Urging the state to protect Mass Save and clean energy grants.

WHEREAS: The Mass Save program helps Massachusetts residents and businesses improve energy efficiency and lower utility bills, delivering an estimated $2.76 in lifetime energy savings, avoided infrastructure costs, and environmental benefits for every dollar invested; and WHEREAS: In Somerville, Mass Save incentives are helping residents and businesses reduce energy use in our many older buildings, while state clean energy grants support energy-saving improvements to municipal buildings and facilities; and WHEREAS: Mass Save is funded primarily through utility bills, and ratepayers deserve programs that are efficiently administered, transparently evaluated, and accessible to all residents; and WHEREAS: The Massachusetts House has proposed cutting Mass Save funding by $1 billion and redirecting 70% of certain Alternative Compliance Payments (ACPs), threatening funding for Green Communities, Climate Leader Communities, and affordable housing decarbonization programs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That this City Council urges the Massachusetts Legislature and Governor to reject these proposed cuts, preserve funding for Mass Save and ACP-supported clean energy grants, strengthen independent oversight and transparency of these programs, and streamline access to incentives for all households; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Clerk transmit this resolution to Somerville's state legislative delegation, the state legislature's Energy Conference Committee, the Speaker of the House, the Senate President, and the Governor.