Earlier this week, the Legislature's Special Joint Committee on Redistricting released proposed new divisions of the Commonwealth into 40 Senatorial and 160 Representative districts, which if passed would take effect with the 2022 state elections. Incumbent legislators will continue to represent their current districts for the remainder of the current Legislative session.

This redistricting is required every ten years, following the decennial U.S. Census. The committee is expected to release proposed new Congressional and Governor's Council districts in the coming weeks.

Trends and impacts reflected in the proposed maps include:

The Committee will hold a virtual hearing to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on the draft State Senate and State House maps today, Friday October 15th, beginning at 1:00 PM; click here to access the virtual hearing. Members of the public may also offer written comment to the committee via this online form.  

This week, Governor Baker filed legislation intended to direct $750 million to support the state’s clean energy industry. The bill, H.4204, titled “An Act to Power Massachusetts’ Clean Energy Economy,” would establish a new Clean Energy Investment Fund of $750 million intended to “support innovation, research and development, and job training in the clean energy sector.” Additionally, the legislation would refine the current offshore wind procurement process, and remove the price cap provision for future procurements of offshore wind projects.

The legislation would utilize federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA); the Legislature is currently evaluating use of ARPA funds, with legislation of its own expected later this Fall.

Intended to support meeting the climate targets established by climate legislation signed by the Governor in March, including a target of Net Zero emissions in 2050, the legislation would create a $750 million Clean Energy Investment Fund to be administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). The fund would be used to:

The legislation would transfer the authority to select the winning bidder of the Commonwealth’s offshore wind solicitations from the electric distribution companies to the Department of Energy Resources (DOER). The electric distribution companies would remain as participants in the evaluation and could provide technical advice to DOER. The legislation would also provide DOER the authority to make the final determinations on the design aspects of future RFPs. Additionally, the legislation outlines changes to emphasize equitable employment and economic development, mitigation and avoidance of environmental and socioeconomic impacts, and benefits to environmental justice communities when reviewing project proposals.

The legislation would also remove the original price cap established by energy legislation in 2016, allowing future bids to incorporate energy storage. With the intention of providing greater regulatory certainty, the legislation would set a standard rate of remuneration for electric distribution utilities at 2.5%.  

Click here to access the full text of the legislation, as proposed. The bill has been referred to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

The Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership will host Congresswoman Lori Trahan of Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District virtually on Thursday, November 4th at 10:00 AM. The Congresswoman will discuss her work on the House Energy & Commerce and Natural Resources Committees, as well as comprehensive PFAS legislation recently passed by the House. This event will be hosted virtually via Zoom; advance registration is required. Click here to register.

Congresswoman Trahan has served in the House since 2019, and represents the 495/MetroWest Partnership communities of Acton, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, and Westford.  

The Transportation Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership met virtually on Thursday, October 14th. Click here to access a recording of the meeting. The agenda included a presentation from the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization regarding their Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) development process, an overview from the Regional Transit Authority Advocacy Coalition (RTAAC) on their proposed RTA Advancement bill, and a brief presentation from GATRA on two new demand-response services which between them will serve the 495/MetroWest Partnership communities Foxborough, Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville, and Wrentham.

To access slide presentations and other materials referenced during the session, click the respective links below:

During the Transportation Committee meeting, Central Transportation Planning Staff’s Anne McGahan and Michelle Scott presented on the needs assessment, universe of projects, and overall development process for the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (Boston MPO) upcoming Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) "Destination 2050," which is scheduled to be adopted in 2023. Further development of the plan will identify specific major transportation infrastructure projects the MPO plans to fund over the next 20-30 years.

As part of the presentation, the Boston MPO created a 495/MetroWest Partnership-specific Jamboard (a digital interactive whiteboard/ collective workspace) to further engage with stakeholders on transportation challenges, opportunities, and how communities’ transportation needs have evolved since the onset of the pandemic. The Jamboard page is active, and we encourage stakeholders within the shared boundaries of the Partnership and Boston MPO service areas to provide feedback. The Jamboard will remain open until the close of business on Tuesday, October 19th.

For further informational resources on this process:

495/MetroWest Partnership communities that are served by the Boston Region MPO are Acton, Ashland, Bellingham, Bolton, Boxborough, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Norfolk, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, and Wrentham.

To view all upcoming events or view recordings of past virtual events, visit the "Events & Committee Meetings" section of our website 495Partnership.org.