Activists Show Support for Green Jobs Bill and Other Causes at State House Lobby Day

BOSTON/State House - Dozens of labor and community activists showed up in support of a green jobs bill at a hearing of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Energy and Natural Resources at the Massachusetts State House on Thursday. The bill, H. 1774, An Act Regarding Community Access to Energy Efficiency Programs and Green Jobs would require that all utility companies operating in the Commonwealth provide data showing what populations their energy efficiency programs are reaching, and expand access to energy efficiency services by establishing new weatherization goals.

The goal of the bill - according to organizers from Community Labor United, and Neighbor to Neighbor - is to make sure that utility companies use the funds they are mandated to set aside for community weatherization programs in working and middle class communities as well as wealthy ones, and that local people in need of decent jobs can get them helping to weatherize their own communities to increase energy efficiency and thereby keep working families energy costs down. They ultimately hope to see weatherization programs provide hundreds of good stable jobs in Massachusetts.

It remains to be seen whether the bill will make it through the legislative process this session.

Many other labor and community activists from a raft of other organizations were also on hand the same day in support of bills to mandate paid sick leave and stop workplace bullying - and attend a rally in front of the State House to oppose proposed cuts to federal health care spending.

This article is a news brief.