陳仕維、陳文珊辦籌款會 支持吳弭競選連任波士頓市長

波士頓市長吳弭( Michelle Wu)。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華埠民眾7月10日在華埠乞臣街的KTV內舉辦籌款會，搶先支持波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 明年競選連任。籌款會發起人陳仕維在開場致詞時，更直接表白「大家都支持市長再做四年」。

陳仕維(前)、陳文珊(左) 為吳弭市長舉辦籌款會。 (周菊子攝)

              波士頓市長吳弭在會中雖未正式宣佈明年將參選連任，但燦笑以對「再做四年」的呼聲，強調感謝支持，指稱如果不是眾人從一開始就支持，當年還是政治素人，除了法蘭克叔叔(陳毓禮)之外，在政治圈既無親戚，也全無知名度的她，不可能第一次參選波士頓市議員就當選，還接著連任8年，再當上市長。

吳弭市長支持Allison S. Cartwright參選麻州最高法院書記官。
(周菊子攝)

              吳弭市長也感謝出席籌款會眾人，稱大家的努力才使得波士頓華埠和波士頓市真正舉足輕重。

              吳弭以出席者中有不少人和市府公安機構有關連而特地指出，波士頓市如今是全美知名的最安全城市，犯罪率下跌

波士頓市警察趙瑞安深幸在自己有生之年見到一名亞裔女性當
波士頓市長。(周菊子攝)

80%之多，是公安人員默默努力的成果。她也說如今世界局勢險惡，政治更為複雜，波士頓市要承擔更多責任，展現可能性，而華埠是波士頓是許多事務的中心與源頭，也是第一個感覺到時局是否安好的地方。

              吳弭提醒眾人今年的總統大選很重要，大家必須確保波士頓和以往一樣強勁，所以該做的工作還有很多，而她希望可以未來長時間和大家繼續合作。

              吳弭接著和籌款會另一主辦人陳文珊一起介紹刻正競選麻州最高法院書記官 (Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court)，在司法領域有30多年工作經驗的Allison S. Cartwright，說明她獲州長指派為恢復性司法諮詢委員會 (restorative justice advisory committee)委員，獲波士頓市長辦公室的警察問責和透明的部門的內部事務監督小組成員，具備該職位需要的專業知識及資歷，希望大家在9月3日初選時，投票支持她。

波克萊臺灣商會的前會長郭競儒(左)和李孟潔(右)，出席籌款會，
支持波士頓市長吳弭。(周菊子攝)

              波士頓警察局B2區的小隊長趙瑞安，這天特地站出來激動的說，他從來沒想到過，在他的有生之年，可以親眼見到一名亞裔女性當選微波士頓市長。這天他特地帶了幾名青少年到現場，親眼見見可做模範、榜樣的吳弭市長。

亞布力中國企業家論壇創辦人田源(右)也出現在陳仕維、陳文珊
為波士頓市長吳弭所辦的籌款會。(周菊子攝)

              在麻州華人中，曾出面為吳弭舉辦籌款會的約有3撥人馬，其中的陳仕維和陳文珊等人一年一度舉辦的籌款會，以波士頓華埠人士為主要對象。紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，英文書記阮鴻燦，財政陳余寶愛，波士頓華商會前會長蔡倩婷，紐英崙至德三德公所元老黃周麗桃，主席周樹昂，中華耆英會創辦人梅伍銀寬，梅氏公所主席梅麗梨等人，都是每年必見的熟面孔。

至德三德公所元老黃周麗桃、黃國麟夫婦(左一、二)，主席之一的周樹昂，
波士頓消防局副局長黃瑞瑜(右二)支持波士頓市長吳弭。(周菊子攝)

這晚出現的新面孔有來自昆士市的陳廣漢，印刷廠老闆蔡麗梨夫婦，以及波克來台灣商會的歷任前會長，郭競儒，李孟潔，陳玉瑛，徐小玲。最為特別的則是亞布力中國企業家論壇創辦人暨元明資本創始合夥人田源。

