WINCHESTER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY PAYS $121,000 FOR FAILING TO PROPERLY PAY WORKERS ON MEDFORD PUBLIC PROJECT

WINCHESTER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY PAYS $121,000 FOR FAILING TO PROPERLY PAY WORKERS ON MEDFORD PUBLIC PROJECT

Company and its Owners Barred from Public Construction for 10 Years

BOSTON – A Winchester construction company has paid more than $121,000 in wages and penalties for violating the Massachusetts prevailing and minimum wage laws by failing to properly pay workers on a Medford public works project, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

            “This company and its owners gained an unfair advantage by cheating their workers out of the wages they earned,” said AG Healey. “With this settlement, we are sending a message that there are serious consequences to breaking our laws.”

When our state invests in public works projects, we expect the companies working on them to pay their employees fairly,” said AG Healey. “We will take action against companies that violate the law and cheat workers out of wages they are owed.”

J. Donlon and Sons Inc., owner Joseph M. Donlon Sr., and his two sons, Joseph M. Donlon Jr. and Sean Donlon, were cited for intentionally failing to pay prevailing wage, failing to submit true and accurate certified payroll records, failing to pay the state minimum wage and failing to maintain true and accurate general payroll records from January 2012 through December 2016. As part of the settlement, the company and all three corporate officers are prohibited from bidding or working on any public works construction project in Massachusetts for 10 years.

The AG’s Fair Labor Division began investigating J. Donlon and Sons after a former employee submitted a complaint alleging he was not paid the proper prevailing wage rate for work performed on a City of Medford utility trench patching public works project. The AG’s Office determined that employees on the project were paid far less than the established prevailing wage rate. During one three-year period, for example, employees were paid an hourly rate of between $8 and $20 when they should have been paid between $51.35 and $54.10 per hour.

The company also submitted certified payroll records to the City of Medford during certain years that listed only members of the Donlon family as having worked on the project and omitted other employees. The investigation found that general payroll records were also inaccurate, and two employees were paid less than the applicable minimum wage. 

J. Donlon and Sons Inc., which was awarded the City of Medford utility trench patching contract for 12 consecutive years from 2004 to 2016, has previously been cited for violating the state’s prevailing wage laws while working on this project. In 2006, the company and Joseph M. Donlon Sr. were issued two intentional citations for failing to pay the prevailing wage and failing to submit true and accurate certified payroll records. 

The AG’s Office has prioritized wage theft in the construction industry. In fiscal year 2018, the AG’s Fair Labor Division issued 97 citations against 45 employers in the construction industry for a total of nearly $1.1 million in assessed restitution and penalties impacting more than 331 workers.

Under the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law, contractors and subcontractors engaged in public construction projects must pay their employees a special minimum wage. The required wage rate is based on the occupational classification for the type of work the employees perform.

AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage, earned sick time and overtime laws.

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace are encouraged to file a complaint at www.mass.gov/ago/wagetheft. For information about the state’s wage and hour laws, workers may call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or go to the Attorney General’s new Workplace Rights website www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for materials in multiple languages.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Barbara Dillon DeSouza and Inspector Brian Davies, both of AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division.

紐英崙中華公所將甄聘行政主任 研議成立常務董事會

紐英崙中華公所五名職員主持會議，右起雷國輝，朱蘇珊，陳家驊，

陳文浩，周樹昂。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙中華公所目前坐擁資產2600多萬元，一旦三大土地發展案順利推動，勢必更富。公所主席陳家驊在7月31日的本年度第四次董事大會中，動議聘行政主任，討論組成15人常務董事會，以期未來專業管理，確保長期造福社區。

紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊說明喜露街50號未來發展計劃。(周菊子攝)

                 紐英崙中華公所財政陳文浩在董事大會中提交的財務報告顯示，在中華公所的現有資產中，流動資產約350萬元，不動產包括價值約143萬元的樓宇，以及約值1,034餘萬元的土地，價值大約1700萬元。一旦中華公所順利推動喜露街50號，大同村南停車場，泰勒街78號等在籌備，研議中的土地發展案，蓋出數百戶住宅單位，中華公所擁有的資產額度將更驚人。     

