MAYOR WALSH HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC SUCCESSES AND WORK TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE BOSTON AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADDRESS

MAYOR WALSH HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC SUCCESSES AND WORK TO CREATE A MORE  EQUITABLE BOSTON AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADDRESS

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today addressed the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, discussing the strength of Boston's economy and the work ahead to create a Boston that is prosperous and more equitable for all. "Boston has reached a position of economic leadership that is unprecedented in our history," said Mayor Walsh. "We've let go of the insular culture and top-down leadership of the past. We've deepened our core strengths and we've built carefully and confidently beyond them. We are looking to the future and opening our arms to the world, and the world is responding." Boston's Economy is Strong: Since 2014, $12 billion worth of development has entered the pipeline. Right now there is $6 billion under construction in Boston. There are 40,000 small businesses operating across the city, generating $15 billion in annual revenue and creating 170,000 jobs. Citywide, unemployment is below 4 percent. Pitchbook confirmed that Boston is second only to the Bay Area for the total number of successful venture capital investments. As of this month, nearly 10,500 units have been completed towards the goal of 53,000 in the Mayor's Housing Plan. Another 7,200 under are construction, and more than 17,000 in the pipeline - well ahead of schedule. In recent weeks, companies including AutoDesk, Flextronics, and Continuum have moved to Boston and set up the kind of facilities that help bridge the gap between innovation and manufacturing in our economy. Continued Focus on Creating Opportunity for all: The Mayor discussed his commitment to a more open and intentional conversation about race in Boston in order to tackle the disparities that are rooted in Boston's history and continue presenting barriers today. This fall the City will hold a series of public conversations on race and equity, to set up a more open dialogue in Boston about race. The City will provide a toolkit for anyone who wants to hold a conversation in their neighborhood or workplace. To create equity, we must have digital infrastructure that gives residents and businesses the best possible access to the global flow of data. Under Mayor Walsh's leadership, Verizon has begun installing fiber cable that will reach every corner of the City. There is a renewed focus on planning, and this fall, the Mayor will roll out key priorities in Imagine Boston 2030, the first citywide plan in over 50 years. Already the City's planning work is bringing new community input and new investment to South Boston, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Dorchester. The Boston Planning and Development Agency: The Mayor today officially launched the Boston Planning and Development Agency, the new vision and name of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA). Since the Mayor took office, he has focused on reforming the BRA to increase transparency and efficiency and create a more open, community-oriented culture. Earlier this year, the BRA began work on a new identity to better reflect the work in its ongoing mission. The Boston Planning and Development Agency will be modern and state of the art, will understand what the Boston of today and tomorrow need, and will be innovative and inclusive about shaping development toward those ends. After listening to residents, employees, business and community partners, the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) will continue reform work that has already begun over the past several years. The Mayor announced that the BPDA will continue this work with: A redesigned community meeting format to provide more context and more clarity, and an online platform for neighborhood-specific updates and feedback. This will ensure that conversations are open, ongoing, and available to all. The Boston Planning and Development Agency  will focus on comprehensive planning and responsible development for inclusive growth across the city.  Beginning this fall, planning and development review teams will visit Boston's neighborhoods together to talk about what the new process will look like. BPDA+, a program to forge collaborations with nonprofits, businesses, universities, and startups; and host innovation fellowships for leading-edge global experts. Adopt-a-school Last year, Mayor Walsh called for a new Adopt-a-School initiative to engage organizations with the Boston Public Schools. Today, he thanked the businesses who answered his call for support, including: Delta Dental, General Electric, Goodwin Proctor, Levi's, RSM, Salsify, Whole Foods, and Vertex. He also announced the launch of the InvestBPS online portal, created with the help of local innovator Intrepid. It will make it easy for companies to match their interests with schools' needs and begin providing unique learning experiences to Boston students. Read the Mayor's remarks in their entirety here.

IMAGINE BOSTON 2030 INTRODUCES FALL ENGAGEMENT TEAM AND ANNOUNCES LISTING OF ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