根據坊間報章及麻州競選獻金網站資料，2025年的波士頓市長選舉一戰，如今已有北端 (North End) 餐館業者Jorge Mendoza-Iturralde正式宣佈參選，但還未展開籌款活動，以及還未宣布參選，但傳言正在試探民意、風向，人們估計將是吳弭真正對手的新英格蘭愛國者隊東主之子Josh Kraft 。

陳仕維(左)歡迎馬滌凡和蔡麗梨參加支持吳弭籌款會。
(周菊子攝)

              在麻州的競選獻金網站上，吳弭從2021年當選波士頓市長以來，每個月都有捐款收入，最低4千餘元，最高20萬元，如今有150萬元現金在手，「鈔能力」不可謂不強，但若和Josh Kraft家族的富裕程度相比，恐怕仍有相當距離。

右起，蔡麗梨夫婦、陳廣漢、蔡倩婷出席籌款會，支持吳弭市長。(周菊子攝)

出席眾人聆聽嘉賓致詞。 (周菊子攝)

(周菊子攝)

Senate Passes $2.86 Billion Boost to Life Sciences, Climate Tech, A.I., and Small Businesses

Senate Passes $2.86 Billion Boost to Life Sciences, Climate Tech, A.I., and Small Businesses

Economic development bond authorizations set to enhance state as national leader

(BOSTON—7/11/2024) Today the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a comprehensive economic development bill that makes bold investments in life sciences, climate tech, and small businesses, building on Massachusetts’ national leadership and creating an environment where businesses and workers thrive.

 

The $2.86 billion in bonds authorized in An Act Relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership will stimulate new and proven industries, support workforce development and talent retention, and modernize economic growth strategies.

 

The support in S.2586 extends to small businesses, communities, and cultural development, ensuring that main street businesses across the Commonwealth benefit from the economic boost.

 

“Life sciences and climate technology are synonymous with Massachusetts because of the past decade of strong investment,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Senate’s action today ensures that we build on that leadership in the coming decade, amplifying the diverse and thriving economic ecosystem that enables people to stay in our state to build careers and families. I am grateful for Chair Finegold’s leadership on this bill, to Chair Rodrigues, and to each of my Senate colleagues for their input and action to strengthen our economy.”

 

“I’m excited the Senate has created long-term investments in key sectors of our state’s economy by passing this economic development bond bill,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “With ambitious initiatives in life sciences, robotics, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge disciplines, we lay a strong foundation for the new and global economy for generations to come. While we look to the future, the bill also reinforces the traditional economic drivers of the Commonwealth, notably small business, education, and advanced manufacturing. This comprehensive legislation also reaffirms the Senate’s commitment to regional equity.”

 

“Massachusetts is home to great talent, industry, and education, but we must act now to remain competitive in a changing global and national economy,” said Senator Barry R. Finegold (D-Andover), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “This economic development bill bolsters our state’s competitiveness by strengthening sectors we already excel in and creating pathways to secure the lead in emerging fields. I want to thank my colleagues for their helpful input, especially Senate President Spilka, Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues, my House counterpart, Representative Parisella, as well as the Healey-Driscoll administration for leading the charge on behalf of Team Massachusetts.”  

 

The combination of investments, tax credits, and policy changes will position Massachusetts industries as global leaders at a moment when breakthroughs in science and technology are more important than ever.

 

Provisions of the legislation include:

 

Maintaining Massachusetts’ Life Sciences Leadership

While 18 of the top 20 biopharma companies now have ties to Massachusetts, the national ecosystem remains competitive.

 

The Senate’s economic development bill authorizes $225 million over five years for the Life Sciences Breakthrough Fund to reauthorize the Life Sciences Initiative, totaling $45 million annually. Known as “Life Sciences 3.0”, the reauthorization adds health equity, biosecurity, digital health, and artificial intelligence (AI) to the mission of the Life Sciences Center.

 

It redefines “life sciences” to include preventative medicine, biosecurity, life sciences AI, and medical technology. It also allows for awards and grants to public higher education institutions or public private partnerships.