             陳家驊在主席報告時指出，無論是經辦土地發展案，或管理未來的龐大物業，以中華公所現有義務職，兼職員工的人力，物力，恐怕都無法勝任。要有效率的妥善經營，最好能聘請具專業能力的專職人員，估計支出為年薪十萬元，另加約等值30%的各項福利。這筆費用應可來自土地發展案的發展費。

紐英崙中華公所中文書記雷國輝(右)，英文書記朱蘇珊(左)。(周菊子攝)

            此案在會議上由黃國威提案，余麗媖、蔣宗壬附議，將交由中華公所財務小組，物業小組成立聯合委員會，承辦草擬職稱，職務說明，招聘，面試等事宜，再於九月份第五次董事大會中提出推薦人選，交由董事大會做最後決定。

               紐英崙中華公所是個非牟利機構，共有5名職員，41名董事。目前每二個月召開一次全員出席的董事大會，一年至少開會六次。

紐英崙中華公所財政陳文浩。(周菊子攝)

                物業小組召集人，也是中華公所英文書記朱蘇珊在匯報喜露街50號發展案時說明，中華公所與戴維斯公司，波士頓華人佈道會合作申請的”指定計畫區域(PDA)”，已初步獲得波士頓鄰里發展局支持，預定九月份由區域劃分(zoning)委員會審批，再交給市長簽署定案。屆時中華公所可蓋高150呎，分14層樓的最多313個單位，若包括戴維斯公司放進中華公所發展案中的額度，中華公所建造的喜露街50號大樓，估計有39%能夠劃歸可負擔住宅。

喜露街50號和戴維斯公司，波士頓華人佈道會的發展計劃預定地

彼此相連。(周菊子攝)

中華公所主席陳家驊指出，由於大同村南停車場發展案已有亞美社區發展協會(ACDC)，榮氏公司(Winn)，畢肯(Beacon)等三家公司競標，籌備工作等於已經開展，中華公所又有機會在波士頓市政府支持下，取得泰勒街78號的發展權，這些發展案湊在一起，不但工作量驚人，會讓中華公所需要聘請專人承辦，還會有許多事務需要中華公所董事會更有效率的討論，做決定。以中華公所有董事46名，二個月才開一次會的現實，恐怕無法因應。

選舉小組召集人，也是中華公所中文書記雷國輝在會上報告，該小組在六月廿六日，七月三日都開過會，提出是否成立一個15人的常務董事會，其中5席為中華公所職員，另外10席，敦請出席中華公所代表人數多於一人的安良工商會，至孝篤親公所，黃氏宗親會，李氏公所，余風采棠等僑團，各指派一名代表進入常務董事會，其餘5個席位由董事大會從其他僑團中推選。這常務董事會將每月開會，必要時再開特別會議。非常務董事會的董事們，就改為半年或一季開一次會。

三機構預定發展地點的示意圖。(周菊子攝)

選舉小組還將討論修改章程，討論以後公所職員是否有權投票，職員席位是否可以連選連任，有無限制，執行辦法，中英文章程內是否應完全一致等議題。

中華公所還在這次的董事大會中通過了改聘朱汝聰(Adam Chu)為中華公所律師，修改羅燕玲的顧問合約內容，鑒於她的已為中華公所爭取到兩筆補助款，把付給她的顧問費，從12,000元提高為20,000元。中華公所也授權物業小組支出最多五萬元，翻修地板，修理或製作新黑板，油漆二，三樓數間教室的牆壁等。

紐英崙中華公所董事們開會。(周菊子攝)

中華公所預定8月21日(週二)晚7點，召開特別會議，討論喜露街50號，以及大同村南停車場發展計劃。中華公所將於8月12日上午10點至下午5點，在華埠舉辦中秋節聯歡會。華埠社區議會將於8月7日下午3點，在大同舉辦 公園舉辦”警民聯歡會(National Night Out)”。波士頓市長預定出席。

甄氏宗親會派馮甄若素做出席代表。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所董事大會現場。(周菊子攝)

