Clean Tech

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Diving into the Commonwealth's Most Promising Startups

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Few startup markets are as competitive and thriving as Massachusetts and, more specifically, Boston. Ranging from crypto goldmines to plant-based meat alternatives, the talent is far-ranging, making the Bay State one of the hottest markets in the country. Despite a cut-throat market, these successful startups are making it work in the Commonwealth’s thriving startup scene.

Motif

Perfectly coinciding with the rise of alternative meat options, Motif has made a name for itself in the plant-based food space. While the company was first created with the goal of producing ingredients that secondary companies could use to make their own plant-based products, Motif soon came to develop its own line of food that was met with rave reviews across the board. Alternatives include beef, pork, and chicken, all of which could be sold directly to third-party distributors interested in expanding their plant-based line. Shifting their model from an ingredient supply business to selling the foods directly has not been a breeze for Motif -- but a process that is nevertheless proving worthwhile.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/18/business/boston-startup-motif-start-selling-plant-based-meat-alternatives/

Kintent

One group that recently earned major funding is Kintent, which helps companies meet compliance standards. Receiving funding from both TolaCapital and Openview and led by a powerful team aiming to close the affordability and thoroughness gap in compliant software companies currently on the market, Kintent is already making waves. In a nutshell, Kintent is helping to make sure all SaaS companies are up to code and working with strong security to ensure the safety of all parties involved, including meeting standards like HIPAA. The increased funding is set to go toward continuing to expand and helping to round out the expansion team, including sales agents.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/03/kintent-aims-to-automate-away-enterprise-compliance-tasks/

Flipside Crypto

Crypto has taken the world by storm in recent years, both positively and negatively, with harsh crashes and falling values lately. One startup in the cryptocurrency space, Flipside Crypto, is aiming to use blockchain tech to grow with the market and one day rival brick and mortar institutions that have been the long-standing norm. To help do this, the company has recently received a $50 million investment to be used for expansion and continuing to source crypto’s next biggest thing in decentralized finance.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/19/business/boston-startup-gets-50-million-uncover-most-promising-crypto-projects/

Phoenix Tailings

Focused on mining and increased output that makes economic and sustainable sense, Phoenix Tailings is bravely challenging the most established mining companies out there. One of the primary approaches is taking the traditional mining waste, called tailing ponds, and using this waste to extract the remaining important metals that primary companies typically cast aside. Some of these refined metals are valuable enough to be used in phones, cars, and the aerospace industry, yet so many companies skip over the opportunity. Based in Woburn, Phoenix Tailings is set to completely disrupt the market in the most sustainable and economically sound approach.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/12/business/woburn-startup-aims-break-chinas-grip-rare-metals/ 

Concern About Climate Change is Falling

A recent poll has narrowed down what Massachusetts residents care about most. And among the many issues that the Commonwealth is grappling with, climate change is falling under the weight of rising concerns over health care and education.

The poll, conducted by the Barr Foundation and MassINC Polling Group, surveyed nearly 2,000 people and included questions about:

  • Climate change

  • High fuel costs

  • Education

  • Taxes

  • Health care

  • Economy

Less than half of those surveyed cited climate change as one of their top concerns in the state. That statistic is particularly troublesome when comparing the figure to what it was only years before in 2019. Specifically, MassINC found that 47% of respondents agreed that climate change was a high priority, but in 2019, the figure was 54%.

The poll further broke down the results by demographics and political preference to better understand which group most supported climate change compared to other policy concerns. In general, Democrats believed climate change was one of the more serious threats, with 64% agreeing and 30% saying it was somewhat serious. On the other side, 22% of Republicans said yes, climate change is a high-priority problem, while 26% said it was only somewhat serious.

However, health care topped the lost as the priority for residents in Massachusetts, with nearly one-third of respondents saying it is the most important issue facing the state. This is not surprising given the high cost of health care and the recent debate over access to insurance. Education is the second-most important issue, with 16 percent of respondents saying it is the top priority. The economy, taxes, and transportation are also high on the list of priorities for residents.