 

Keeping Climate Tech Companies in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is first in the nation for per-capita climate tech startups—despite being outpaced in investment by New York and California—with 49 businesses per one million residents.

 

To incentivize these startups to stay in Massachusetts and continue to build their companies, the legislation provides $200 million for the Clean Energy Investment Fund to facilitate research and development, commercialization, and deployment of climate technologies. It adds a further $200 million for the Massachusetts Offshore Wind Industry Investment Trust Fund to support the growth of the offshore wind industry.

 

Additional incentives include a climate tech tax credit, a climate tech jobs credit, and a climate tech research credit.

 

Regional Equity

The legislation reflects the different needs of different communities and ensures none of the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns are left behind.

 

This will partly be accomplished through statewide targeted infrastructure improvements, with the bill authorizing $400 million for MassWorks public infrastructure projects that spur economic development and help support job creation, $100 million for the Rural Development Fund to provide financial assistance for infrastructure and community planning efforts in rural communities, $100 million for local economic development grants for economic development in cities and towns,  $90 million to support the redevelopment of underutilized, blighted, or abandoned buildings, and $10 million for the Broadband Incentive Fund for the capital maintenance of the MassBroadband 123 middle mile network.

 

In addition to infrastructure, the legislation recognizes the importance of local cultural and economic sites, providing $150 million for capital grants for public libraries, $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund, $40 million for Destination Development grants to support capital improvements of tourism assets, $15 million for a capital grant program to support the Commonwealth’s agriculture, commercial fishing, and cranberry growing industries, and $8 million for historical preservation grants through the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

 

Accelerating AI & Advanced Manufacturing Development

To position Massachusetts as a leader of the future economy, the bill includes provisions to further develop the rapidly growing AI industry as well as high-tech advanced manufacturing jobs.

 

It contains $115 million for the Massachusetts Tech Hub to establish key industry consortia across the Commonwealth, $100 million for the Applied AI Hub program to facilitate the application of AI, $99 million for flexible grants to support advanced manufacturing initiatives, and $25 million for capital grants to advance research, commercialization, and training in robotics.

 

Retaining Talented College Graduates

Outmigration is notably prevalent among students who graduate from Massachusetts colleges.  To keep them and their talent in the state, the legislation includes $85 million for the Massachusetts Education Financing Authority (MEFA) to improve access to affordable higher education opportunities.

 

Additional talent-retention provisions promote internships for students and recent graduates through the employer internship tax credit and allow foreign-licensed physicians to apply for a limited license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth with a pathway to a full unrestricted license. The program would enable their talents to be used to fill the state’s physician shortage.

 

Supporting Small Businesses

With nearly 50 per cent of Massachusetts workers employed by companies with less than 500 employees, small businesses are a key part of the Commonwealth’s economy. The Senate’s legislation recognizes this, providing $25 million through MassVentures for small business technology grants to help early-stage companies commercialize new technologies, $35 million for grants to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to help disadvantaged and underserved businesses, and $10 million for Biz-M-Power matching grants to small businesses with capital needs.

 

To assist small businesses in rural areas and areas impacted by pollution, the bill authorizes $3 million for grants to improve the readiness of sites for economic development projects and $30 million for the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund to support the remediation of land impacted by environmental contamination.

 

Everett Zoning Changes

The legislation would remove a parcel of land in Everett from its status as a designated port area, enabling a process to move forward that could create a public sports and entertainment venue. The change is anticipated to have significant positive environmental and economic impacts in the community surrounding the area.

 

During debate, the Senate adopted several amendments, notably:

 

• An amendment to increase the age of juvenile jurisdiction to include 18-year-olds. The initiative, known as “Raise the Age”, is proven to decrease crime and improve public safety by allowing emerging adults who are 18 years old—the typical age of a senior in high school—to be tried as juveniles instead of adults for certain crimes.
• An amendment to allow local communities to opt-in and allow bars and restaurants in the community to responsibly offer happy-hour drink discounts.
• An amendment to admit Massachusetts in the national nurse licensure compact, helping to address the critical workforce challenge facing the health care sector.
• An amendment enhancing local public health infrastructure and service delivery.
• An amendment allowing local breweries and distilleries to sell their products alongside local wineries at farmers markets.
• An amendment increasing opportunities for a more diverse public sector teaching force.
• An amendment to provide consumers more rights to seek repair of their cell phones without having to seek service from the original manufacturer.