波士頓華商會鼓勵耆英關注政治 陳毓禮憶舊事道感謝

前排左起，韓佑文，陳建立，余麗媖，陳家驊，Emily K. Shea，陳黃美蘭，單鳳琴，陳毓禮，林汝蘭，陳文棟，陳文珊，後排左起，卡普阿諾(Mike Capuano)， Greg Henning，愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)，麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)，徐丹晨，麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)。(周菊子攝)

近600耆英濟濟一堂。(周菊子攝)

右起，波士頓華商會會長陳文棟，麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，
陳文珊，陳文浩，聯邦眾議員卡普阿諾(Mike Capuano)，余麗媖，
陳毓禮。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華商會7月31日在帝苑大酒樓舉辦”敬老感恩茶會”，邀來麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，聯邦眾議員卡普阿諾(Mike Capuano)等不下七名政客，和將近600名耆英晤面，還在會上協助耆英登記成為選民，期許加強華埠影響力。

麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)(右一)，陳文珊(前中)和青少年
義工們合影。(周菊子攝)

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)展示四年前他拿到的幸運小紅包。
(周菊子攝)

               波士頓華商會會長陳文棟表示，辦這敬老感恩茶會，源於人稱法蘭克叔叔的陳毓禮，想要辦個飲早茶活動，感謝耆英們過去這麼多年來的支持。波士頓華商會接手承辦，則是希望藉此機會，讓耆英們了解波士頓華商會”取之於社會，用之於社會”，與居民攜手，繁榮華埠的宗旨與心願。他很感謝華商會會員和一群青年義工們分工合作，讓耆英們歡度一午。

               在茶會中，陳毓禮以台山話致詞，指出50年前，麻州政客沒人踏進波士頓華埠，50年後，想要順利當選的政客，卻幾乎沒人敢忽視華埠力量，這都要歸功於耆英們的支持與助力。

               陳毓禮還記得，1970年代，中華民國政府送給波士頓華埠蓋牌樓的建築材料，但華埠社團自己沒有足夠的錢，只好把材料暫存在倉庫裏。華埠人士拜見當年的波士頓市長懷特，希望政府支持，沒想到懷特第一句話問的是，華埠有多少張選票。

               陳毓禮，陳毓璇兩兄弟和波士頓耆英就結下了不解之緣，華埠居民的選票也從屈指可數，增加到300多張，然後增加到近年的大約1000多張(不包括南端(South End)。

               陳毓禮表示，波士頓華商會成立也有幾十年了，是華埠社區的重要組織，和華埠的經濟是否繁榮，有著不可分割關係，支持了許多服務機構的生存。他希望耆英們能積極參與政治，出席投票，也能夠支持華商會，支持中華公所，攜手促使波士頓華埠成為更美好社區。

陳毓禮(左)和聯邦眾議員卡普阿諾(Mike Capuano)。(周菊子攝)

               麻州州長查理貝克在陳建立做即席翻譯中，從西裝口袋中掏出一個小紅包，告訴在場耆英們，四年前在波士頓華埠中秋節聯歡會活動上，有人給了他這小紅包，告訴他，會給他帶來幸運。當選以後，他心懷感念，每天都把這小紅包帶在身邊。今年他競選連任，希望可以繼續得到幸運之神眷顧。

競選薩福克郡地方檢察官的Greg Henning(左)和波士頓市議員
愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)。(周菊子攝)

               查理貝克還說，他有三點要和耆英們分享，一是他要感謝耆英們對社區，社會的貢獻，二是他希望大家知道，樂齡會(America Association of Retired Persons，簡稱AARP)在全美國只挑選了兩個對年齡友善的州，在紐約州之外，就是麻州。他將和州、市議員合作，在麻州內建造更多對年齡友善的耆英住宅，以及可負擔住宅，要讓大家有更多機會在波士頓市自己的社區之內，居住，工作，玩耍。他期待在即將到來的華埠中秋節聯歡會上和大家再見面。