Shifting opinions on climate change are not hard to believe. Just this year, the US economy has dramatically adjusted and re-adjusted as the nation tries to build toward a post-pandemic recovery. Economic momentum has been halted for many reasons, not least of which are the war in Ukraine; bringing other concerns like gas prices and the economy to the forefront for residents.

Direct relief for these immediate concerns most likely dominate the Commonwealth’s recent perceptions. Gas prices skyrocketed almost overnight and past efforts at economic relief have brought stimulus programs that have eased some pain through the COVID years. Alternatively, approaches to combatting climate change take years to progress and that can be frustrating to those who care about resolving the issue.

Once the current political and economic environment have a chance to readjust, it’s reasonable to assume that climate change will reemerge as a pressing issue for residents. Massachusetts and New England are warming at an alarming rate, and the possibility that the effects will be deepened in the coming years in the state is likely. There is no doubt that climate change will soon impact our communities and the urgency to solve this global crisis will soon reappear at top of the priority list.

New England Clean Energy Initiatives Delayed by Years

Recent reports indicate that some clean energy initiatives in New England will be delayed by up to five years. This comes as a major setback for the region, which has been working hard to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

One of the most important aspects of the transition to clean energy is the development of new infrastructure. This process is often slow and expensive, and it requires significant coordination between different stakeholders. In New England, much of the necessary infrastructure is already in place. However, there are still some major projects that need to be completed before the region can fully transition to renewable energy sources.

One of the biggest obstacles to the completion of these projects is the ISO New England minimum offer price rule. This rule requires that all power plants in the region offer their electricity at a minimum price of $0.02 per kilowatt-hour. This price is significantly higher than the cost of producing electricity from renewable sources, and it makes it very difficult for new clean energy projects to compete against existing fossil fuel plants.

According to Boston Globe, “the minimum offer price rule was created to help insulate fossil fuel power plants from having to compete against renewables that cost less due to state programs and subsidies that exist to help foster clean energy development. It created a floor below which a developer cannot bid, meaning that those less expensive energy supplies, like large-scale offshore wind or solar, aren’t able to compete.”

The result has been more fossil fuel companies winning bids with the fear of a lapse between renewable and old fuel sources as the switch is made. Adding to the problem may be a brand new decision to delay implementation. Independent System Operator New England, also known as ISO or ISO-New England, has embraced a proposal for a phased approach of project implementation for renewables, setting back efforts by years.

Many have criticized the move as failing to recognize the severity of climate change and how soon change needs to happen. Massachusetts has pledged to reduce greenhouse emissions by at least 50% by 2030, and with only eight years to go, the current landscape for renewable projects will need some significant help to reach these goals.

“This is a really terrible idea,” said Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “It would be like if the FDA decided to phase out cigarettes by allowing tobacco companies to keep selling them for another five years.”

Unfortunately, the ISO New England minimum offer price rule has now created one of the singular obstacles to the development of clean energy in Massachusetts and the region. However, there are efforts underway to reform the rule, and it is possible that these efforts will be successful. These reforms could help speed up the transition to clean energy in New England and provide a much-needed boost to the region's economy. In the meantime progress on this issue will likely be slow.

Many individuals, enterprises, and communities in Massachusetts remain committed to supporting renewable energy sources. With continued support from residents and businesses, we may eventually be able to reach our collective renewable energy goals. Only time will tell if these delays are a minor setback or a major roadblock for New England's clean energy future.

References:

- Boston Globe, "New England clean energy initiatives delayed by years," March 15, 2018.

- Sierra Club, "Sierra Club: New England's Clean Energy Future Delayed By Years," March 16, 2018.