 

A previous version of this bill having passed the House of Representatives, the two branches will now reconcile the differences between the bills before sending it to the Governor’s desk.

麻州參議會通過青少年司法管轄年齡提高至18歲

Massachusetts Senate Votes to Raise the Age of Juvenile Jurisdiction to Include 18-Year-Olds

Initiative backed by Boston Celtics and criminal justice reform advocates adopted in economic development bill 

(BOSTON—7/11/2024) Today the Massachusetts Senate voted to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction to include residents who are 18-years-old.  

The initiative, known as “Raise the Age” by advocates, is proven to decrease crime and improve public safety by allowing emerging adults who are 18 years old—the typical age of a senior in high school—to be tried as juveniles instead of adults for certain crimes.  

The initiative would divert juvenile offenders into rehabilitative programming, which is proven to lower recidivism and re-conviction.  

The amendment would not change existing law that allows 18-year-olds charged with the most serious offenses to be prosecuted and sentenced as adults for the most serious crimes, including first- or second-degree murder. Similarly, a juvenile 18 or younger could be charged as an adult for any felony if the juvenile had been previously committed in the Department of Youth Services (DYS), if the juvenile committed an offense that involves serious bodily harm, or if the juvenile violated certain firearm laws. 

The Boston Celtics have made the initiative a priority this season. In January, Jaylen Brown and Celtics team leadership shared their support with legislative leaders and held a press conference in the Senate Reading Room.  

“We will never achieve racial equity in Massachusetts without addressing the systemic biases in our systems, including our criminal legal system—and giving our children a fair shot at life from birth onward,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “By raising the age today, I am proud that the Senate is making the Commonwealth a fairer place for young people who should not be judged for their whole life by a mistake they made as an 18-year-old. I am grateful for the work of Majority Leader Creem, Senator Crighton, advocates who have spoken out, and my colleagues for their support.” 

"As the former Senate Chair of the Joint Task Force on Emerging Adults in the Massachusetts Criminal Justice System, I heard from stakeholders across the juvenile and criminal justice systems about the countless public safety benefits of raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction," said Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem (D-Newton). "Including 18-year-olds in the juvenile system will help ensure all high-schoolers have access to the high-quality rehabilitative programming available through the Department of Youth Services, which will help reduce recidivism and have a long-term positive impact on public safety." 

“Raising the age one year to include 18-year-olds will lead to better outcomes not just for youth, but entire communities,” said Senator Brendan Crighton, Chair of the Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice. “Expanding access to the programming and support available within the juvenile court system will still hold adolescents accountable while encouraging more productive pathways to future economic and educational opportunities. Thank you to the Senate President for being a long-time leader on this issue and for including this amendment as part of this strong economic development bill.” 

Adopted as an amendment to the Senate’s economic development bond bill, the measure would expand the lifetime economic opportunity of young people to join the workforce and contribute to the state’s economy. Young people with adult criminal records can face significant barriers to joining the workforce, pursuing higher education and securing housing. 

Having been approved by a roll call vote of 31-9, the amendment will be included in S.2856. A final vote on the bill is expected to take place on Thursday in the Senate.

