出來參選昆士市議員，人們咸信，自己曾經3次投身昆士議員選戰的梁戰士鼓勵，必然是一大因素。

            梁戰士的母親，梁新霞透露，梁戰士從小就是個熱心腸，9歲時送報，賺到的薪水不過14元，就慷慨拿出了其中9元，捐給社區裏一名家有需要的小女孩。

梁戰士心心念念要為社區服務，和從小就是同學的謝偉德合作開餐廳，越開越成功後，曾3度縱身昆市選舉，但那時候，昆市亞裔人口並不很多，與聞政治興趣更低，最終未跨過門檻。如今他37歲，事業擴大到有9家餐館，還正進軍其他行業，於是由既年輕，又是女性的梁秀婷出馬，成了最佳選擇。

梁戰士之前的那3次參選，幾乎都只有他個人出面，這次梁秀婷參選，卻是梁家總動員，包括梁戰士的父母，梁孟超，梁新霞，叔叔梁健操，梁父的妹妹，梁小芹，梁小蘭，梁小鳳等人，梁秀婷的父親梁禮湛，叔叔梁禮然，表兄梁戰成等等，每家都有好幾口人，基本票已有20 ，30張，再加上昆市亞裔對這次選舉的關注度比往年都強，梁秀婷的當選希望也更加濃厚。

在昆市出生，一口流利英語，已有多年管理經驗的梁秀婷，21日晚感謝所有出席者給她的支持，直言希望自己能夠做橋樑，為民喉舌，籲請昆市民眾在11月3日大選時，把昆市不分區市議員選舉中的3票，投一票給她。

圖片說明：

            右起，梁戰士，梁戰成都是梁秀婷參選昆市不分區市議員的幕後最大助力。梁秀婷的父親梁禮湛提起了相機做紀錄。（菊子攝）

            左起，梁禮然，梁戰士，梁戰成，梁禮湛，以及梁孟超（前右五），梁新霞（前右七）等梁氏家族成員，都是梁秀婷（前右六）的堅定支持者。（菊子攝）

            梁秀婷感謝所有支持者。（菊子攝）

            漏了這編號。

            造勢大會出席者眾。（菊子攝）

            尚莫維爾市長柯塔托（左）支持梁秀婷。（菊子攝）

Liang receives support from Quincy State Representative

Over 300 Guests Attend Fundraiser for Nina Liang at Granite Links

Liang receives support from Quincy State Representative

 

Quincy, MA: On Wednesday night over 300 people came out to support Nina Liang, Candidate for City Councilor At-Large, at a fundraiser held at the Granite Link’s Pavilion Tent.

Guests included Mayor Thomas Koch, the Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Ron Mariano, State Representative Bruce Ayers, and President Hung Goon of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA).  In addition, Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone was in attendance as a host of the evening along with Cambridge City Councilor Leland Cheung, Boston City Councilors Michelle Wu and Ayanna Pressley, HGTV Celebrity Designer Taniya Nayak, and Quincy resident Joseph Coyne, President of Home & Auto Appraisal Bureau.

Majority Leader Mariano stated, “Nina Liang brings a new, fresh perspective and has the energy to bring new voices to the table on making Quincy better.  She has worked hard in this campaign, and I am proud to give her my support."

“I am humbled and grateful for all of the support I’ve received from all across Quincy, but I am especially thankful for the support of Majority Leader Mariano.  Campaigning for City Council has been a tremendous experience.  I am constantly amazed that every day I meet residents across our city who want to be engaged in helping to make Quincy an even better place.  I am eager to serve on the council and start working with the community to make it happen," Liang commented.

Delicious food was served by Celebrity Chef Paul Wahlberg, David Todisco, Kevin Long, Mark Ellis, Brian Houlihan, Jimmy Liang, Ming Cao, Chef Chen and Alex Mui.  The crowd was treated to a Lion Dance Performance by Hung Ting and live entertainment throughout the night.

 

# # #

Nina is a lifelong resident of Quincy, from growing up in North Quincy and going to Sacred Heart School to today working with her cousin Jimmy Liang.  Nina is currently the Office Manager with her cousins operating the JP Fuji group, which runs several restaurants across the city.  Part of Nina’s job has been to involve the restaurant group more deeply in the community, and to engage and support local organizations and schools.  Through her work, Nina has had the opportunity to work with programs such as Totally Arts, Quincy Medical Center’s Greenbrush Project, YMCA, Father Bill’s, QARI, Quincy Tourism, and Taste of Quincy.  Nina understands the value of public service and the positive difference community engagement can make.

Nina is running because she wants to make a difference in the neighborhoods that raised her. She want to give back to the community that taught her the value of hard work, to help the working families of Quincy, and to make our city and even greater place to live work and raise a family.