Legislation

An Act for Community Empowerment is a legislative gateway for local communities in Massachusetts to transition to renewable energy. The proposed state law empowers cities and towns to use their residents' electricity buying power to support renewable energy projects of the community’s choosing. Through Community Empowerment, decisions concerning our energy sources and the energy initiatives we support are democratized to appease common interests and ensure that residents receive the proper benefits from the projects we endorse.

As a leading organization in the coalition to bring Community Empowerment to Massachusetts, we have established a website as an available platform for Community Empowerment organizers and advocates from across the United States. More information about Community Empowerment, including ways you can get involved in this initiative, may be found at communityempowerment.org

Benefits of Community Empowerment Include: 

• Empowers local communities, through a democratic process, to set their own course for their energy future

• Communities can enable financing (“support”) projects that meet criteria of local values and concerns

• Communities support projects of the community’s choice

• Meaningful, direct support = Enabling financing

• Residents provide credit-worthy buyer that projects need to secure financing and construct project

• Long-term energy cost stabilization opportunities

• Ability to purchase above RPS for community’s residents, businesses and municipal buildings