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From YouTube: Community Choice Electricity Press Conference - 12/15/21
Description
Mayor Wu hosts a press conference to discuss The Community Choice Electricity program, which utilizes the City’s collective buying power to provide affordable, renewable electricity to Boston’s residents and businesses at a competitive rate. This is an initiative that Mayor Wu led as a City Councilor and this is the single most impactful thing that an individual can do to reduce their carbon footprint.
A
B
Earlier
this
week
I
discussed
public
safety
measures
that
we
are
taking
to
prepare
boston
for
winter
storms,
and
we
did
so
in
front
of
our
40
000
foot
pound
salt
pile.
Today
we
are
in
a
treasured
community
space
to
speak
about
another
challenge
that
residents
must
prepare
for,
as
the
weather
gets
colder
as
winter
approaches
we're
going
to
see
a
significant
rise
in
energy
prices.
Eversource
recently
announced
that
their
new
electricity
rates
are
at
a
15-year
high
and
additionally,
other
third-party
electric
supply.
B
Companies
who
use
predatory
tactics
have
targeted
our
residents
over
a
number
of
years,
promising
lower
electricity
prices
that
increase
significantly
after
a
few
months.
All
that
together
means
that
particularly
in
communities
of
color,
particularly
for
residents
who
speak
languages
other
than
english.
The
the
approach
of
winter
is
a
time
when
the
household
bills
go
up
as
well.
B
But
as
mentioned
earlier,
thanks
to
the
work
of
a
coalition
of
advocates
and
experts
and
community
leaders
over
a
number
of
years,
the
city
of
boston
has
a
solution
available.
Community
choice,
electricity
or
cce
is
our
municipal
aggregation
program
that
offers
lower
energy
prices
on
eversource
and
many
third-party
suppliers.
B
Through
this
program,
the
city
of
boston
is
working
on
behalf
of
all
residents
to
negotiate
better
energy
prices
that
include
more
local
renewable
electricity.
As
part
of
that
supply,
beginning
january
1st
of
this
next
year,
all
cce
rates
will
be
cheaper
than
eversource's
basic
service
rates
for
a
period
of
at
least
six
months.
B
This
is
a
program
that
is
very
near
and
dear
to
my
heart
as
well.
Four
years
ago,
city,
council,
matt
o'malley
and
I
drafted
legislation
authorizing
the
city
of
boston
to
adopt
cce
and
I've
been
proud
to
work
closely
with
advocates,
and
our
leaders
gathered
here
today
across
the
city
to
get
this
done
and
implemented.
B
B
Today's
announcement
marks
an
important
milestone
for
the
program
with
all
three
of
the
cce
rate
plans,
costing
less
than
eversource's
basic
services
prices
and
utilizing
more
local,
renewable
energy
sources.
This
reinforces
our
administration's
commitment
to
making
boston
a
green,
green
new
deal,
city
that
is
affordable,
accessible
and
sustainable
for
all
residents,
and
it
ensures
that
our
residents
and
small
businesses
can
pay
lower
rates
and
choose
how
we
power.
Our
communities
is
a
critical
part
of
our
strategy
for
energy
democracy.
B
Fortunately,
many
of
our
residents
are
already
on
cce,
because
this
is
the
city
of
boston's
default
energy
supplier.
But
for
those
who
opted
out
upon
the
initial
rollout
of
cce
earlier
in
this
year
or
those
who
are
enrolled
in
a
third
party
supplier,
we
encourage
you
to
enroll
in
cce
and
opt
in
as
soon
as
possible.
To
avoid
these
winter
price
hikes,
this
is
a
step
not
just
to
lower
your
rates
but
to
invest
in
protecting
our
environment
and
investing
in
our
shared
future.
C
C
So
the
reality
is
that
winter
is
coming
boston
and
that
means
higher
electricity
prices.
As
mayor
wu
alluded
to,
and
we're
really
glad.
I
was
part
of
the
original
task
force
of
residents
looking
at
at
this
program
and
really
trying
to
design
it,
and
it
was
an
amazing
process
working
within
council
woo,
who
is
now
our
mayor
and
and
a
whole
host
of
folks.
That
said,
how
do
we
balance
affordability
and
economic
justice
with
climate
justice,
and
so
I
want
to
specifically
focus
on
those
of
you
who
say?
C
Oh
my
goodness,
I
hear
this.
This
sounds
great.
What
should
I
do
so?
