As we move into the New Year, we want to offer our deep appreciation to several members whose work often goes unseen, but without whom ECA Mass would not thrive. 

First of all, thanks to Debora Hoffman who formats, edits, and produces our beautiful newsletter every month. 

Janice Habermehl keeps our website updated with postings of our upcoming meetings and more.

Dawn Edell stays on top of changes to our membership database so everybody gets the information they need.

Stan Eichner photographs chapter activities and makes them available for us to use.   

And lastly, thanks to all of you - our active participants and supporters in so many ways - this organization wouldn't be here without you and it works because of all your efforts. 

We're in this together and look forward to another year with much good work to do, and together we will accomplish as much as we can to reach our climate goals. 

With grateful thanks, your Leadership Team: Arnie Epstein, Launa Zimmaro, Maiyim Baron, Rick Lent, Roger Luckman, Seth Evans, and Tina Grosowsky 

Contact any of us anytime to talk about your participation in our work!

Sen. Cindy Creem

Rep. Joan Meschino

Rep. Steve Owens

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22

1 - 2 PM on Zoom

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/4abMjXF



All are welcome to come meet our Leadership Team and hear about the Working Groups and Teams they facilitate. Newer members will get a special invitation.

Austin Dawson, Deputy Director of Energy Supply and Rates,

Policy Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

DEEP DIALOGUE

MONDAY, JANUARY 27

4 - 5:30 PM On Zoom

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3XoMOc8

What Makes Up Massachusetts Electric Rates?

Energy affordability, and in particular the cost of electricity, is essential to incentivize electrification and decarbonization. In this talk, Austin Dawson, Deputy Director of Energy Supply and Rates at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), will present on the current status of electric rates in Massachusetts, including what is in electric rates charged to customers and how rates support generating and delivering power to homes and businesses. He'll discuss the various programs that impact the grid and customers. He'll also share how the Massachusetts Interagency Rates Working Group (IRWG), a collaboration between DOER, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and the Attorney General, is addressing near- and long-term electric rate design and ratemaking to align with the Commonwealth’s decarbonization goals, by prioritizing the reduction of energy burden while incentivizing electrification.

Austin Dawson is the Deputy Director of Energy Supply and Rates in the Policy Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. In his role, Austin manages DOER's involvement in offshore wind and other clean energy procurements and oversees a team engaged in topics related to energy supply, data, resiliency, and ratemaking. He leads the development and implementation of DOER's policies on rates and ratemaking and manages the Massachusetts Interagency Rates Working Group.

When I used to worry aloud about how unseasonably warm temperatures were a sign of climate change, my mother would counsel me to “compatmentalize.” Enjoy the nice weather now - and worry about the planet later. This advice has kept me in good stead for many years of moderating Boston winters, and summers that increasingly stretched from May to October. 

But after this week visiting family in Los Angeles, I don’t think I'll ever be able to compartmentalize my climate fear again.

I can see the flickers of the LA fires from the 7th floor apartment my brother rents in mid-city. I can also see smoke billowing in enormous clouds in the distance. Luckily, the smoke has mainly stayed aloft in this part of the city, and by remaining inside we have so far escaped the dangers of smoke inhalation. But now the entire city seems to be living in fear of the smoke and flames spreading, with embers able to leap tall buildings and wide roads in a single bound. A friend of my brother’s called to ask if we were looking out at the new flames in the Hollywood Hills; acres along iconic Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards had just burst into flames. What neighborhood would be next?

We fly back to Boston in three days. The airports remain open. With the winds slowing down, the risk diminishes, but the drought continues — the region has received only about 10% of it’s normal rainfall since October. Plus, the high winds and the fires have further dried out the vegetation, making it more combustible. So while we feel safe, dangers persist. At the time of this writing the fires are 0% contained. 

The fact is, there is no longer a “fire season” in California. Fire season is year-round. Climate change is with us - almost entirely for the worse - and will be here for many generations to come. Perhaps this view of the apocalypse carries a dire warning: it’s time to stop compartmentalizing and view every manifestation of our rapidly changing climate as a call to action. 

Seth Evans

A new direction for Mass Save means

good news for Massachusetts residents!

