đ Continuing to lead on clean energy & efficiency
Read the Baker-Polito Administrationâs latest âCorner Office Connectâ update
Massachusetts retains status as national leader on energy efficiency and clean energy
For the ninth year in a row, Massachusetts has been named the most energy efficient state in the nation, according to the latest report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), which ranked states based on more than 30 metrics across a wide range of areas.
The Baker-Polito Administration is proud to have prioritized efforts that sustain this national leadership. Key to Massachusettsâ ongoing success is its utility-run, nation-leading energy efficiency programs. Through the Department of Energy Resources, the administration recently approved a Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan, which sets nation-leading goals for energy savings, expecting to achieve the highest level of natural gas savings to date while expanding the electric energy efficiency programs to align the programs with the Global Warming Solutions Act greenhouse gas reduction goals. In total, the programs are expected to deliver over $9 billion in benefits to residents and businesses across Massachusetts.
âThrough significant investments in energy efficiency and clean energy, including historic procurements of hydropower and offshore wind, our administration remains committed to building a clean energy future for the Commonwealth.â
â Governor Baker
Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, Secretary Pollack, GM Poftak, Mayor Koch and local legislators celebrate the re-opening of Wollaston Station, which is now fully accessible
Governor testifies in favor of $18 billion bond bill to modernize and improve statewide transportation system
This past summer, Governor Baker filed an $18 billion transportation bond bill, which will enable the Commonwealth to invest in building and modernizing a transportation system that meets the needs of residents, businesses and cities and towns statewide. This week, the governor joined Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack and MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak to testify before the legislature in support of the bond bill. The governor outlined how the legislation would give Massachusetts the biggest arsenal of tools and capabilities it has ever had to make its transportation network safer, more reliable and better able to service the needs and expectations of residents and communities.
VIDEO: Promoting a culture of healthy relationships
Over the last several months, Lt. Governor Polito has been connecting with community organizations and young people to promote the administrationâs #RESPECTfully campaign. The campaign is the Commonwealthâs first public awareness campaign in over 20 years designed to combat sexual assault and domestic violence by promoting healthy relationships. The administration is committed to promoting a healthy relationship culture across the Commonwealth, especially among young people.
LEARN MORE: MASS.GOV/RESPECTFULLY
Bipartisan group of economic development leaders backs Housing Choice legislation
The Baker-Polito Administrationâs Housing Choice legislation has already earned support from a wide range of stakeholders, from local government officials across the Commonwealth, to advocacy leaders. Last month, that support continued to grow as six former housing and economic development officials who served under governors of both parties joined Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito to advocate for the Housing Choice bill.
Former secretaries Ranch Kimball, Dan OâConnell, Greg Bialecki and Jay Ash and former housing undersecretaries Aaron Gornstein and Chrystal Kornegay spoke at the State House event. Representing a wide range of perspectives, political affiliations and administrations, these leaders spoke to the depth of the housing crisis and the pressing need to address the structural factors facing the state. They all endorsed the Housing Choice bill as a key measure to address the housing crisis.
MASSLIVE COVERAGE | BOSTON GLOBE COVERAGE | CNHI COVERAGE
PRESS RELEASE | PHOTOS
Governor Baker and Secretary Sudders joined representatives from Mass Senior Action and Health Care For All to celebrate the enactment of key sections of the FY20 budget designed to promote health care savings for individuals.
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Updating laws to combat impaired driving
The Commonwealth continues implement the adult use of marijuana in a safe and responsible way, with the latest development being the approval of regulations that would govern social consumption. Amidst this changing landscape, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito joined a broad coalition of stakeholders to promote the administrationâs impaired driving legislation that would implement recommendations made by the Special Commission on Operating Under the Influence and Impaired Driving.
The Governor and Lt. Governor were joined by Helen Witty, National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, David Torrisi, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Dispensary Association, Cannabis Control Commissioner Britte McBride and Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael.
PRESS RELEASE | BOSTON GLOBE COVERAGE | MASSLIVE COVERAGE
âAs the marijuana industry continues to grow in Massachusetts, we need every tool at our disposal to keep the public safe from a new wave of drivers under the influence.â -Boston Herald Editorial (READ MORE)
Supplemental budget: tax relief and key investments
With the Commonwealth benefiting from a major budget surplus, Governor Baker last month filed legislation to provide tax relief to Massachusetts residents and make a milestone deposit in the Stabilization Fund to bring the fund balance to $3 billion, the highest balance ever. These proposals are part of a $651 million supplemental budget bill that also makes investments in a wide range of areas including infrastructure, education and support for cities and towns. An editorial in The Boston Globe praised the proposal as a âfitting [way] to spend the stateâs unexpected tax windfall.â
