• MEA Hosts Legislative Forum With Medford/Somerville Reps
• Medford Awarded $250,000 Grant for Small Wind Turbine
• Rep.Jim Marzilli files legislation to reform MA Energy Policy
• New Legislation Filed to Reduce Energy Use

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News

MEA Hosts Legislative Forum With Medford/Somerville Reps

On June 24, the Medford Environmental Alliance sponsored a discussion with Representatives Paul Donato, James Marzilli, Carl Sciortino, and Senator Patricia Jehlen at the Century Bank building in Medford. Legislators and interested citizens discussed potential and pending legislation covering a wide variety of environmental issues. More information and event pictures.

Medford Awarded $250,000 Grant for Small Wind Turbine

The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) has awarded the City of Medford with a grant for the design and construction of a small wind turbine at the McGlynn Elementary/Middle School. The turbine will supply nearly 10% of the school's energy needs, saving the city about $25,000 in electricity and offsetting about 76 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. For more information, please see the city's press release.

Representative Jim Marzilli Files Legislation to Reform Massachusetts Energy Policy

Representative Jim Marzilli and Rep. Matthew Patrick have filed House Bill 3337 “An Act to Promote Energy, Climate and Economic Security”. This bill is a comprehensive approach to reforming Massachusetts’ energy policy and includes dozens of major policy changes affecting utilities, transportation and buildings. It emphasizes energy efficiency and the development of renewable resources as the prime state energy objectives, while providing assistance to our municipalities, residents and businesses in implementing efficiency and renewable programs. Read More

Rep. Carl Sciortino Files Legislation to Reduce Energy Use

H 3375 – An Act relative to energy efficient construction: New technologies in building design and construction have provided us with tools that will help the Commonwealth reduce its demand for energy and fight increasing energy prices. This bill requires that state buildings and very large homes shall be built to energy efficient standards and provides additional reimbursements for schools built to energy efficient standards.

H 3376 – An Act to promote economic development via renewable energy production: This bill will encourage growth of Massachusetts’ renewable energy economy by supplementing existing income tax credits for renewable energy installations by an additional 15% or $1,000 (whichever is less) above the current incentives, provided that the renewable energy components were manufactured in Massachusetts.

H 1079 – An Act providing consumer choice and environmental protection by authorizing pay by the mile auto insurance: This bill will direct the insurance commissioner to implement a pay-by-the-mile standard by which consumers may get auto insurance with rates set by the standard of usage. This will both provide consumers with better choices and encourage reduced driving, benefiting traffic conditions and the environment.

Please contact your state representative to express your support for these bills!

Medford Hosts a Climate Project Presentation at City Hall

On April 25th Medford hosted a Stop Global Warming presentation and discussion, with Wilson
Rickerson, a Boston-based renewable energy consultant and member of Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth Corps.

Over 70 participants attended the 45 minute slideshow and discussion of the science behind global climate change.

This event was sponsored by the City of Medford Office of Energy and Environment and the Medford Environmental Alliance.

Event Details & Pictures

Medford Hosts Fruitful Global Warming Discussions

Lois Grossman, a Medford environmental activist who has lived on West Street for more than 20 years, recently invited her neighbors over for hot cider and conversation about how to fight global warming. Some of these people had lived within a few houses of each other for years but had never met until this cold February evening. The meetings were planned to identify barriers that prevent residents from acting on climate change—primarily by making their homes more energy efficient, and to identify incentives and actions to help them act. By increasing home energy efficiency, residents can both save money and fight global warming, because most energy sources release carbon, which causes global warming. The project is being hosted by the Medford Climate Action Network and the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University. The group plans to meet with Tufts students who live off-campus in Medford, and will hold at least one more meeting with other residents of Medford.

To attend or host a group, please contact Susan Altman, Medford Climate Action Network, news.altman@comcast.net.

Medford Applies for Small Wind Turbine Grant

Medford’s Energy and Environment Office and the Medford Clean Energy Committee have applied to the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) for $250,000 to fund a 100-kilowatt wind turbine on the property of the McGlynn and Andrews schools. Forty applications were received by MTC for grants totaling $3.5 million. The Medford Energy Independence Project” would offset some of the energy used to power the McGlynn and Andrews schools, as well as providing a new and exciting educational opportunity for Medford students. It would also showcase Medford’s leadership in addressing the impacts of climate change through renewable energy. For more information, see http://www.medfordcleanenergy.org.

Medford Considers Wind Power

The Medford Clean Energy Committee has begun studying the feasibility of a wind turbine by installing a weather station at Hormel Stadium. The device monitors wind speed, providing data that will help determine if the site is appropriate for a wind turbine that would provide clean power for the McGlynn and/or Andrews schools. Read full article

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