波士頓黃氏宗親會頒發獎學金 鼓勵50名學子

黃氏公所主席黃偉健(右一)，財政黃開洪(左一)，國翰獎學金執行人
黃協健(右二)和部分得獎學生。(黃氏公所提供)

                (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓黃氏宗親會在6月9日及7月7日，分兩批發獎學金給50名在學宗親子弟，鼓勵他們勤奮向學，將來長大成人，記得回饋鄉梓、社會。

               波士頓黃氏宗親會的獎學金委員會包括2名主席黃偉健、黃光沐，財政黃開洪，中文書記黃光野，黃國翰獎學金執行人黃協健等人。

得獎學生們合影，(黃氏公所提供)

黃氏宗親會的獎學金以成績為準，每年得獎人數不同，大學生每人500元。黃國瀚獎學金每年頒發3名，成績最好的大學生2人，中學生1人，各得600元。 今年得獎的學子，1到6年級有14人，7到8年級有6人，9到12年級有19人，大學1到4年級有11人。

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES NEW DISABILITY DATA STANDARDS FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES NEW DISABILITY DATA STANDARDS FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON

BOSTON - Thursday, July 11, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced new disability-aware standards for City resources and the collection of disability data from residents throughout government processes. This Disability Data Standard will support City workers who design and operate services, programs, and policies in the City of Boston and are intended to provide more dignified experiences for all residents and expand opportunities for people with disabilities across Boston’s neighborhoods. This initiative is led by the City of Boston Disabilities Commission in partnership with the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT). ​“Our goal in city government is ensuring that our policies, programs and services reach everyone and affirm and support our residents each and every day,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. "Boston is home to over 78,000 residents with disabilities and we know historically this community has not been fully included in city services and underserved in data standardization efforts. These new guidelines will create a common format for all city departments to collect data on disability - improving our services and creating a more welcoming experience for residents. I'm excited to see how these critical changes better support our constituents and move us forward in our work to make Boston a home for everyone." Today’s announcement comes after several months of work to inform the design of the new data standardization across City departments. The work explored preferred language around disability identity and accommodations. Projects included focus groups with Boston residents, literature reviews, process mapping, and user research. Before the release of the new data standard, the City primarily collected data on disability with the Disability Survey of Boston residents; however data collection from that effort was too limited. The new disability data standard will collect more meaningful data to ensure City programs and services are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive to people with disabilities.  “Understanding how disability impacts residents' participation in City of Boston programs and services is much more valuable than knowing residents' medical diagnosis, in most cases,” said City of Boston Disability Commission and ADA Title II Coordinator Kristen McCosh. “We expect the new data standardization to be more effective when planning and implementing programs, events, and services, because now we are asking people what people really need.”  “We needed to identify best practices for collecting information about disability so we can make Boston even more inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities,” said Chief of Equity and Inclusion Mariangely Solis Cervera. “My staff worked closely with other city departments to map the process of specific city services to gain a better understanding of the experience for people with disabilities.  The new standard will include the question, ‘Which of the following do you typically need to access services and events? (Select all that apply)’ and provides respondents 11 access and functional needs options as well as a write in option to select. An important guideline of the standard will be to offer multiple ways for people to participate. “We were thrilled to partner with the City of Boston to provide research and technical assistance to the data standardization program,” said Ellysheva Bunge-Zeira, the Director of Training and Consulting at Disability Policy Consortium. “Our staff worked with the City to support meaningful engagement with Boston’s disability community including focus groups facilitated by our staff.” The City of Boston will celebrate the new Data Standards at the 2024 ADA Day event on Wednesday, July 17th from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. This annual public event held on City Hall Plaza celebrates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Each year, the Disabilities Commission honors a partner, usually a City department, that has done exceptional work related to accessibility that year. This year, the City will be honoring DOIT for both the Data Standards and for their on-going work updating internal policies and training documents for departments to improve digital accessibility across City products. “It was a privilege to be able to partner with the Commission for Persons with Disabilities and apply the lessons DoIT learned from developing the Gender-Aware Guidelines and Standards to the collection of data about disability,” said Chief Digital Officer Julia Gutiérrez. “The Disability Data Standard will help ensure more consistent data collection across departments and programs focused on what constituents need, which makes it easier for the City to understand where we can and should invest in accessibility from both a technology and program design perspective.”  This announcement builds on the Mayor’s commitment to ensure that Boston is an inclusive and equitable city for all residents. Last August, the Mayor, along with the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement, and the City’s Registry Department, announced that the City updated its marriage licenses by no longer requiring sex or gender identification on the licenses - the first change made based on new gender-aware guidelines for City resources and the collection of gender-identity data.