               聯邦眾議員卡普阿諾原本市尚莫維爾市市長，1999年迄今，擔任聯邦眾議員，今年也要競選連任。他在茶會中並未多說，但用中文唱了一首”兩隻老虎跑得快”的兒歌，博得台下一片掌聲。

               這天出席”敬老感恩茶會”的政要，還有麻州眾議員麥家威(Arron Michlewitz)，波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)，波士頓市老人局局長Emily K. Shea，波士頓市政府亞裔聯絡員徐丹晨，競選薩福克郡地方檢察官的Greg Henning等人。

麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)。(周菊子攝)

           愛作詩的陳建立，為這茶會做了一首詩，”華埠商會願創新，敬老茶會共感恩，州長官員來多謝，選舉投票為社群，白眼看人歷史真，牌樓興建智勇仁，三千六百多條票，有數可計勝金銀”。(更新版)

右起，波士頓市亞裔聯絡員徐丹晨，波士頓市老人局局長Emily K. Shea，
紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊。(周菊子攝)

Massachusetts Legislature Passes $2.4 Billion Environmental Bond Bill

Massachusetts Legislature Passes $2.4 Billion Environmental Bond Bill

BOSTON – Representative Ultrino joined his colleagues in the Legislature who voted today to pass a $2.4 Billion Environmental Bond Bill focused on improving climate change resiliency and adaptation; enhancing environmental and natural resource protection; and investing in parks and recreational assets.

The legislation passed today ensures that Massachusetts can continue to plan for global warming and a changing climate, including along our vulnerable coastlines.

“It is important to invest money and resources into preserving our environment which is why I was so happy to support this bill. The funds allocated in this legislation will help improve infrastructure, conservation efforts, and restoration programs” Says Representative Ultrino.

“Climate change is a real and present threat to Massachusetts, and we must treat it as a priority,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “These investments in our communities, coastlines, and in overall climate resiliency highlight our joint focus with the House on preparing Massachusetts’ infrastructure for the future, and safeguarding our residents from potential environmental disasters. I thank the conferees for their dedication to preparing this vital legislation.”

“These investments protect critical natural resources, preserve our parks and recreational areas and aim to make our Commonwealth is more resilient to the threats of climate change for years to come,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “I’m proud to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to fund these important initiatives.”

Among other spending, the bill appropriates:

• $225,000,000 for community investment grants;
• $100,000,000 for energy and environment coastal infrastructure;
• $100,000,000 for state hazard mitigation, climate adaptation, and resilient land conservation;
• $75,000,000 for municipal vulnerability preparedness;
• $55,000,000 for river and wetland restoration programs;
• $54,000,000 for rural investments.

Today’s bill also requires the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to coordinate and strengthen the Commonwealth’s climate resilience and prepare for climate change impacts; publish an integrated state climate adaptation and hazard mitigation plan every five years; and establish frameworks for state agency and municipal vulnerability assessments to be included in the state plan.

Additionally, the legislation creates and funds a Global Warming Solutions Trust Fund to fund the implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act, the state’s Clean Energy and Climate Plan, and state and local strategies for climate adaptation.

“This bill comes results from a lot of collaborative work between the House and the Senate and I’m very pleased to see it move forward,” said Senator William N. Brownsberger (D-Belmont), the lead Senate conferee.

“I was very pleased with the hard work and collaboration put forth by my colleagues in the House and Senate in crafting an important environmental bond bill,” Representative David Nangle (D-Lowell). There were some significant differences between the House and Senate versions of this bill, but after several sessions we finalized a bill that includes funding for hundreds of worthy projects across the state, as well as a state-of-the-art agricultural composting program, a commission to study ocean acidification, a global warming solutions trust fund, an agricultural estate tax credit, and significant funding for a lobster and fisheries processing study. Taken together, this $2.4 billion dollar bond bill makes great strides towards making Massachusetts a national leader in environmental protection and control.”

The Environmental Bond Bill also emphasizes the importance of public and parkland throughout the Commonwealth, appropriating $150,000,000 to tree planting, urban and suburban parks, EEA land acquisition, and trails.