The Mass Save 2025 Three-Year Plan now under review by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will shift the focus of the program from energy efficiency to conserving energy and cutting planet warming emissions – a critical mission if we are to meet mandated statewide climate goals and protect our health. These dual objectives would be achieved by eliminating rebates for high efficiency fossil fuel appliances and exclusively funding clean energy alternatives such as heat pumps, induction cook tops, and heat pump water heaters.

There will also be increased attention to engaging and supporting landlords and renters in making the transition to clean energy. Proposed rebates for low and middle income Mass Save customers would mean, for some, free or very low cost heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, window upgrades, and insulation that benefit residents with greater comfort and reductions in monthly heating and cooling bills.

The new priorities include the creation of a statewide customer service center to provide real-time support for residents in navigating the MassSave website. While the proposed changes await approval by the DPU, the state’s Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary, Rebecca Tepper, and other Administration officials are enthusiastic about this much needed transformation. The DPU is expected to release its findings by the end of February. If approved, Mass Save will bring clear benefits to a larger pool of the population in a win-win for customers and our planet by lowering emissions and increasing personal comfort and public health while reducing costs.

Stay tuned for more details on how you can take advantage of new Mass Save benefits to decarbonize your home or apartment.

For more information about the MassSave proposal, read Miriam Wasser’s WBUR article on the MassSave program changes.

For more good news about the high efficiency of modern heat pumps, read Sabrina Shankman’s Globe article.

Launa Zimmaro

DAY/DATE: Tuesdays, beginning January 28

HOW LONG: 4 consecutive weeks through February 18

TIME: 4:00 - 5:30 PM

PLATFORM: Zoom

Interested in learning more about the causes of and solutions to the climate crisis?

"Understanding and Acting on Climate Change" (formerly called "Can We Stop Climate Change?") is a four-part webinar jointly sponsored by Elders Climate Action Massachusetts Chapter and Third Act Massachusetts.  

With two experienced facilitators -- both retired science teachers, one from ECA and one from Third Act -- and a maximum of 15 attendees to allow for group participation, the webinar is designed for people who want to learn more about climate change, become more effective in communicating with others, and plan actions they want to take to actively mitigate the impact on our planet and on ourselves.

It's also a good opportunity to connect with other elder activists outside your own organization!

The course starts with the basic science and impacts of climate change, but most of the time is spent on solutions and what you can do. If you are concerned about climate change, are recently or peripherally involved and want more background, or are just interested to learn more, then the course will probably be a good fit. If you are already deeply involved in climate work and have studied the issues involved, then you may find that much of the material is familiar to you -- but you are still welcome!

Sign up at Understanding and Acting on Climate Change -- Course Registration. For more information, contact either of the instructors:

• Seth Evans: setherkim@verizon.net
• Tom Rawson: trclimate@pobox.com

Seth Evans

A majority of Americans are either alarmed or concerned about climate change, and yet, only a small percentage are actively engaged. Many people say they don’t know where to start or what to do. Individual actions or political/systemic initiatives?

Involvement generally starts with individual actions like eating a more plant-friendly diet, getting a home energy audit, adding home insulation, installing solar panels and a heat pump, switching to a hybrid or EV, flying less, etc. These are things we’ve done over the years to reduce our carbon footprint.

In 2012, our town, Wayland, joined two adjacent towns in the Mass Solarize program. We had 28 panels installed on our roof, which provided all of our electricity at that time.

In 2013, we purchased a Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid which we charge at a 220 volt electrical outlet. In 2019, we installed an air sourced heat pump to heat and air condition our house.

We had a second free home energy audit in 2023, and followed recommendations for additional insulation and triple-paned windows. In early 2024, we purchased a Tesla Model Y and installed a second charger. We’ve been rewarded with generous rebates throughout. Over time, incentives change, but investments usually reap significant savings.

We’ve also converted to a more plant-based diet and, in this calendar year, have avoided all air travel.

Our efforts have been amplified by talking with others and by participating in our town’s educational efforts. We continue to work with groups like ECA, a “Can We Stop Climate Change” educational program, a local team planning Earth Day 2025, and by supporting various initiatives.

There’s much that needs to be done at personal, local, and state levels. Every action makes a difference--including simply talking about climate change with your neighbor.