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES HEALTH EQUITY AGENDA TO IMPROVE LIFE EXPECTANCY

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES HEALTH EQUITY AGENDA TO IMPROVE LIFE EXPECTANCY  New multi-sector partnership between the City, the Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Community Health Collaborative, and $10 million investment from Atrius Health Equity Foundation

BOSTON - Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today announced a new long-term health equity agenda to improve life expectancy, reduce racial and ethnic disparities, and help all residents live longer and healthier lives. BPHC's Health of Boston 2023 report on Mortality and Life Expectancy found stark differences in average life expectancy among neighborhoods, the most striking being a 23-year difference between those who live in a part of Back Bay compared to those who live two miles away near Nubian Square in Roxbury. New BPHC data show that while life expectancy in Boston has overall rebounded since the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial gap has widened. In 2019, Black residents had an average life expectancy of 77 years, which was four years less than white residents, while in 2023, Black residents had an average life expectancy of 76 years, six years less than white residents. To improve life expectancy and reduce racial and ethnic gaps, BPHC is urgently encouraging organizations to partner with the Commission to advance health equity.   “I’m thrilled that Boston is launching this first ever public health agenda backed up by community collaboration and resources,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Creating opportunities so that every resident has access to healthy food, livable communities, and access to healthcare are important to ensuring every resident feels at home in Boston. I’m so grateful to the Boston Public Health Commission, Atrius Health Equity Foundation, and all of our partners for their commitment to improving the lives of our residents.” The Commission’s Live Long and Well health equity agenda focuses on three of the leading causes of premature mortality in Boston: cardiometabolic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and other related disorders; cancers of the breast, cervix, colon, prostate, and lung; and unintentional drug overdoses. The agenda also emphasizes the importance of infant and maternal health, older adult health, and mental and behavioral health.   Today’s announcement identified the first priority area as cardiometabolic diseases, which are among the top five leading causes of death before the age of 65 in Boston and disproportionately impact communities of color. According to BPHC’s Health of Boston 2023 reports, compared to white residents, Black residents died of heart disease at a 37% higher rate; Black residents died of diabetes at a 220% higher rate; and Latine residents died of diabetes at a 80% higher rate. Social and economic factors such as poverty, insufficient housing, and food insecurity make it significantly more likely for a person to develop poorer health outcomes, including cardiometabolic diseases.  “Boston is a city that is rich with high quality health care resources. Yet, we have long-standing gaps in life expectancy and other health outcomes by race, ethnicity and neighborhood,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “In order to close these gaps, we need to focus on drivers of poor health that exist outside the walls of health care institutions, like poverty and economic inequality. This will require a collaborative, whole-of-society, multi-sector approach. I want to thank Atrius Health Equity Foundation for their investment that I hope will catalyze more new partnerships to improve health and well-being for all in our city.”   The Boston Community Health Collaborative (BCHC) – which is facilitated by BPHC and convenes City departments, public health, healthcare, community based organizations, and Boston residents – developed a community health improvement plan that identified economic mobility and inclusion as a critical strategy to improve health. To support this, Atrius Health Equity Foundation has committed $10 million for community-led coalitions to improve financial wellbeing in communities with poor cardiometabolic health outcomes. This investment makes the City of Boston, BPHC, BCHC, and Atrius Health Equity Foundation the first multi-sector partnership in the Live Long and Well agenda. “We hear from communities across Eastern Massachusetts how economic opportunity is foundational for health and well-being. Our investment recognizes the deep connection between health and wealth and aims to support communities in creating the conditions that enable everyone to thrive,” said Dr. Ann Hwang, President of the Atrius Health Equity Foundation. “We are thrilled to partner with the Mayor, the City of Boston, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the Boston Community Health Collaborative, all of whom have shown tremendous leadership in advancing community priorities for better health.”  “Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Wu and the Boston Public Health Commission, our work as the Collaborative has flourished and is now resulting in a transformative $10 million dollar investment by Atrius Health Equity Foundation," said Magnolia Contreras, Vice-President of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Co-Chair of the Boston Community Health Collaborative. "This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment, and this investment will go directly to issues raised by our community members who are most impacted by life expectancy disparities.”  To execute on this work, a request for proposals will be developed collaboratively and organizations will be able to apply as early as this fall. This partnership will help residents, especially those who are most at-risk for cardiometabolic diseases, meet basic needs, have more access to financial supports and wealth-building opportunities, and navigate complex healthcare and social support systems. This will improve financial stability, mental health, stress, and cardiometabolic health for residents across Boston. Additionally, the Boston Public Health Commission runs several existing programs and initiatives to prevent cardiometabolic diseases. The Commission’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Division promotes screenings for early detection of disease and partners with other City departments to give residents more access to healthy foods and physical activity. Programs include the Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series, Healthy Boston Nutrition Education, Boston Safe Routes to School, and the Boston Healthy Childcare Initiative.    The Commission is currently working on a report detailing the Live Long and Well agenda that will be published later this year. Learn more and track updates at boston.gov/live-long.  ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION   Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is the country’s oldest health department. We envision a thriving Boston where all residents live healthy and fulfilling lives. To accomplish this, BPHC works in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. Learn more about our work at boston.gov/bphc.