"Having the opportunity to be on the conference committee and work with my colleagues to ensure every part of the state will benefit from sound environmental investments and policies was gratifying,” said Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer).  “We are very fortunate to have so many wonderful natural resources and this bond bill helps to make sure that those resources will be protected and conserved for future generations."

“As Chairman of the Environment Committee, I am proud to say this bill is an amazing example of bipartisan effort and compromise,” said Representative Smitty Pignatelli (D-Lenox), Chair Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. “I’m grateful to Speaker DeLeo for including me in this conference process, and to my colleague, Representative Nangle for his leadership and understanding while we championed the issues we believed were most necessary for the environmental benefit of the Commonwealth. I understand neither side got everything it wanted out of the compromise, but I believe we’ve come out with a strong bond bill, funding necessary projects and environmental investments across the state, including an agricultural estate tax credit, integrated state climate adaptation plans, and an investment in preserving our cities and towns. This bond bill aims to preserve our land, restore dams and seawalls, and support various community investment grants which will all have lasting effects on our communities.”

Other highlights of the bill include the creation of the Agricultural Innovation Fund to finance grants for the Commonwealth’s agricultural and cranberry producers; and the Fishing Innovation Fund for the design, construction and modification of commercial fishing vessel; and for research, development, acquisition and deployment of advanced or innovative technologies such as sonar, satellite, radar and radio communications.

AG HEALEY OPPOSES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ATTACK ON FEDERAL FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM

AG HEALEY OPPOSES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ATTACK ON FEDERAL FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMProposal Includes “Gag Rule” That Prevents Some Providers from Discussing Safe and Legal Abortions with Their Patients

            BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey today called on the Trump Administration to withdraw its dangerous and illegal proposed rule that would effectively dismantle Title X, the national family planning program that provides more than $6.1 million in funding for health care services for Massachusetts women and families annually. The Administration’s proposal includes a “gag rule” that effectively bans Title X providers from discussing safe and legal abortions with their patients. 

           

            In comments submitted today to the Department of Health and Human Services, AG Healey and the attorneys general of Washington, Oregon and Vermont argue that the proposed rule would prevent millions of low-income women and families across the country from accessing critical family planning and health care services. If finalized, the proposed rule will impede Title X recipients from offering complete care to their patients by illegally preventing doctors, nurses, and other health care providers from referring their patients to a legal abortion provider, except in cases where a woman has already decided to have an abortion prior to receiving counseling.

            “Every woman in Massachusetts and across the country deserves the ability to make informed decisions about her reproductive health care with her health care provider,” said AG Healey. “This dangerous proposal puts the health of more than four million women in the country at risk by robbing them of their access to critical services. We will defend women’s access to reproductive health care.”

In 2016 alone, 90 Title X Massachusetts service sites provided more than 66,000 residents with a range of health care services including contraceptive and infertility services, pregnancy testing and options counseling, screenings for cervical and breast cancer, screenings and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and health education. According to the letter, these services not only make a profound difference in patients’ lives, they also save the state and the federal government an estimated $140 million per year, just for Massachusetts alone.  

According to the letter, Title X-funded centers helped avert 13,000 unintended pregnancies in Massachusetts. Access to family planning services, the letter contends, can enhance many aspects of a woman’s life including making it more likely that she will achieve her educational and career goals and that she will ultimately earn more money. These services can also lead to healthier relationships, better health outcomes, and better parenting.

The attorneys general argue that by severely curtailing the ability of health care providers to discuss abortion with patients, the government is interfering with the doctor-patient relationship and infringing on a woman’s ability to receive unbiased and complete medical information. This restriction, according to the letter, would jeopardize the health of low-income women and the ethical obligations of health care providers. The comments also criticize the proposed and onerous new requirement for clinics funded under program that perform abortions to have separate physical spaces for Title X funded services and abortion services, effectively requiring two separate clinics.