Tony & Margie Lee

How the Winds are Blowing for Offshore Wind

Special guest contributor, Jennifer Delony, Offshore Wind Communications Director, ENVIRONMENTAL LEAGUE OF MASSACHUSETTS

You may be wondering how Massachusetts can increase the supply of offshore wind energy to our power grid amidst a federal administration that seeks to halt offshore wind’s deployment.

Wins this year

The 806-MW Vineyard Wind 1 project, contracted in Massachusetts, will begin full operations this year. This project was under development during the first Trump administration, and its completion will show that perseverance and dedication to our climate goals can deliver real outcomes for our clean energy future.

In addition, the 791-MW New England Wind 1 project will execute its official power purchase agreement (PPA) in Massachusetts before spring. With NE Wind 1’s federal approvals and a PPA in place, the project’s developers can move to finalize project financing and secure supplies for the construction phase.

Where are other projects in the Mass pipeline?

While there are other projects in the Massachusetts pipeline...

Celebration

The Legislative Team has celebrated the (much delayed) passage of a climate bill that included many of the elements we and our allies advocated for, including some game-changing provisions related to gas system and energy permitting reform. As we assess the effectiveness of our advocacy in 2023-24, we find much to be proud of including deepening relationships with key legislators, advancing collaboration with allies, building relationships with administration officials, mobilizing ECA Mass members, and more.

Preparation

Building on our experience in the last session, our new knowledge and relationships, we are committed to becoming even more effective in this session. To that end we are preparing for the coming year on several fronts:

• Identifying policy priorities for energy, transportation, buildings, natural solutions, and budget
• Exploring opportunities for advocacy on plastics
• Preparing information systems to identify and track bills
• Exploring the potential for collaboration with allies on sharing bill management resources and intelligence
• Tracking and preparing for possible changes in the membership of the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee
• Developing a statement about legislative and administrative actions needed to get us on track to meet 2030 climate goals
• Preparing to respond to impacts of a Trump presidency on climate change efforts in Massachusetts
• Continuing engagement with key advocacy coalitions including the Zero Energy Vehicle Coalition, the Zero Carbon Retrofit coalition, and the Northeast Wind Energy Coalition and the Roadmap Coalition
• Monitoring administrative initiatives related to a clean heat standard; Mass Save programs and reform; electric rate reform; large building emissions measurement and permitting reform; and financing the energy transition.

Recruitment

We have a need for volunteers who have just enough time to monitor an administration website and attend and report on an occasional meeting, as well as for those who have some more time to help set up and facilitate legislator meetings and many other activities. Want to learn more? Email Roger at Roger.Luckmann@umassmed.edu or Tina at tgrosowsky@gmail.com.

Roger Luckmann

I recently finished The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. You may know the author from her best-selling book, Braiding Sweetgrass. She draws connections from the natural world to our extractive economy and asks why it must be like this. She compares the views of nature by indigenous people as a shared gift compared to today’s views in an extractive economy that has mostly displaced that original understanding. When land is nothing more than a source of belongings, we narrowed our idea of well-being, from “common wealth to individual wealth, from abundance to scarcity" (p.38).

Like her earlier book, this one is also trying to show us what nature can teach us…if we let it. She writes:

“The natural process of ecological replacement highlights two mechanisms at work in replacing a complex system that dominates the landscape and seems too big to change. Successions relies in part on incremental change, the slow, steady replacement of that which does not serve ecological flourishing …. But it also relies on disturbance, on disruption of the status quo to let new species emerge and flower…. Both of these tools—incremental change and creative disruption—are available to us as agents of cultural transformation" (p.100-101).

Incremental change and creative disruption are the key levers that climate activists need to use, now more than ever. Which of our actions as ECA represent incremental change, or which are more transformational change? When should we focus on incremental change? And when should we aim for more transformational change? And when do ECA’s efforts reflect an abundance perspective in our arguments and actions? 

Rick Lent

Third Act is hosting a webinar on January 28th, 7-8:30 PM, featuring guest speaker Bill McKibben to discuss Project Maple, a proposed gas pipeline that would run from NY to MA. 

Tina Grosowsky 

Thanks to all who joined us for the wonderful potluck hosted by Seth on December 9. Special thanks to Stan Eichner for taking such wonderful photos.

We send announcements of our meetings and Action Alerts to eca-mass@googlegroups.com, which includes all those on our active list. 

Please contact Dawn Edell if you want to confirm you are on our active list.