There
are
three
options:
the
first,
your
first
option
is
you're
already
enrolled
in
community
choice:
energy.
Excellent!
If
you
didn't
do
anything,
you
didn't
you're,
not
part
of
a
with
a
competitive
electric
supplier,
you
didn't
opt
out,
then
it's
likely
that
you
are
already
enrolled
and
the
city
is
already
working
to
make
sure
that
you
have
renewable
and
affordable
energy.
There
are
three
different
levels.
C
Our
most
basic
level
is
called
basic,
is
18
and
you're
getting
the
same
amount
of
renewables
as
eversource,
but
at
a
cheaper
price.
28
is
the
default,
and
so
you're
you're
getting
more
renewables
than
you
would.
If
you
were
in
an
eversource
and
then
there's
100
renewables,
which
I
opted
up
today.
I'm
really
excited
to
be
part
of
that,
and
that
means
that
100
of
the
supply
comes
from
renewable
energy.
If.
D
C
Already
in
maybe
today,
you're
asking
yourself
well,
if
I'm
at
a
lower
rate-
and
I
would
have
to
pay
more-
maybe
I'm
thinking
I
want
to
opt
up,
and
so
I
encourage
you
if
you
like
me,
looked
at
it
and
said
if
I
could
have
100
renewables
for
cheaper
than
what
it
would
cost.
If
I
was
on
basic,
why
would
I
stay
in
a
higher
price
plan
rather
than
moving
to
something,
that's
more
affordable
and
is
100?
C
The
second
is:
if
your
suppliers
ever
source,
you
will
be
paying
15
cents
per
kilowatt
hour,
and
that
means
that
you
could
remove
200
renewables
for
only
13
cents
per
kilowatt
hour.
The
average
base
average
eversource
basic
service
residential
customer
will
spend
27
per
month
more
under
these
new
rates.
C
I
don't
know
about
you,
but
27
is
worth
saving,
and
so
we
want
to
invite
you
to
go
to
dot.
Gov,
slash
community
dash
choice,
das,
electricity,
boston,
dot,
gov,
slash
community
dash
choice,
dash
electricity.
You
can
also
google
it
under
cce
boston
and
I
checked
it'll.
Take
you
to
the
website.
So
if
you
can't
remember
that,
then
just
google
city
of
boston
cce-
and
it
will
also
take
you
to
the
website-
the
last
is
really
important.
C
Advocate
young
woman
and
I'm
sure
she
was
just
telling
whatever
her
boss
told
her
to
say,
but
she
said
a
series
of
things
that
I
knew
not
to
be
true.
She
told
me
that
if
I
opted
in
right
now
that
I
could
save
hundreds
of
dollars
on
my
electric
bill
and
when
I
asked
her
to
put
it
in
writing,
there
was
a
lot
of
oh.
I
don't
have
that.
I
said
you
don't
even
have
a
brochure
give
it
to
me
in
writing.
C
Show
me
what
it
is,
but
I
know
that
she
used
that
same
tactic
on
my
neighbors
and
I'm
sure
that
many
of
them
also
gave
in.
I
had
members
of
my
congregation
calling
me
saying:
hey
this
person
at
my
door
because
they
knew
I
worked
on
energy
issues.
They
double
checked
with
me
and
in
many
instances
they
were
also
being
told.
The
same
lies
so
our
push
to
you
today
is,
if
you
are
with
a
competitive
electric
supplier,
though,
and
they
may
have
mislead
led
you.
C
The
research
by
the
ag's
office
shows
that
they
have
specifically
targeted
low-income
folks,
immigrants,
our
elders
and
people
of
color
and
specifically
the
rock
neighborhoods
of
dorchester
right
here,
where
we
are
roxbury,
matapan,
east
boston
and
hyde
park
any
place
you
live
in
the
city.
I
want
you
to
pay
attention,
but
if
you
live
in
those
five
neighborhoods,
we
really
want
you
to
take
a
moment
to
look
because
you
may
be
drastically
overpaying,
and
so
we
are
encouraging
you
to
look
at
your
bill.
C
You
can
feel
free
to
reach
out
to
us,
but
you
also
can
look
at
enrolling
in
cce
and
if
you
want
to
call
the
environment
department,
we
will
walk
you
through
it.
My
staff
are
like
oh,
my
gosh
we're
going
to
get
all
these
calls.
We're
also
going
to
make
sure
that
311
has
some
of
this
information,
so
you
can
always
reach
out
to
them,
but
we
want
to
help
you.