- ISO New England, "Independent System Operator New England Adopts a Phased Approach to Implementing the Capacity Performance Resource”

Climate Change is Coming to New England Faster than Anywhere Else

A new study from Salem State University has found that New England states are warming at rates much faster than global averages. The warming is expected to continue at unprecedented rates in the coming years and the analysis shows that the impacts of climate change in New England will far outpace the rest of the planet.  

This comes on the heels of an announcement stating that last year was one of the top three hottest years in Massachusetts history. Similarly, it was discovered a few years ago that New England had lost an average of just over six days of snow covering the ground over a 17-year time span, beginning in 2001.

The study, conducted by Stephen and Joshua Young, focused on analyzing New England temperature data provided by the U.S. Historical Climatology Network. Comparing year-to-year data, there were four different findings overwhelmingly present in the study. The first was that New England states had warmed significantly between 1900 and 2020, both seasonally and annually. The second finding was that there is a cycle that New England states follow during their change – warming, cooling, and warming again.

The culprit? A Boston Globe piece covering this study says, “The scientists attributed the warming in the Northeast to changes in atmospheric conditions as well as rising temperatures in coastal waters, such as the Gulf of Maine, which scientists say is among the fastest-warming bodies of water on the planet.”

With that, the third discovery was that winter was the season that saw the most warming of all. And finally, the study found that the minimum temperatures were rising more than the maximums. So while the highest temperatures aren’t necessarily rising, the thresholds for lows are rising. Figures for New England were a 1.83 degrees Celsius (3.29 degrees Fahrenheit) increase and 1.14 degrees Celsius increase for planet averages since 1900. Massachusetts was said to have had an even greater increase at 1.97 degrees Celsius (3.55 degrees Fahrenheit).

In a region known for its seasonality and delicate ecosystem, the shifts in weather are especially alarming. Effects of climate change can be seen in rising sea levels, ocean salinity affecting marine life, and harsher storms. Climate change and rising temperatures have long been cause for concern, but this vulnerable region is undeniably being impacted at unprecedented rates.

The rampant increase in New England has far outrun the figures set forth by the Paris Climate Accord, an agreement signed by hundreds of nations in an effort to limit warming temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The number was determined in order to avoid catastrophic issues relating to warming temperatures, but New England, especially Massachusetts, has surpassed the number in record time.

Figures are expected to continue rising and show no signs of slowing down despite innovative technology and New England citizens’ best efforts. According to the authors of the study, “the region should expect major disruptions to its economy, including coastal waters that will become increasingly inhospitable to iconic species such as cod and lobster; fewer days when skiing and other winter recreation will be possible; less maple syrup and other agricultural products produced, and a range of other consequences.”

For more on this important issue, please see the following links:

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The Boston Startup Ecosystem Combats Climate Change

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The threat of climate change is more real than ever. With increased storm frequency and severity, rising oceans, salinity, and temperatures, the state of our climate is increasingly frightening. Luckily, a few bold companies right here in Massachusetts are working to combat climate change so humans can carry-on with less environmental impact, but more awareness of the earth’s conditions.

The Boston startup scene is no stranger to working hard in order to make a difference, even in the case of climate change. Nearly a decade ago, there was a major uptick in energy companies that weaved through the startup community trying to create cleaner power alternatives back when climate data showed a smaller risk than it does now. However a great many of those businesses didn’t get farther than initial concepting. Thinking too big and doing whatever it took to reach their goals made them vulnerable and ultimately their efforts suffered. A123 Systems, Bedford biofuels, Evergreen Solar and other successful local companies left a negative perspective of what local startups have to offer, but things are shifting now.

In this new decade, a new wave of startups and innovators are ready to create technology that combats climate change one again, hopeful that their efforts will stick for good this time. With a worsening planetary environment, the stakes are higher and the need for innovative, effective solutions are much higher.

The Boston Globe chatted with a representative from the Bill Gates umbrella company Breakthrough Energy Ventures, who says that the climate-soaked startup market is unlike anything he’s seen before. Sources include institutional investors, family foundation, philanthropies, and hedge funds. What are they looking for? Ambition, innovation, and strength, to name a few. The perfect combination of boldness and insight are what make startups stick out right now – the ability to dream big, but also to back up those aspirations with data and pathways to success.