“I applaud Attorney General Healey for defending women’s basic rights and the most basic medical ethics, and for once again standing up to the Trump-Pence administration’s dangerous political interference in people’s health. The Trump-Pence administration’s gag rule is designed to dismantle an effective, bipartisan public health program in order to push an extreme ideological agenda,” Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said. “The result of this gag rule is that people will not get the health care they need. They won’t get birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, or even general health exams. We cannot allow political interference to undermine our ability to provide the best care and information to our patients. Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts joins Attorney General Healey in calling on U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to withdraw this dangerous rule.”

“The aim of the domestic gag rule is clear — eliminate the majority of Title X providers in Massachusetts through harmful, unnecessary regulations and restrictions," NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts Executive Director Rebecca Hart Holder said. “The proposed rule poses a serious threat to Bay Staters by creating barriers to accessing critical preventative reproductive healthcare services they need and deserve. Title X program has been a critical safety next for Massachusetts for decades. Cuts to Title X will harm over 66,000 Massachusetts residents, many of whom are low-income and unable to access these essential healthcare services elsewhere. Attorney General Maura Healey is a true champion for reproductive freedom and we applaud her vocal opposition to this proposed new rule."

Today’s comments are part of AG Healey’s ongoing commitment to fight for women’s access to reproductive health care. Last year, AG Healey successfullyadvocated for the passage of legislation that requires all state-regulated plans to provide coverage without cost-sharing for all unique forms of FDA-approved contraceptives, allows doctors to prescribe a 12-month supply of contraceptives, and helps eliminate barriers to timely access to emergency contraceptives. In October 2017, AG Healey sued the Trump Administration for rolling back a requirement under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for employers to include birth control coverage in their health insurance plans.

This matter was handled by Legal Analyst Elizabeth Carnes Flynn of AG Healey’s Health Care Division, with assistance from Assistant Attorneys General Jonathan Miller, Chief of AG Healey’s Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau, Genevieve Nadeau, Chief of AG Healey’s Civil Rights Division, and Gabrielle Viator, Deputy Chief of AG Healey’s Policy and Government Division.

140+ Civil Rights Groups Call on Commerce Department to Strike Unnecessary Citizenship Question

140+ Civil Rights Groups Call on Commerce Department to Strike Unnecessary Citizenship Question

WASHINGTON – The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, along with 145 national, state, and local organizations today 

The groups write in part: “There is one constitutional purpose for the decennial census: to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states, based on an enumeration of the ‘whole number of persons in each state’ … With this fundamental, constitutional purpose in mind, we urge the Census Bureau, in the strongest possible terms, to remove the proposed citizenship question from the 2020 Census form. This question will unnecessarily and, perhaps significantly, increase the cost of the 2020 Census, while collecting data at the census block level for which there is no credible or widely-accepted evidence of utility.”

In addition to the joint comments, The Leadership Conference Education Fund (the sister organization of The Leadership Conference), National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC have launched a tool to facilitate participation in the public comment period on the questions proposed for the 2020 Census. The 60-day comment period, which ends on August 7, provides an opportunity to establish a strong, clear public record from a range of stakeholders who oppose the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census.

The joint comments from the groups are available here.

MAYOR WALSH CALLS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPERS FOR MULTI-CITY, LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS

MAYOR WALSH CALLS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPERS FOR MULTI-CITY, LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS City of Boston leads Request for Information of large-scale renewable energy projects to meet the collective demand of 20 U.S. cities.