We
don't
want
residents
overpaying
when
they
could
have
cheaper
and
cleaner
energy
in
their
portfolio.
C
So
with
that,
I
hope
that's
giving
you
just
a
little
bit
more
information
feel
free
again
to
go
to
boston.gov.
Backslash
community
dash
choice,
dash
electricity,
and
now
I
want
to
pass
it
over
to
sam
montagna,
the
director
of
organizing
for
green
roots,
one
of
the
organizations
that
was
part
of
helping
to
put
this
together.
Thank
you.
E
E
For
instance
naomi
who
works
with
me.
Who's
over
there
said
that
her
electricity
bill
is
over
a
hundred
dollars,
some
months
in
the
winter,
probably
higher.
This
is
an
opportunity
for
her
to
have
an
electric
payment,
that's
more
in
reach
and
our
community
members.
I
want
to
encourage
you
to
enroll
in
the
city's
community
choice
electricity
program
as
soon
as
possible,
so
you
can
avoid
the
significant
increases
that
will
come
to
your
electricity
bill
this
winter.
E
D
Hi
everybody,
my
name
is
sophie
cash,
I'm
the
new
advocacy
director
at
the
boston
climate
action
network,
so
the
new
andy
wells
bean.
If
you
worked
with
him,
so
I'm
really
excited
to
working
with
all
of
you
here.
Thank
you
so
much
to
mayor
wu,
reverend
mariama,
whitehammond
green
roots
and
everyone
who
really
made
this
happen
b
can
started
working
on
community
choice,
energy
in
2016.
D
So
now
at
the
close
of
2021.
This
is
really
exciting
development
and
a
significant
step
forward
for
energy
justice
and
climate
justice
in
our
city,
electricity,
as
you've
all
heard,
is
usually
created
by
fossil
fuels.
Fossil
fuels
are
what's
fueling.
The
climate
crisis
and
electricity
suppliers
and
climate
change
also
are
just
disproportionately
harming
already
vulnerable
frontline
communities.
D
So
it's
now
every
single
resident
can
be
part
of
the
move
to
renewable
electricity
at
a
lower
and
more
stable
rate
than
any
regular
plan.
So
this
is
an
enormous
part
of
the
monument
monumental
shift
that
we
need
as
a
society
as
a
city
and
it's
an
essential
step
towards
economic,
energy
and
climate
justice,
very,
very
essential
in
this
moment
towards
the
winter
and
as
we
move
forward
towards
a
grenudial
future.
D
B
B
The
virus,
just
like
so
many
of
our
other
most
pressing
issues,
doesn't
respect
municipal
boundaries
or
or
the
boundaries
of
of
each
state,
and
so
it
was
only
a
matter
of
time
before
the
new
variants
make
their
way
here
to
our
global
metropolitan
city
as
well.
This
is
why
it
is
so
urgent
and
important
for
each
one
of
us
to
get
vaccinated
get
boosted,
ensure
that
our
kids
are
vaccinated.
B
The
city
is
working
very
hard.
Our
I
was
just
at.
I
think
three
separate
meetings
with
our
boston,
public
health
commission,
director
basola
ojokutu
today,
already
about
how
we
are
making
more
clinics
available,
more
walk-in
clinics
available
for
booster
appointments
and
vaccination
appointments
as
we
head
into
the
winter
months.
We
are
in
the
midst
of
a
surge.
B
I
met
with
some
of
our
healthcare
institution
leaders
earlier
today
as
well,
and
this
is
front
and
center
on
all
of
our
plates,
ensuring
that
every
single
resident
has
access
to
the
the
testing,
vaccination
and
protections
across
our
community,
and
we
are
working
hard
on
the
policy
side
to
to
move
quickly
on
policies
as
well.
Our
kobit
19
advisory
group
that
has
been
convened
by
the
city
of
boston
has
met
a
few
times
now
and
we
are
looking
to
ensure
that
boston
continues
to
protect
our
residents
and
do
so
with
a
focus
on
equity.
B
Absolutely
we
know
that
when
there
are
opportunities
for
people
to
find
the
time
find
a
convenient
location,
have
a
walk-in
have
a
walk-in
experience.
It's
a
lot
easier
for
families
that
are
juggling
multiple
different
obligations:
our
city
hall
site.