Climate Change Startup Spotlight

Commonwealth Fusion Systems

This company is taking on the heavy feat of making nuclear fusion a reality rather than a crazy science experiment. Just in this last year, Commonwealth has already produced a viable figure for nuclear fusion tech that safely and effectively fuels power grids. They’re so confident, in fact, that they’re aiming for power centers to be in full effect in less than a decade. The company’s innovative power choice reduces emissions and therefore, does not contribute to the warming. To date, Commonwealth has acquired over $250 million in funding for their projects.

Form Energy

When it comes down to it, the place we pull energy from to fuel everything we need has a direct impact on climate change. Form Energy has developed an effective, affordable battery option that limits emissions and climate change effects, thanks to a little help from iron. When a location can’t benefit from hydroelectricity or wind turbines, these batteries make it possible to recharge with powerful batteries rather than waste precious resources.

These two companies are only the tip of the iceberg for clean energy solutions constantly spilling onto the market. More specifically, these efforts marks the distinct drive that Massachusetts’ start up community possesses as it continues to produce one-of-a-kind combatants for the climate crises. As more funding pours into these projects, making dreams and hopes a near-certain reality, mitigating climate change on a local, country, and world-wide level does not seem too far away.

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Tackling Climate Change and the Housing Crisis

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A proposed bill intersecting real estate and renewable energy is headed to the state legislature for consideration. If passed, it will have major effects in Massachusetts, particularly around the dual housing and climate crises.

Led by HERO, the Housing and Environment Revenue Opportunities Coalition, this bill paves the way for both environmental and housing policy solutions. The bill calls for more funding to be diverted toward climate adaptation and green, affordable housing options for those at risk. 

Most unique is HERO’s pathway to get there. To raise adequate funding, the coalition aims to raise the Massachusetts deeds excise tax, nearly double it in fact, to raise annual revenue to approximately $300 million. Proceeds would be funneled into projects that directly support the intersections of energy efficiency and affordable housing. 

If you’re wondering what a deeds excise tax is in Massachusetts, you’re not alone. To put it simply, the excise tax is a fee paid to the state once a home is sold. The fee as of now, and for the last thirty years, has been roughly $2.30 for every $500 of home value. This equals out to $1,140 for a $250,000 home and scales upwards -- meaning a hefty fee for luxury home sales. 

According to HERO, the collected revenue would be split equally between environmental and housing efforts. Proponents of the bill are hopeful that more Massachusetts residents will be able to afford sustainable housing to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Not only would the programs help those in need find quality housing, but they would also support the nation-wide need to address climate change. 

The bill would effectively act as an all-in-one solution for the two major policy problems the Commonwealth is facing.Unfortunately, it seems that neither issue is easily solved by the solutions that Massachusetts has implemented in the past, as the dual housing and climate crises continue to grow at exponential rates. HERO is hopeful that this will change with the passing of this bill, which has already received both Senate and House support in its early stages. 

How Are Housing and Environmental Policy Related?

Both climate and housing conditions directly feed off of one another and are facing critical threat levels. With new developments being built that do not implement green energy, the climate crisis continues to worsen.  At the same time, new developments can price out vulnerable populations, leaving inadequate properties in vulnerable areas to those in need. Oftentimes those in the most vulnerable communities are the ones who are most likely to face the effects of climate change or  housing insecurity.

The good news is that, in effectively addressing just one of these issues, policies can also alleviate the other. For example, building new affordable housing that is energy efficient targets both the housing and climate crisis.. With this proposed bill, HERO aims to address both issues at the same time, recognizing how closely they’re related. 