BOSTON - Tuesday, July 31, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today is asking renewable energy developers and other interested parties to share ideas that could lead to one of the largest renewable energy projects of its kind in the country. The City of Boston released today a Request for Information (RFI) to obtain feedback from qualified renewable energy project developers with projects throughout the United States that could support the municipal energy demand of 20 cities included in the request. The total aggregate energy demand of all cities included in the request is nearly 5.7 terawatt-hours - enough to power over half a million US homes. "Climate change is not an issue a city can solve by itself -- but Boston's leadership can be far-reaching," said Mayor Walsh. "I applaud my colleagues in other cities for joining this effort to demonstrate our collective power in building a clean energy future, and I'm eager to see what is possible in terms of how we can power our cities and create more, clean energy jobs." The City of Boston is working with 19 other U.S. cities to request information on projects. The cities included in the request are Arlington, MA, Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, Cambridge, MA, Chicago, IL, Evanston, IL, Gary, IN, Houston, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Manchester, NH, Medford, MA, Melrose, MA, Nashua, NH, Orlando, FL, Phoenix, AZ, Portland, ME, Portland, OR, Providence, RI, South Portland, ME, and Somerville, MA. "Cities wield the power to create demand and transform the energy market - and when we act together, we can show the world that environmental stewardship and economic prosperity go hand in hand," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "As a chair of Climate Mayors, I'm proud to stand beside Mayor Walsh in the work of amplifying the role of cities and upholding the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement." The request is focused on information regarding project sizing, geography, anticipated completion date, technology, and indicative pricing. The information gathered will inform a future joint purchase of renewable energy. This action demonstrates the collective power of cities to invest in renewable energy and create more, middle class, clean energy jobs. If successful, a large-scale purchase of renewable energy will help power these cities, save money, and offset carbon emissions. "As the energy capital of the world, Houston will play a critical role in transforming the way we power the future. Our city, the largest municipal user of renewable energy in the nation, is proof that even big cities in red states cities can act on climate and maintain a robust, growing economy," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "This RFI is an example of visionary leadership and the ability to see the big picture from a national perspective is a breath of fresh air, and I applaud Mayor Walsh for calling on the private sector to come together with local leaders across the country in the fight against climate change," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Mayor Walsh understands that we will only succeed in protecting the planet for future generations when we work together towards our common goal to bring down carbon emissions as is laid out in the Chicago Climate Charter." Mayor Walsh formally announced his plans for the renewable energy initiative earlier this summer at the International Mayors Climate Summit in Boston. Mayors from across the country and around the world joined Mayor Walsh and leaders from public and private sectors to discuss actions taken by mayors to address climate change globally and in their own communities. "Cities that invest in renewable energy are making the responsible choice for our global future and bringing our significant purchasing power to bear in the transition to a clean energy economy," said Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland, Oregon. "All cities have a stake in the fight against climate change," said Evanston Mayor Stephen Hagerty. "I'm proud to partner with Mayor Walsh and mayors from across the country to explore ways to collectively reduce carbon emissions in our cities. Global climate action begins at the local level, and by working together we can have a much greater impact." Mayor Walsh is the Co-Chair of Climate Mayors, a network of U.S. mayors that participated in a similar joint-city initiative last year that demonstrates the collective power of cities to advance climate goals. The Climate Mayors initiative, led by the City of Los Angeles, issued an Electric Vehicle Request for Information (EV RFI) with 30 other cities in efforts to aggregate municipal demand of electric vehicles across the country. The EV RFI demonstrated demand for nearly 115,000 vehicles of all classes, including trash trucks, street sweepers, semis, shuttles, and buses - with an estimated value of $10 billion to replace the entire fleet. The RFI received 40 responses across all vehicle segments, and is now moving into a formal procurement. ABOUT BOSTON'S CLIMATE INITIATIVES Boston is taking bold action on climate to become a carbon neutral, climate ready city as outlined in its updated Climate Action Plan. Boston's Climate Action Plan serves as Boston's roadmap for reaching its goals of reducing carbon emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change. The goals are supported by Imagine Boston 2030, the first citywide plan in 50 years, that helps to ensure that climate plays a role in aspects of city planning. The city's current climate initiatives are laying the groundwork to advance its climate goals and to accelerate progress. Carbon Free Boston is analyzing the options and pathways to achieve deep decarbonization. The initiative is weighing the costs and benefits of technologies and policies across key action areas including electric power, buildings, transportation, and waste. As part of this effort, Zero Waste Boston is exploring pathways to turn Boston into a zero waste city through planning, policy, and community engagement. Additionally, Climate Ready Boston is strengthening Boston's climate change resilience with near- and long-term planning. It is actively advancing Boston's vision of a resilient city through a comprehensive citywide vulnerability study, a community outreach program, and neighborhood-level implementation projects, including the installation of a flood wall in one of Boston's most flood-prone neighborhood. All of these initiatives will inform the upcoming update of Boston's Climate Action Plan.