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Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 10, 2026 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 identify pockets of overspending and overcharging that have accumulated over the years. My colleagues and I want to go after the excesses and save people some serious money.” Not everyone was on board with the bill. “This Massachusetts Senate bill asks families and businesses to pay more money for a less reliable electric grid,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “It would dramatically expand offshore wind mandates while shifting the financial risk from developers to ratepayers. The proposal could cost an estimated $20 billion, leading to even higher electric bills at a time when Massachusetts is already one of the most expensive states in the country in which to live and do business. Energy affordability and reliability must be the objective—not increasing costs for hardworking families. My goal is to make Massachusetts more affordable, not less, and this proposal misses the mark.” “Tonight’s vote is a profound disappointment for the hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts consumers who exercise their right to choose who supplies their electricity,” said Chris Ercoli, president of the Retail Energy Advancement League. “Rather than standing with their constituents, members of the Senate voted today to cede control of the Legislature to local government over a decision that belongs to consumers.” “While we appreciate the complexity of the issue, we are deeply concerned that the bill the Senate produced is missing an opportunity to make meaningful reforms that lower energy costs – and follow the lead of other climate leaders across the country who have balanced climate innovation with the ability of residents to afford the transition,” said a statement by - LEGAL NOTICE - the Massachusetts Coalition for Sustainable Energy. “Specifically, the bill doubles down on a strategy other states are walking away from that has failed to realize its promise of abundant clean and affordable energy. The members of the coalition are deeply concerned that several sections of this bill increase the cost of energy in Massachusetts.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS LAND COURT DEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT Middlesex, ss ORDER OF NOTICE To: Robyn Harrington a/k/a Robyn Ward and Gene T. Ward, As Successor Trustees of Jacqueline Clarke Living Trust And all persons entitled to the benefit of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. c.50, §3901 (et seq): East Cambridge Savings Bank, Claiming to have an interest in a Mortgage covering real property in Everett, numbered 23 Woodlawn Avenue, given by Jacqueline E. Clarke to East Cambridge Savings Bank, dated April 20, 2022 and recorded at Middlesex County (South District) Registry of Deeds in Book 80021, Page 289, has filed with this Court a Complaint for Determination of Defendants’ Servicemembers status. If you now are, or recently have been, in the active military service of the United States of America, then you may be entitled to the benefits of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. If you object to a foreclosure of the above mentioned property on that basis, then you or your attorney must file a written appearance and answer in this court at Three Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 on or before 8/10/2026 or you may lose the opportunity to challenge the foreclosure on the ground of noncompliance with the Act. Witness, Gordon H. Piper, Chief Justice of this Court on 6/24/2026. Attest: Deborah J. Patterson Recorder July 10, 2026 Case No. 26 SM 002018 vote is against it.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes BIOMASS (S 3143) Senate 35-4, approved an amendment that would remove woody biomass as an eligible fuel under the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standard for Massachusetts municipal light plants. Supporters explained that while biomass was removed from the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard in 2022 because it is not considered clean energy, it remained eligible under a separate section of state law governing municipal light plants. They said the amendment would close that inconsistency by ensuring public clean energy standards are aligned with current science and Massachusetts climate policy, preventing municipal light plants from counting electricity generated by burning woody biomass toward their greenhouse gas reduction requirements. “For too long, Massachusetts law treated a polluting energy source as if it were clean,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield). “This amendment closes that loophole, aligns our statutes with science and ensures our clean energy policies reflect our climate commitments and environmental justice values. It’s an important step for communities like Springfield that have spent years fighting to protect public health and cleaner air.” Opponents of the amendment did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they opposed the amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment removing woody biomass as an eligible fuel. A “No” vote is against the amendment.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes GAS LINE EXTENSIONS (S 3143) Senate 19-20, barely rejected an amendment that supporters said would end ratepayer-backed subsidies for new gas line extension allowances. They noted that the current system allows utilities to distort the market and undermine competition by charging ratepayers for costly new gas connection infrastructure, which ratepayers pay for decades in their utility bills. They argued that ending these subsidies will help reduce costs for ratepayers while allowing lower-cost clean energy alternatives to compete on a level playing field, including electrifying the grid in new neighborhoods, and the use of heat pumps and solar panels in homes. “I voted for this amendment because if Massachusetts is really serious about meeting its carbon emissions reductions goals, while also delivering long-term energy savings to residents, we need more tools in the toolbox to end the continued expansion of costly gas infrastructure, which we all pay for decades,” said Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough). “I do not support subsidizing utility companies to maintain the status quo, while climate change continues to bring weather extremes, infrastructure damage and ever-rising electric bills to Massachusetts residents.” “The bill contains provisions that should produce significant energy cost savings for residents,” said Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy). “I voted against the amendment to ensure that the commonwealth will build all new types of housing, including affordable housing, as part of an overall approach that balances mitigating the effects of climate change on the one hand and incentivizing needed residential development on the other.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL CHANGE “HEARING IMPAIRED” TO “DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING” (S 3142) – The House gave initial approval to a measure, already approved by the Senate on June 23, that would strike outdated language from state laws that refer to people who are deaf or hard of hearing as being “hearing impaired.” The legislation replaces the term “hearing impaired” with the phrase “deaf or hard of hearing.” The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “Words shape how we see one another, and our laws are no exception,” said Creem when the Senate first approved the measure on June 23. “This bill takes a simple but important step toward ensuring that the words we use reflect respect, accuracy and the preferences of the communities they describe. I’m proud the Senate is taking decisive action to help modernize our statutes and affirm the dignity of deaf and hard of hearing individuals across Massachusetts, and I’m grateful to the students of Newton’s CAPS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program for bringing this issue to my attention.” “Members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community have been advocating for this change for years, and they made a compelling case that the language currently found in our laws no longer reflects the people it is meant to describe,” said Sen. Nick Collins (D-South Boston) when the measure was considered by the Senate. “This legislation makes a commonsense update to our statutes and reflects the respect that community deserves. Our laws should evolve alongside the people they serve, and it is important that the language we use reflects both the dignity of all residents and the commonwealth’s commitment to treating every person with respect. It is a small change on paper, but an important step in ensuring our laws continue to reflect the values of Massachusetts.” BAN MEDICAL DEBT FROM BEING REPORTED TO CONSUMER CREDIT AGENCIES – A proposed regulation filed by Gov. Healey and the Department of Public Health (DPH) would prohibit licensed health care providers and debt collectors working on their behalf from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus. Supporters said this will help protect patients from long-term financial harm after an unexpected illness or medical emergency. “Getting sick is hard enough.” said Healey. “It shouldn’t ruin your credit. No one should have to worry that seeing a doctor, filling a prescription or taking their child to the emergency room will damage their financial future. Medical debt shouldn’t make it harder to buy a home, rent an apartment or get a loan years after you’ve recovered and when you’re working hard to make your payments. This action will help protect patients while we continue our work to lower health care costs and ensure all Massachusetts residents can afford to get the care they need when they need it.” “Today’s action by the governor is a much needed first step in preventing disastrous debt spirals,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah. “Families in Massachusetts should be able to access the health care they need free from the worry that their credit could be ruined – potentially impacting their housing and other finances. Regardless of the federal government’s approach, in Massachusetts we’re committed to building a more affordable, more sustainable health care system that puts consumers first.” The Department is now accepting written public comments on the proposed regulaBEACON | SEE PAGE 19

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