FIND OUT MORE

https://energynews.us/2021/07/08/mass-bill-would-double-real-estate-fee-to-fund-clean-energy-affordable-housing/

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Urgency Has A New Meaning

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As spring transitions into summer in New England and emergency restrictions come to an end, the news has been trending to less urgent matters. However, that’s not saying much considering how ultra-urgent things have seemed for the past year. On another timeline where the road was less rocky, this week’s news might feel more urgent than it does today. 

Is a millionaire’s tax urgent when the state is rolling in billions of dollars in federal economic relief? Is the fact that businesses are scrambling to hire enough employees urgent if you’re being paid to stay home? Is the building of a fossil fuel-powered peaker plant urgent when a bank of batteries might suffice just fine? Is the Transportation Climate Initiative (aka TCI) urgent? Apparently not to Connecticut and ten other states that signed on and then off. We debrief on all these topics below. 

In a bright spot in this week’s news, two cities in the Bay State topped Safewise’s list of the 100 safest cities in the U.S. That’s something! 

Read all about the topics below and then charm your cronies with your clever conversance on current crises in Mass. politics. 

Politics

“Millionaire Tax” will be on the Ballot in 2022

A constitutional amendment that would raise the income tax on wealthy Massachusetts residents passed the Constitutional Convention, and the so-called “millionaire’s tax” will be included on the 2022 ballot. 

The proposal calls for an additional 4% tax on all household income above $1 million. This is in addition to the current flat income tax rate of 5%. The Department of Revenue estimated that the measure could generate as much as $1.9 billion in additional taxes. 

Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Marian defended the proposal in a joint statement. 

“As Massachusetts recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, and as we prepare for our future, we have a unique opportunity to move towards a Commonwealth that truly works for all residents... We stand with the residents of Massachusetts in exploring new ways to increase revenue for the state as we envision and invest in an equitable and hopeful future for the Commonwealth.”

The proposal has the backing of the Raise Up Coalition, a group of labor, faith, and community organizations, who said in a statement:

“Long before the pandemic, Massachusetts needed new investments in our transportation and public education systems. These investments are needed now more than ever to lift up our economy for everyone and to ensure Massachusetts remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Massachusetts needs sustainable, long-term revenue for these investments that doesn’t require low- and middle-income families to pay more.” 

The proposal is getting some fierce blowback from business leaders who point to the fact that tax revenues are more than $1.8 billion ahead of projections through April and that the state is collecting another $5.3 billion in federal COVID-19 relief aid.

Read all about it at Boston Business Journal.

More Politics

Business

Bay State Businesses “Scrambling” To Hire Workers, Pony Up Higher Pay

As the state opens for business, Massachusetts employers are “scrambling to hire enough workers to meet their reopening needs and the pent-up demand from patrons who want to go out again,” according to a story in the Boston Globe.

Some businesses in the state are increasing wages and adding hiring bonuses to attract applicants. Also being offered are deep employee discounts on products and services for new hires. 

According to the report, this comes at a time when weekly unemployment claims in the Bay State have fallen to their lowest levels since the pandemic-forced lockdowns. The shortage of workers could hamper economic recovery while increased wages are likely to lead to rising prices on some goods and services in Mass. 

Meanwhile, according to the US Labor Department, employers added 559,000 jobs in May. 

Here’s the full report: These companies are raising wages and offering bonuses to attract more workers in Mass.

More Business

Energy

Is Proposed “Peaker Plant” Already Obsolete?

A proposal for a 55-megawatt natural gas-powered “peaker plant” has come into question as environmental activists and local residents express concern over unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions and ground-level pollution. The group claims that future regulations will make fossil fuel burners non-competitive and leave consumers on the hook for the $85 million plant. 

In May, a group of 87 health care professionals sent plant operator Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) a letter urging them to consider battery storage rather than continuing with the current plan. 

A “peaker plant” runs only at times of peak demand — estimated to be no more than 250 hours per year. And many feel the plan is obsolete given advances in clean energy storage over the past six years since the plan was first proposed. The cost of utility-scale storage has fallen nearly 70% between 2015 and 2018, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And it has fallen even further since. 