IMAGINE BOSTON 2030 INTRODUCES FALL ENGAGEMENT TEAM AND ANNOUNCES LISTING OF ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - Imagine Boston 2030 today announced the creation of their new Engagement Team, building on ongoing engagement efforts to reach residents in every corner of the City of Boston.  Utilizing new engagement tools to encourage interaction and hands-on involvement, including Legos, the Imagine Boston Engagement Team will visit community events in Boston neighborhoods this fall to seek feedback from residents on refined strategies for guiding equitable growth through 2030. "I am excited to launch the next iteration of Imagine Boston 2030's engagement plan to make sure that all voices are included in our planning process," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "The best way to engage with residents is in their own neighborhoods, and by bringing the conversation to them we hope for many productive discussions that will help shape our city's future."   Over the past year, Imagine Boston 2030 has engaged with more than 12,000 Bostonians, learning about their visions for Boston in 2030. After recording responses and working extensively within the community, Imagine Boston sent out a call to action in early September requesting community organizations throughout Boston to host the team at local events, and received a high volume of positive responses. "We are excited to get Bostonians' input on how we should collectively shape Boston's future for 2030," said Rebekah Emanuel, Executive Director of Imagine Boston 2030. "The Legos make the choices we are looking at together both concrete and hands-on." At these events, Imagine Boston plans to host activities and discussions to engage with the attendees. These programs include:  Requests for resident input on areas where Boston can grow; A presentation on types of ways to protect the Boston waterfront from the impacts of climate change; An all-ages Lego activity to demonstrate key issues Imagine Boston is addressing The current schedule of events is planned for the coming weeks, and Imagine Boston will add more as requests are received. To add your event listing, please click here. All events are free and open to the public. The Engagement Team will be at events all around Boston from September 27-October 30, 2016.  A full calendar listing can be found here, and current event details are included below:  NEIGHBORHOOD DATE TIME LOCATION ADDRESS Allston Wed., Sept. 28 5-8 pm Aeronaut Beer Garden 267 Western Ave. Fri., Oct. 28 3-7pm Harvard Allston Farmers' Market 224 Western Ave. Back Bay Tues., Oct. 11 3-6pm Copley Square Farmers' Market 560 Boylston St. Tues., Oct. 18 3:15-5:15pm Girl Scouts Meeting 107 Marlborough St. Brighton Sun., Oct. 16 10am-12:30 pm Oaktoberfest 5K Oak Square YMCA Charlestown Wed., Oct. 5 2-4 pm Charlestown Farmers' Market Main Street & Austin Street Chinatown/Leather District Wed., Oct. 5 6:30-8 pm Chinese Residents Association Monthly Meeting 885 Washington St. Dorchester Fri., Sept. 30 3-7 pm Ashmont Peabody Farmers' Market 1900 Dorchester Ave. Sun., Oct. 9 11am-2pm Dorchester Irish Festival Florian Hall Fri., Oct. 14 11am-3pm Boston Job Fair BCYF Grove Hall Community Center, 51 Geneva Ave. Downtown Tues., Sept. 27 6-7 p.m. Mayor's Youth Council Meeting 1 City Hall Square Wed., Sept. 28 11am-2 pm HUBWeek's "Housing the Hub" Rowes Wharf Plaza Thu., Sept. 29 6-8pm pARTy on the Greenway (HUBweek) Ring Fountain, Rowes Wharf Mon., Oct. 3 6-8pm SPARK Council Meeting District Hall Mon., Oct. 17 7:30-9 pm Meeting of Downtown Residents Suffolk Law Library East Boston Sat., Oct. 1 10am-2pm East Boston Social Center Health & Wellness Fair 68 Central Sq. Wed., Oct. 12 3-6:30 pm East Boston Farmers' Market 209 Summer St. Fenway Coming Soon Hyde Park Mon., Oct. 24 6:30-8 pm Wakefield Washington Citizens Group Meeting Boston Police Academy, 85 Williams Ave. Jamaica Plain Coming soon Mattapan Sat., Oct. 1 10 am-1pm Mattapan Square Farmers Market 525 River St. Fri., Oct. 7 3-7pm ReVision Urban Farm Stand 1062-1068 Blue Hill Ave. Sat., Oct. 15 1-3:30pm Love Your Block 5 Mildred Ave. Wed., Oct. 19 7-8pm Mattapan/ Dorchester Civic Association Meeting Mission Hill Tues., Oct. 25 4-7pm Mission Hill Farmers' Market Roxbury Crossing MBTA T Station North End Mon., Oct. 10 12-4 pm Columbus Park Fall Festival Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park Roslindale Sun., Oct. 2 2:30 - 4:30 pm Roslindale Parade Fallon Field Sat., Oct. 8 9-1:30pm Roslindale Farmers' Market Adams Park Roxbury Mon., Sept. 26 5:30-8pm Roxbury Innovation Showcase Roxbury Innovation Center, 2300 Washington St. Tues., Oct. 4 11am-2pm Hispanic Heritage Luncheon Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center Thur., Oct. 6 2-4pm Gateway Outdoor Summer Series Ruggles Plaza (SW Corridor) Thu., Oct. 6 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nuestra Comunidad 35th Anniversary Festival Dudley Square Wed., Oct. 26 11am-3pm Boston Job Fair BCYF Shelburne Community Center Sat., Oct. 29 11am-8pm BuildBPS Open House Bolling Building, 2300 Washington St. Sun., Oct. 30 11am-8pm BuildBPS Open House Bolling Building, 2300 Washington St. South Boston Mon., Oct. 3 12-3 pm South Boston Farmers' Market 446 W Broadway Wed., Oct. 5 5:30-8pm District Hall Cafe Nights 75 Northern Ave. Thu., Oct. 6 10am-1pm Mayor's Walk with Elderly Commission 1005 Columbia Rd. South End Sat., Oct. 8 6-9 pm Future Arts Fest Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St. West Roxbury Thu., Sept. 29 7:30 - 9 pm Imagine West Roxbury 1885 Centre St. Residents are encouraged to share their ideas and connect with Imagine Boston 2030 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #ImagineBoston.