When
we
opened
up
city
hall
as
a
full
open
to
the
public
free
walk-in
clinic,
we
saw
nearly
400
people
come
in
that
day
and
significant
weights,
because
there
was
so
much
interest
and
so
much
demand
for
booster
shots
and
vaccinations
in
a
walk-in
way.
B
Between
tomorrow
and
january
12th,
we
will
be
vigorously
connecting
every
single
one
of
the
residents
living
in
tents
at
mass
avenue
cast
boulevard
to
low
threshold
supportive
beds
across
the
city
and
region,
as
well
as
the
chance
to
seek
treatment
and
services
in
those
locations
as
well
by
january
12th,
as
people
are
connected
to
services
connected
to
transitional
housing,
the
tents
will
be
taken
away
once
folks
are
connected,
and
therefore,
after
january
12th
there
will.
There
will
not
be
any
tents.
Returning
to
that
area.
B
I
want
to
thank
the
work
of
so
many
of
our
public
health
outreach
workers
and
the
boston
public
health
commission's
team,
because
for
days
weeks
months,
they
have
been
out
almost
24
hours
a
day,
engaging
with
folks
who
are
living
in
our
encampment
area.
There,
understanding
what
everyone's
needs
are:
building
relationships,
building
trust,
and
so
just
recently
we
were
able
to
survey
all
of
the
residents
of
the
area
and
understand
that
understand
the
demographics
of
folks
who
are
seeking
treatment
and
housing
and
understand
what
the
needs
are
that
are
missing
right
now.
B
Again
from
the
conversations
that
our
team
has
been
having
on
the
ground,
the
vast
majority
of
people
are
eager
to
find
housing
that
meets
their
needs
and
that's
what
we
have
worked
very
hard
to
provide
and
that
will
keep
coming
online
in
the
next
couple
weeks
as
of
january
12th
from
now.
Until
then,
we'll
be
engaging
in
those
conversations
and
after
that
date
there
will.
There
will
not
be
tents
allowed
to
come
back
to
that
area.
G
B
I
want
to
also
make
clear
that
it's
not
as
if
from
now
until
january
12th.
There
are
only
two
dates
that
matter,
and
these
are
the
two
dates
that
things
will
be
happening.
This
is
an
ongoing
conversation
and
process
and
for
the
last
few
weeks
and
months,
residents
of
that
area
have
been
connected
to
housing
and
and
transferred
to
housing
in
the
dozens
and
dozens
of
of
situations,
and
so
we're
going
to
continue
that
approach.
B
H
B
I
have
walked
the
area
countless
times
and
I
am
as
eager
and
as
frustrated
with
an
approach
that
would
just
cause
everything
to
cycle
back
around
again
in
a
few
weeks
and
months,
and
so
we
are
committing
and
and
moving
forward
with
a
plan
that
will
change
the
underlying
situation.
We
cannot
continue
to
turn
a
blind
eye
to
systems
that
have
failed
when
people
are
living
in
tents
without
running
water,
without
heat
in
the
middle
of
winter,
in
unsanitary
living
conditions.
B
Yeah
so
after
the
area
is
clear,
the
priority
of
the
city
and
the
administration
will
be
to
continue
working
and
walking
alongside
neighborhood
advocates.
Small
businesses
and
community
leaders
from
a
public
works
perspective
to
fix
up
our
streets
right.
There
are
many
many
places
where
the
sidewalks
are
broken,
where
we
feel
that
this
has
been
an
area
that
that
looks
and
seems
neglected
from
a
public
services
point
of
view,
and
so
we're
going
to
work
closely
with
the
newly
established
bid
as
well.
B
The
business
improvement
district
to
put
some
targeted
resources
to
supporting
our
small
businesses,
beautification
of
our
streets
and
community,
so
that
everyone
can
enjoy
this
area,
those
returning
to
the
area
to
seek
treatment
and
care
at
boston,
medical
center
and
in
the
surrounding
area
residents
and
neighbors
kids,
who
go
to
school
nearby
and
and
so
many
of
our
visitors
to
the
boston
area.
This
should
reflect
the
best
of
what
boston
is
able
to
offer
and
that's
what
we're
aiming
for
with
this
plan.
B
It
was
my
first
time
getting
to
set
foot
in
the
oval
office
as
well,
and
president
biden
took
us
through
and
shared
his
commitment
to
making
sure
that
cities
are
empowered
in
this
recovery.