The MMWEC last month paused the plan for at least 30 days to address community concerns and reevaluate possible alternatives. The group contends that the facility’s emissions would be lower than those of 94% of fossil-fueled peaker plants in New England. Since then, two of fourteen municipal utilities that signed on to the project have filed paperwork asking to be released from the agreements. 

Energy News has more on this story.

More Energy News

Transportation

Massachusetts & Rhode Island Only Two States Left in TCI Agreement

Connecticut is the latest state to drop out of the Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) agreement as Gov. Ned Lamont abandoned the program amid state budget negotiations on Friday. Only Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. are left.

TCI, a regional collaboration originally consisting of 13 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia was developed to promote clean energy transportation. Under the plan, transportation fuel suppliers, or wholesalers bringing fuel into Massachusetts, would be required to purchase “allowances” (aka carbon credits) for any carbon dioxide their fuel produces. 

According to original estimates, CTI could bring in about $500 million a year in new revenue for Massachusetts alone, to be invested in clean transportation solutions.

Visit the Boston Herald for more info.

More Transportation News

Real Estate

Two Mass. Cities Top List of 100 Safest 

Home prices in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and Franklin, Massachusetts are about to go up. The two cities have topped Safewise’s list of the top 100 safest cities in the country. 

More than two-thirds of the cities that made the list are in New England and the Mid-Atlantic region. And Massachusetts has the second-highest number of cities on the list with 17. 

Hopkinton, which is east of Worcester has a population of just over 18,500 and a median income of over $95,000. Franklin, just west of Foxboro, is home to more than 33,000 residents with a median income of just under $102,000.

“These crime-curbing communities have cause to celebrate,” writes Safewise. “The 100 cities in our roundup boast a collective violent crime rate that’s 92% lower than the national average. And, when it comes to property crime, our top 100 locales report 79% fewer property crimes per 1,000 people than most of the US.”

The full report can be found here.

More Real Estate

Cannabis

Indoor Cannabis Cultivators Using 10% Of All Industrial Energy Use in the Bay State

According to estimates by the Northeast Sustainable Cannabis Project, indoor cannabis cultivation is responsible for about 10% of all industrial electricity consumption in Massachusetts. That’s pretty high.

According to Cannabis Business Times, the 10% estimate “is based on current indoor cultivation lighting standards and the assumption that half of the growing canopy square footage authorized for use is currently in use.” 

Back in 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources estimated that the energy required to power grow lights for 660,000 square feet of canopy would negate the entire energy savings of $11 million from DOER's program to convert more than 130,000 streetlights statewide to LEDs. 

Since then, the Cannabis Control Commission has authorized more than 1.1 million square feet of indoor marijuana cultivation. That’s about four times the area of outdoor cultivation facilities in the state. Moreover, the cannabis sector in Mass. is expected to triple in size by the time supply and demand level out. 

More Cannabis News

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Growing Back

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With nearly 50% of residents fully vaccinated, and the state rapidly expanding business and home vaccination programs, Massachusetts has gone from having one of the worst records on vaccination to one of the best in the country. As a result, most restrictions put in place to fight the pandemic will be lifted in the coming weeks — just in time for some summer fun in the sun.

In other news this week, Democrats in Massachusetts must now contend with an army of young adults who are fluent in social media marketing and venturing into politics. This is a fascinating trend that politicians ignore at their own risk.

On Beacon Hill, the idea of a $1,200 “Back To Work” bonus is being kicked around. In energy, Massachusetts is becoming the “Saudi Arabia of Wind.” The T is gearing up for a massive increase in ridership. Residential property taxes are on the rise along with home prices. And (federally legal) hemp is now being sold in (federally illegal) marijuana shops.

Let’s unpack this week’s news.

Politics

Democrats in Massachusetts Must Now Answer To Growing Demands from Savvy Teenagers

An influential new force is rising in Democratic politics. Even though they aren’t even old enough to vote, teenagers have been organizing to promote progressive candidates. 