Massachusetts Named Most Energy Efficient State for Sixth Consecutive Year

Massachusetts Named Most Energy Efficient State for Sixth Consecutive Year

Shares Top Spot with California on American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Scorecard

BOSTON – September 27, 2016 –The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that the Commonwealth has been named the most energy efficient state in the nation by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) for the sixth consecutive year. This year, Massachusetts is joined by California at the top of ACEEE’s annual scorecard that ranks states on their energy efficiency policies and programs. Earlier today Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Judith Judson joined her California counterpart, Commissioner Andrew McAllister of the California Energy Commission, on a national conference call to announce the 2016 ACEEE State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.

“The Commonwealth continues to lead the nation in energy efficiency, which remains the most cost effective method of reducing ratepayer costs and lowering emissions,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The recently signed comprehensive energy diversification legislation will build upon our nation leading success by providing new opportunities to embrace clean energy and energy efficiency.”

“From combined heat and power to electric vehicles and energy storage, our administration is committed to embracing innovative technologies and policies that will continue to allow us to build a resilient, clean and affordable energy future,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Our continued success in this ranking wouldn’t be possible without our policies that support energy efficiency as a way to reduce energy costs and address challenges like peak demand and building a flexible, resilient energy grid.”

The ACEEE Scorecard measures states on six categories of energy efficiency policy and programs, including utility programs, transportation, building energy codes, combined heat and power, state government policies, and appliance standards. Contributing to Massachusetts’ ongoing leadership is its utility-run nation-leading energy efficiency programs. The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced that the state’s 2013-2015 Three-Year Plan Energy Efficiency Plan exceeded its savings goals and set a new savings record in 2015. The current 2016-2018 Three-Year Plan, approved earlier in 2016, sets nation-leading goals for energy savings, with goals of 2.94% of electric sales and 1.24% of gas sales.

“As we look to our clean energy future, Massachusetts’ ambitious current Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan is a clear commitment to ensuring that we continue to lead the nation on energy efficiency,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “We are committed to building upon our longstanding partnership with utilities to ensure that all ratepayers, from residential and commercial to low-income, are able to access greater energy efficiency.”

“The Commonwealth continues to lead by example in embracing energy efficiency in state operations, from LEED certified state building requirements to providing technical assistance for government to maximize the energy savings benefits of performance contracting,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson.  “Additionally, by adopting the most recent national model building energy code and the Massachusetts’ stretch code, we’ve given our construction industry and local municipalities the tools they need to continue to incorporate energy efficiency into the next generation of buildings.”

The 2016 ACEEE scorecard recognized the continued leadership of the Commonwealth on embracing energy efficiency in state operations and facilities. Massachusetts currently has over 55 state buildings across 29 state agencies that have achieved LEED certification recognizing advanced energy and environmental design. The LEED standard, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), awards certifications in Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels for clean energy, energy efficiency and environmental design integration. Over 60% of the state certified buildings are certified at the top two levels of Gold or Platinum.

“Massachusetts has led the nation in energy efficiency for the past six years. This year the Bay State showed continued commitment reducing energy waste by increasing its savings targets for utilities to close to 3%, the highest in the nation,” said ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel. “By setting ambitious goals, Massachusetts helps keeps energy bills low for residents and businesses, fosters economic opportunity, and ensures a cleaner and more resilient energy future for the state.”

In July, the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards voted unanimously to adopt the latest national model building energy code together with a streamlined update to the Massachusetts stretch energy code. This code update keeps the Commonwealth on the leading edge in adopting the latest national model energy code, allowing Massachusetts to attain full points in this ACEEE Scorecard category, as well as offering towns and cities the opportunity to adopt a stretch energy code. To date 178 municipalities have elected to adopt the Stretch energy code, a key component of receiving a “Green Communities” designation. 

“Certainly we are making great strides toward energy efficiency and a brighter renewable energy future,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester). “This rating confirms our progress, and should motivate us to continue moving in a positive direction.”

“Massachusetts’ designation as the nation’s most energy efficient state by the ACEEE is a testament to the strong leadership the Baker-Polito Administration has demonstrated on this issue,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading).  “With the recent signing of a comprehensive energy diversity bill, the adoption of a new Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan, and other environmental initiatives promoted by the Governor’s office, the Commonwealth is well-positioned to continue to lead the way in providing consumers with access to clean, reliable and affordable energy sources.”

“Energy efficiency brings great benefits to our Commonwealth, both by saving ratepayers money and providing clean energy jobs,” said Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. (D-Lowell), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy.  “I applaud the administration’s work with the utilities and the energy efficiency advisory council.  In addition, the recently signed energy legislation not only includes a commercial property assessed clean energy program, but also contains provisions regarding energy storage and fuel cells, allowing us to utilize our existing resources to the fullest extent possible.”  

The recently signed comprehensive energy diversification legislation includes support for commercial ratepayers by establishing a commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. The PACE program, facilitated by MassDevelopment and the Department of Energy Resources, will enable commercial and industrial property owners across the state to finance comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades that are repaid through a property tax assessment on their building.