Healey-Driscoll Office of Energy Transformation Announces Advisory Board and Focus on Peaker Plants, Everett LNG Terminal, and Affordability

 Healey-Driscoll Office of Energy Transformation Announces Advisory Board and Focus on Peaker Plants, Everett LNG Terminal, and Affordability   

The Energy Transformation Advisory Board will include utilities, fossil fuel workers, business groups, technology providers and innovators, and environmental justice advocates, among others, and will provide advice and guidance to the Office of Energy Transformation as it focuses on affordability, decarbonizing the peak, and transitioning away from the Everett LNG Terminal  

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the formation of the Energy Transformation Advisory Board to advise and guide the state in the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. The Advisory Board will include a broad range of stakeholders, including labor, business, finance, environmental justice advocates, utilities, technology providers, building owners, developers, and generators, among others. This group will advise the newly established Office of Energy Transformation (OET), which is charged with affordably, equitably, and responsibly accelerating the gas-to-electric transition and readying the electric grid to meet the state’s climate and clean energy mandates. OET also announced today its first three priority focus areas: transitioning away from the Everett Marine Terminal liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, decarbonizing how we meet peak electric demand, and establishing alternative mechanisms to finance the clean energy transition.  

“The clean energy future will not happen if we operate in silos,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The Office of Energy Transformation and this newly-created Advisory Board is an invitation to everyone impacted to come to the table, bring solutions, and make real commitments to move us forward. This is an opportunity for coordination between our utilities, for targeted workforce development for our gas workers, and for climate and environmental justice advocates to ensure we’re moving swiftly and equitably. These are challenging issues, but I’m confident that Massachusetts can continue our climate leadership as a team.”  

“With the establishment of the Energy Transformation Advisory Board, we can ensure that our gas workers and impacted businesses have a seat at the table in the clean energy transition,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This transition is bigger than flipping a switch – it’s thousands of workers and businesses that rely on fossil fuels for their livelihood. By coming together, aligning on solutions, and investing in workforce development and climatetech, we can ensure that workers and their families will have good-paying careers in our clean energy future.”    

To ensure compliance with the legal mandates and policies in the Global Warming Solutions Act, the Clean Energy and Climate Plans, and the Department of Public Utilities’ (DPU) Order 20-80, Massachusetts must achieve a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. The primary mechanism to accomplish this task will be the electrification of buildings and transportation to be powered by new clean energy sources. OET’s mission is to ensure that the electric grid is affordably enhanced, that the state is making steady progress toward moving away from fossil fuels, and that the workers and businesses dependent on fossil fuels for their livelihood are supported in the transition. The Advisory Board will serve as an opportunity for the Healey-Driscoll Administration to hear directly from climate solution providers and impacted stakeholders and create the venue for them to work together to advance the clean energy transition.  