He
certainly
has
a
fun
spot
for
boston,
and
I
shared
our
commitment
across
the
entire
city
to
be
a
leading
light
for
how
an
equitable,
just
and
sustainable
recovery
can
really
look
feel
and
make
a
difference
in
our
residents.
I
Not
lives
boundaries
not
respecting
borders.
You
know
a
group
of
advocates
experts,
state
legislators
sent
the
letter
to
the
baker
administration
today,
calling
for
some
expanded
measures
to
try
and
fight
against
the
virus.
That
includes
a
statewide
mass
mandate.
Where
do
you
stand
on
that?
Do
you
feel,
like
the
state
is
keeping
pace
with
where
we
stand
right
now
with
covid
and
keeping
pace
with
you're?
Talking
about
the
fact
that
virus
does
not
respect
damages.
B
The
data
and
the
case
counts
are
are,
and
it
is
worrisome
to
see
new
variants.
Continuing
to
develop
boston
has
a
mask
mandate
in
place,
and
we
will
continue
to
uphold
that
as
the
numbers
are
not
getting
better.
We're.
Also
in
close
conversations
with
our
regional
partners
to
discuss
ways
in
which
our
cities
can
collaborate
and
ensure
we're
all
taking
action
together.
I
I
B
Know
this
actually
did
come
up
in
the
conversation
just
this
morning
with
our
hospital
heads
and
and
leaders
of
many
of
our
healthcare
institutions
in
boston.
They
shared
that
we
are
all
concerned
about
the
numbers
that
we're
seeing,
but
the
concern
here
is
less
about
a
lack
of
facilities
or
beds
and
more
about
a
challenge
when
it
comes
to
staffing
the
beds
that
that
are
in
boston,
our
healthcare
workers
and
first
responders
are
burned
out.
B
They
have
been
working
this
pandemic
for
now
two
years
plus,
and
I
am
incredibly
grateful
for
all
of
their
efforts
and
know
that
we
need
to
be
providing
more
support
for
those
who
wish
to
join
this
industry.
For
those
who
are
in
this
industry
and
have
seen
just
about
every
unexpected
situation,
we
need
to
ensure
we're
providing
resources
and
helping
to
address
staffing
challenges
and
those
first
responders
who
who
need
supports?
B
We
are
you
know.
One
conversation
item
that
came
up
again
and
again
and
that
I
hear
from
every
corner
in
boston
is
that
when
we,
whenever
we
talk
about
hospitalizations
for
the
for
how
do
I
say
this,
the
numbers
that
we
see
in
terms
of
people
who
are
having
to
go
to
the
hospital
almost
line
up
completely
with
those
who
are
not
vaccinated
right?
B
It
is
such
a
disproportionate
percentage
of
residents
who
have
not
been
vaccinated,
who
are
needing
to
go
to
the
hospital
for
treatment,
whether
it
is
covert
related
or
the
flu
or
something
else
right.
We
are
now
starting
to
see
covid
as
a
secondary
or
sort
of
overlapping
condition,
with
other
medical
conditions
and
covid
worsens
that
experience.
B
We
need
everyone
to
get
vaccinated
that
affects
every
part
of
our
health
care
response
and,
from
the
city's
part,
we're
going
to
work
to
take
down
every
possible
barrier
with
walk-in
clinics,
with
support
at
our
school
buildings
and
through
our
community
health
centers.
This
is
the
single
most
important
thing
we
can
do
to
ensure
that
boston
can
stay
safe
and
healthy
through
the
winter.
B
B
We
need
to
do
better
when
it
comes
to
data
and
reporting.
I
have
heard
from
many
families
that
when
there
is
a
notification
of
a
coveted
case,
often
there's
a
lag
by
the
time
that
it
gets
to
families,
and
so
we
need
to
be
closing
tightening
all
of
those
mechanisms
of
communication
and
putting
more
resources
to
supporting
testing
and
vaccination
right
on
site.
B
The
roundhouse
hotel,
which
is
located
in
the
south
end
lower
roxbury
area,
is
one
of
several
sites
that
is
in
our
plan,
to
ensure
that
we
have
beds
available
for
individuals
needing
housing
and
supports
at
this
particular
location.
The
arrangement
being
proposed
is
that
boston,
medical
center
would
lease
the
building
and
provide
both
an
immediate,
very
intensive
medical
support
system
on
the
ground
floor,
as
well
as
housing,
that
is,
for
residents
who
have
been
stabilized
in
the
floors
above
transitional
housing
above
it
can
fit
up
to
60.