Advocacy

By participating in energy programs as a group, we can save money – particularly on fuel oil. But consumers and the environment also need a strong voice. Mass Energy has been active in the national, state, and regional discussions about energy:

• March 17, 2005 - Mass Energy's executive director, Larry Chretien, and oil program director, Phil Lindsay, release a statement on how cold weather and a hot worldwide economy have lead to higher energy prices. Click here to read the statement.
  
  
• February 23, 2005 - Mass Energy's executive director, Larry Chretien, talks with the Plymouth County Water Works Association. Highlighting the need to reduce financial and environmental costs of electricity use at water treatment facilities, Larry says there is great potential for onsite renewable energy technologies.
  Click here for Larry's PowerPoint presentation
  
  
• February 4, 2005 - Mass Energy releases a statement on the proposed Cape Wind project.
  Click here to read our Cape Wind project statement
  
  
• January 4, 2005 - Mass Energy's executive director, Larry Chretien, speaks to the Rotary Club of Quincy, MA.
  Click here to read Larry's presentation entitled "Solving the Energy Crisis: Energy Conservation and Clean Energy"
  
  
• May, 2003 - Mass Energy testifies in favor of rebates for high efficiency oil burners.
  
  
• May, 2003 - Mass Energy testifies in favor of rebates for high efficiency oil burners.
  
  
• On May 13, 2003 - Mass Energy's executive director Larry Chretien testified before the state's legislative Committee on Energy in support of House Bill 519. This bill, sponsored by Rep. John Binienda of Worcester, would provide rebates of up to $400 towards the purchase of high efficiency oil burners. After taking testimony, the Energy Committee voted in favor of the bill. It is now expected to go to the House Ways and Means Committee. 
  
  This bill is good for consumers and the environment. Mass Energy encourages you to contact your state representative and senator to urge support for House Bill 519. To contact your legislators, visit http://www.state.ma.us/legis/legis.htm.
  
  
• February, 2003 - Mass Energy Defends Renewable Energy Trust. Click here to read the Boston Globe article. 
  
  
• February, 2003 - Mass Energy calls for Release of Northeast Heating Oil Reserve.  Click here to read the letter that was sent to the Massachusetts Delegation.
  
  
• Energy Efficiency Legislation Moves Forward!
  For several months, Mass Energy and numerous other local organizations have joined efforts led by MASSPIRG to encourage the state legislature to extend and improve our state’s energy efficiency programs.  The largest such program is financed by a small charge on our monthly electric bills and is administered by local electric utility companies such as NSTAR and National Grid.  Consumers can benefit by contacting their own local electric utility to access these programs in order to improve energy efficiency in their own home.
  
  House Bill 4006 extends funding for these programs for five years, from 2003 to 2007 and sets the charge at 0.25 cents/kilowatt-hour (about $1.25 a month for each household) for the entire five year period.  The bill was filed by Representative Binienda and Senator Fargo, the co-chairs of the Legislature’s Energy Committee.
  
  
  
  
  The photo below shows Mass Energy Executive Director Larry Chretien speaking at the press conference at which Speaker Finneran announced his support for House Bill 4006.  Shown behind Larry in the photo are (l to r): House Energy Co-Chair, State Senator Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln), House Speaker Thomas Finneran (D-Boston), House Energy Co-Chair John Binienda (D-Worcester), Representative Jim Marzilli (D-Arlington) and Representative Peter Larkin (D-Pittsfield). 
  
  
• Larry Chretien, executive director, has been asked to serve on the City of Boston's Energy Advisory Committee, a panel that will advise Mayor Thomas Menino. In November, Larry coordinated a presentation on policies to make energy more affordable for Bostonians.
  
  
• On August 2, executive director Larry Chretien traveled to Washington to appear before the Federal Trade Commission on a panel concerning competition in the petroleum industry. Larry was asked by the FTC for his perspective on the heating oil market. In his remarks, Larry suggested that refiners and wholesalers are both operating in volatile and less than competitive markets, putting consumers at serious risk of price spikes during sudden changes in supply or demand.