“DPU’s Order 20-80 set the stage for the transition from gas to electricity, making Massachusetts the first state in the country to require its utilities to prioritize electrification. Now it’s time to execute on that vision,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We launched the Office of Energy Transformation and Advisory Board to take on this big challenge. We’re grateful that so many stakeholders are rising to meet it. The three focus areas outlined today are tangible next steps in ending our reliance on some of the most costly and dirty fossil fuel infrastructure, and ensuring that our ratepayers and environmental justice communities are kept at the heart of this transition.”  

“No single sector, entity, or organization can transform an energy ecosystem that took more than 100 years to build,” said OET Executive Director Melissa Lavinson. “But, together, with the guidance of the Advisory Board and focus of the Office of Energy Transformation, we can find a better way that works for all communities across Massachusetts. We’re going to get to work to advance our competitiveness, ensure a just transition for workers and businesses, create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators, and continue our proud position as a climate leader and model for others.”  

Priority Areas  

OET has established three focus areas for its work aligned with its mission and that will result in tangible, demonstrable and transformative change. Members of the Advisory Board will advise on the priority focus areas and provide strategic guidance to OET as it conducts its work in collaboration with stakeholders from across the energy ecosystem.  

 

·          Transitioning Away from Reliance on the Everett Marine Terminal LNG Facility. The Everett Marine Terminal imports LNG and supports Massachusetts and the New England region by helping to meet energy needs on the coldest of days or if there is a disruption elsewhere in the system. It is one of the longest operating LNG facilities in the United States. The state’s three largest gas utilities executed contracts to maintain the use of the facility until 2030. In its order approving the contracts, the DPU required that the utilities establish plans to move beyond reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure and natural gas, including the Everett Marine Terminal LNG facility, and expeditiously toward electrification and other alternatives, like geothermal. This work group will convene stakeholders to develop a coordinated strategy to reduce and ultimately eliminate the local gas distribution companies’ reliance on Everett Marine Terminal LNG facility, aligned with DPU Order 20-80-2 and the state’s climate and clean energy mandates, including those established in the Global Warming Solutions Act. 

  

·          Decarbonizing the Peak. Peaking power plants are facilities that generally run only when there is a high demand for electricity. There are dozens of fossil fuel-fired power plants in Massachusetts, the majority of which are peaking power plants or combined heat and power (CHP) facilities, with many located in or near environmental justice communities. As Massachusetts transitions to an electrified energy system powered by renewables, there is a potential for the state to become more reliant, not less, on these assets. This work group will identify and demonstrate pathways to reduce reliance on and expeditiously eliminate fossil fuels from peaking power plant and CHP facilities, both via alternative demand and supply side options. 

  

·          Establishing Alternative Mechanisms to Finance the Transition. This work group will identify alternative mechanisms for financing electricity distribution system infrastructure upgrades necessary to achieve Massachusetts’ clean energy and climate mandates that reduce the cost of the energy transition for ratepayers and minimizes bill impacts, while providing the revenue necessary to make the infrastructure investments required to support the energy transition and meet our climate and clean energy mandates.  

Energy Transformation Advisory Board  

The Advisory Board will provide guidance and recommendations to the OET on strategic direction and areas of focus to execute the energy transition, including in the areas of gas-to-electric transition, electric grid readiness, and the just transition for workers, business and communities. The Advisory Board will be comprised of senior leaders and decisionmakers from across the energy ecosystem, representing labor, industry, technology, supply chain, environmental justice communities, consumers, policymakers and elected officials, housing and real estate developers, energy suppliers and providers, investors, and financial institutions, among others. 

 

The Advisory Board will meet in person on a quarterly basis, with meetings open to the public. It will also hold one public comment session each year. Additionally, the OET will hold four additional meetings around Massachusetts to receive public input and share this feedback with the Advisory Board as a whole at its quarterly meetings.