To give you some idea of the power that this demographic is claiming, one only needs to look at Edward Markey’s surprise upset over Joe Kennedy in last year’s Democratic primary here in Massachusetts. Kennedy was the odds on favorite to win. That is until “an army of 16-year-olds,” as one political veteran put it, took to the internet to paint Kennedy as standing too far to the right on important issues.

The new movement is making centrist politicians in the Massachusetts Democratic establishment a bit nervous as these youngsters know their way around social media better than any of them. The young activists smell that fear and are empowered by it. 

Last year saw an explosion of new voter registrations as the number of 18 to 24-year-olds shot up to 20.9% in the 2020 primary from 6.7% in 2018, and 2.1% in 2016. That is according to data provided by Tufts’ Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Considering that most elections are won by less than 10% of the vote this changes everything.

The teens are operating sophisticated grassroots campaigns using chat groups, direct messages, and automated and manual text messaging to mobilize their friends and followers into a volunteer PR army.

Last summer, teens on TikTok were able to pull a fast one on President Trump. They waged a campaign to reserve seats at a Trump rally in Florida. Trump even boasted about the numbers before the event. When the time came to count heads, the number was far less than expected. Although this is dirty politics, the success of that campaign has emboldened teens to put their collective weight behind candidates who they feel have their best interests at heart.

These efforts have been so successful that some candidates’ PR teams have reached out to leaders of the movement for campaign help. And for those candidates who stand to lose the most, bashing these teens is not an option as it could easily backfire, draw their ire, and result in serious damage to their careers.

The movement is sure to affect upcoming elections — such as the race for mayor of Boston. This is a fascinating story that candidates on all sides ignore at their own peril.

Boston.com has an in-depth report on the movement.  

More Politics

Business

$1,200 “Back To Work” Bonus Proposed For 2022 Budget

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering putting a “Get Back to Work Bonus” in the fiscal year 2022 budget. The idea is to help employers who are having trouble filling positions while trimming the state’s unemployment bill. 

Budget amendment 811 was proposed by state Sen. Ryan Fattman. The plan calls for using funds from the $1.9 trillion federal American Rescue Plan to pay Mass. residents up to $1,200 to land and keep a job. Fattman essentially wants to “repurpose” the $300/month federal unemployment bonuses to incentivize people to get back to work. 

In a conversation with MassLive, Fattman had this to say:

“I’ve been contacted by a lot of businesses, local employers, restaurants, trucking companies, and they’re all struggling to find people to work for them. All this is designed to get people back to work into those positions so the economy can thrive.”

Although the state unemployment rate dropped to 6.5% in April, the bonus would be welcomed by Massachusetts businesses still scrambling to fill vacant positions ahead of the state's reopening on May 29.

According to a recent U.S. Census survey, millions of Americans are avoiding work for fear of contracting or spreading COVID-19. And many are content to collect unemployment benefits for as long as possible.

Other states are also considering similar measures. Connecticut and New Hampshire recently announced plans to award successful job hunters bonuses up to $2,000. Meanwhile, several red states are looking at axing the extra $300/month unemployment payments offered by the federal government claiming that the free cash incentivizes residents to stay home. 

Read all about it as MassLive.com.

More Business

Energy

Massachusetts Becoming the “Saudi Arabia of Wind”

Last week we told you about the final federal approval of the Vineyard Wind project. In two years, 62 turbines will begin generating about 800 megawatts of electricity. That’s enough to power 400,000 homes. 

As huge as that is, it’s not the whole story. All told, offshore wind developers, are planning to produce 9,100 megawatts from 13 offshore-wind projects along the East Coast within the next five years and then 30 gigawatts by 2030. That’s the equivalent of about 30 coal-fired power plants. 

As the price of generating wind energy plummets, Massachusetts is looking at a clean energy boom. Once the project is up and running, Vineyard Wind is projecting a cost of six and a half cents per kilowatt-hour. (Cape Wind has been charging over 20 cents per kilowatt-hour.)

Erin Baker, professor and faculty director of the Energy Transition Initiative at the University of Massachusetts says costs have fallen “much more in the last five years than any of the experts were predicting.” 

Baker co-authored an article in Nature in which she predicted that the cost of wind energy will be cut in half between now and 2050. And Kathleen Theoharides, the state’s energy and environment secretary, told conservative-leaning Intelligencer that Massachusetts is being dubbed the “Saudi Arabia of wind.” 

Check out Intelligencer’s detailed report here.

More Energy News

Transportation

MBTA Trains and Buses Expected To Get Crowded As Massachusetts Reopens

As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted across Massachusetts, public transportation is beginning to ramp up again. Subways and busses in the Bay State are expected to get crowded as commuters’ rideshare options — including services such as Uber and Lyft — have been evaporating.

The fact that a set of new Chinese-Made Subway Cars has malfunctioned for the fourth time isn’t helping matters. 

Crowded public transit vehicles pose a risk of spreading covid to the unvaccinated. To assure this doesn’t happen, MBTA riders will still be required to wear masks. 

Boston 25 News reports that the MBTA is “monitoring ridership and plans to quickly and safely build back service.”

Meanwhile, if you’re thinking of hitting the road next weekend, plan on leaving early. Officials are expecting Memorial Day traffic to increase substantially over 2020’s numbers as restrictions are lifted and residents with pent-up cabin fever begin to venture out.

More Transportation 

Real Estate

Residential Property Taxes Are On the Rise

With the Mass. residential real estate market on fire, homeowners might be wringing their hands over the increased value of their properties. However, there’s a downside to the exploding valuations. That is along with the rise in home values comes a rise in property taxes (which have already been on the rise in recent years).

The state of Massachusetts requires property values to be reassessed every year. And according to SmartAsset, homeowners in Massachusetts already pay some of the largest annual property tax bills in the country with a median annual property tax bill of $4,899, with a higher-than-average effective tax rate of 1.17%.

Boston 25 News has more details on this story.

And for those who are interested, here are the 50 Massachusetts communities with the highest residential tax rates.

More Real Estate

Cannabis

CCC Issues Guidance For the Sale Of Hemp Products At Mass. Dispensaries

In an industry full of ironies, up until now, Mass. marijuana dispensaries were not allowed to sell hemp products such as CBD oil. That is even though marijuana is federally illegal while hemp (cannabis strains with negligible levels of THC) has been completely legal for more than two years. 

And there are still restrictions. In order to clarify requirements and restrictions the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has issued Guidance for the Retail Sale of Hemp.

Under new rules, marijuana retailers are able to purchase “consumer-ready hemp products,” but only from hemp processors licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. And the products may only be sold in a dedicated section of the store.

Furthermore, hemp all products must be accompanied by an insert that includes the following warning language:

“This product was produced, packaged, and labeled by a Massachusetts hemp processor licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). It is not regulated by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and the product may not be consistent with the requirements of M.G.L. c. 94G or 935 CMR 500.000. Consumers that have questions or concerns about this product are encouraged to contact the manufacturer, MDAR, or the appropriate state or federal agencies.”

Whitelisted products include hemp seed, hemp seed oils and powders, hemp clothing, and non-food CBD products — as long as no medical claims are made.

And although consumers can purchase CBD oil (and edibles such as gummies) at a myriad of shops throughout the state, the sale of hemp products is not permitted at marijuana treatment centers — only at dispensaries. 

Which leads to this question: What if a licensed marijuana grower grows “marijuana” with less than 0.3 percent THC? Does it count as hemp? Or can they sell it the same way they sell marijuana? As it stands, high-CBD, low-THC products produced by licensed growers are treated no differently than high-THC products. 

Read the complete guidance document for the retail sale of hemp at Mass. marijuana dispensaries here.

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